Rearing back, I was shocked. Didn’t he know that I’d give up my ties for him? I’d gladly move anywhere he wanted and leave my family behind if it meant being with him. “Tell me where to go, Griff. Anywhere. I’d go anywhere. I’d leave Boston to be with you.”
He scoffed, heading for the exit of the tent. “We can’t continue this. When we go back home, it’s over.”
I stood, my mouth gaped while he left me alone. How could he so easily turn off his feelings? Here I was, thinking that he cared for me in the same ways I cared for him. Were these past six years a lie? Did he only use me to get what he needed physically from me?
And how could I have fallen for it? I shook off the shocked feeling, hurrying out of the tent to catch up to him. “Griffin!” I called, running for him.
He picked up his pace, trying to get away from me. I wouldn’t let that happen. Not when I wasn’t finished discussing what I had to say. I didn’t care if we were out in the open. I’d fucking kiss him in front of everyone just to prove how serious I was about continuing our relationship when we were home.
“Michael! Stop!”
He didn’t. Not even when I reached him, grabbing on his arm. He pulled, trying to free himself of my grip, but I wasn’t going to give him up.
“Get off me, Murphy,” he said in a low growl. “People are watching.”
“I don’t fucking care.”
He managed to free himself, taking off again.
I continued to follow.
“Incoming! Get out of the way! Move! Move!” People were shouting and somehow the air stirred with chaos. I didn’t know what was happening, until I got the roar of an engine in the distance, a delivery truck heading straight for us.
Everything was slow motion. The truck was heading straight for Michael. A pit in my stomach formed, and I didn’t think.
“Michael!” I screamed, adrenaline driving me forward. I grabbed him, pulling him away. And I took the brunt of the impact, the world turning into a black and white.
Griffin
Paddystirredinthehospital bed, coming to finally. It had been three days of him going in and out of consciousness. All because he jumped in front of the truck that was heading for us. I shot up from the chair I was occupying, waiting for his eyes to open.
There was a flicker, then a wince when the light bothered them. His hand shot immediately to his head, where he had three stitches. Reaching out, I rested my hand on his leg. His eyes shot open, and he tried to process who I was.
Confusion flickered in his eyes and he glanced down to my hand. He pulled away a bit. “What–” He paused, scratching the scruff growing on his face.
“You were hit by a delivery truck. It exploded, and you had metal shrapnel in your leg. It’s been three days.”’ I sighed. “Fuck, I was so worried, Paddy. You can’t scare me like that. It was touch and go, and I couldn’t fucking deal with it.”
“I’m sorry,” Paddy said, his brows furrowed. “Who–who are you?”
Shit. My heart sank. Was this just a case of amnesia, or did something bigger happen? I shot to my feet, yanking the flashlight in my pocket out to check his pupils. “I’m Michael. We’re childhood friends.”
He lets out a bark of laughter, shoving at my chest. “Get off me, freak.”
Relief settled in my chest, sitting back into the chair. “You prick, I thought you lost your memory.”
“How could I forget how you dumped me right before I jumped in front of a car for you?”
I snorted, shaking my head. “I was an idiot. Please forgive me.” I grabbed his hand, pressing a kiss to it. Glancing up again, I made eye contact. “I’m sorry I was being stubborn.”
“You are stubborn,” he said, nodding. “And fuck you for making me chase you.” He pulled his hand from mine. “Apology not accepted.”
He held a mischievous look on his face, smirking as I watched him. He wanted me to play along, and I would. Fuck, would I do anything to make him forgive me. We were in this situation because I chose to run, instead of embracing what it meant that he wanted to date when we were home.
“How can I make it up to you?” I asked.
“You can start by getting me water.” He cleared his throat. “I’m so thirsty.”
Nodding, I hurried out of the room to get him a drink.
