Page 55 of My Fiancé's Brother
“That’s a conversation you need to have with him.”
“Why won’t you tell me?”
“You should talk to Matt.”
“What was last night about between the two of you?”
“You need to ask him that.”
“I'm asking you.”
Green eyes met mine. No response. Just blank.
“Do they train you to be like that?” Hurt laced my voice.
“Like what?”
“Not showing how you feel?”
He stared back at me.
“Where will you go?”
Nothing. He inhaled through his nose. Emotionally unresponsive.
Anger bubbled up inside of me. For how stupid everything was. For the fight between him and Matt. For how this man who stood before me made me feel things I didn’t want to feel. For the cold fear I felt every time I thought about Matt and me. And for the anxiety that drenched my skin when I thought of Jackson walking out the door. If I could make Jackson stay, I might be able to reverse this curse in my life. However irrational, if Jackson didn’t leave, then maybe, somehow, everything else would work out.
“You’re not going,” I marched to his duffle bag. It made no sense, but I dreaded being alone with Matt. I refused to face what would happen if Matt and I had too much time alone together. Terrible things would happen.
I attempted to pick up the duffle bag but staggered under the weight. I managed to lift it a couple of inches off the ground. I panted with effort.
He appeared beside me.
“What could you possibly have in this bag to make it weigh this much?” I grunted. When it became too heavy, my weak arms unwillingly dropped the bag back on the floor.
“Emily.”
“No,” I put my hand up. “Don’t. Just don’t, okay? I'm bringing your bag upstairs, and you can forget about leaving.”
“Emily.”
He showed no emotion. I clung to the duffle bag handles.
“Why is everyone leaving!” I yelled. “Why does everyone leave me?”
He crouched down on his haunches in front of me and looked up at me. His beautiful features were swimming in my tears. “Who left?”
“Everyone. My mom. My Dad. My granny. Other stupid people. Matt. And now you. No one wants to stay. I just thought if one person stayed here things would work out.” Tears poured down my cheeks. “What’s wrong with me?”
“Nothing is wrong with you.”
“Where is Matt? What’s going on with him? Why is he gone all the time?” My voice cracked. “I don’t understand this.”
I dropped to the floor, wrapped my arms around my knees and put my head down. I lifted my face and looked at him. “But I understand why you want to leave.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I'm crazy. And messy. I don’t blame you. I want to leave me too.”
