I hear Tanner say something behind me, but I don’t catch it. I don’t care. I’m already crossing the deck, cutting across the grass, toward the trees.
I reach her in less than a couple of minutes. She’s standing barefoot in the sand, her curls dancing in the breeze, wearing a short, white beach dress.
She doesn’t look at me as I approach, but I know she feels me coming.
Her voice cuts the air before I can say a word.
“If you came here to apologize, don’t bother. I already added you to my ‘Things That Emotionally Terrorized Me’ list.”
I pause a couple of feet behind her, almost cracking a smile. I love that mouth.
“I came to see if you’d calmed down enough to talk to me like a grown-up,” I say, keeping my voice steady.
She turns to me slowly, the sun making her hair look like it’s glowing. She looks like an angel.
Fuck, she’s so beautiful.
“I’m seeing red,” she says.
“You were seeing stars last night,” I say, tilting my head.
Her cheeks flare, but her expression doesn’t change.
“Right. You must be very proud of yourself. Congratulations on being the two most manipulative men I’ve ever known.”
“I’m just one,” I correct.
“Exactly.” She pauses, flicking a wild strand out of her face. “Do you have any idea what it felt like?” she says, quieter now. “Thinking I was cheating on you with… you?”
“I never wanted you to feel that way.” I exhale hard, stepping forward.
“But you let me.” She looks away. “I let myself fall for a man with no face. I gave myself permission to love Ghost because it was safe. Because it wasn’t real. And then you…”
She finally looks at me again, eyes glassy.
“You turned real. And you didn’t say anything.”
“You weren’t ready,” I say. “You described me as insufferable. How was I supposed to tell you?”
“Is that why you waited until you wereinside meto drop the bomb?”
She’s not wrong. But I’m not either.
“You were picturingmeunderneath that mask,” I say, voice low. “You said it yourself.”
I move closer, relieved that she lets me in her space. Hope isn’t lost. I never thought I’d find myself in a situation where I’m terrified of someone leaving. I’ve been so used to the thought that I don’t want someone having control of my feelings anymore. But now, standing in front of Melody, I realize it’s not just my feelings she has control over. In ten months, she’s managed to get so deep under my skin, she’s made my heart her home.
“Are you mad because I didn’t tell you,” I say, stopping in front of her, “or because you’re disappointed it’s me behind those texts?”
“I’m mad because you took the choice out of my hands,” she says, shaking her head.
“You think I somehow set this up?” I ask, brows furrowed. “You wanted the safety net of pretending. And now that I am real, you want out?”
“I don’t want out, Jace,” she snaps. “I’m just angry.”
“But do you want me?” I ask, stepping in. “Even furious, even hating me, do you still want this?”
“You’re not tricking me into this again, Jace.” She shoves at my chest.
