Page 38 of We Own Each Other

Well, my world was falling apart.

I could feel Corin’s stare boring holes in the side of my face, but I refused to look his way. I couldn’t stop looking at Anthony. Memories of those days when I trained him flashed through my mind, though they had been tainted with my own guilt.

He was as beautiful as I remembered, and with the anger settling over his features, he took on the look of a wrathful angel.

I wanted to apologize, but I wasn’t so sure I wanted or deserved to be forgiven. I especially feared not being forgiven at all if I tried to ask for it. Thankfully, I didn’t get the chance to find out either way, as Noah immediately stood up, knocking his chair back with a disruptive clattering sound. People at surrounding tables glanced our way, but ultimately focused back on whatever they had come here for in the first place.

He growled:

“Come on, Anthony.”

And Anthony wordlessly did as he was told, though his glare never left me.

They gathered their things and left in a whirlwind, leaving Corin and me entirely on our own. By ourselves, I almost wished for the intensity of the two of them back. This silence was something even more painful than the one before it.

I had tried so hard to make Corin love me, and that was all going out the window.

I could find someone else to spend my time with, but I would never find someone like Corin. There was no stopping the end, but I wanted to delay it as long as possible. So, I remained focused on the empty chair before me.

To my surprise, though, when Corin did finally speak, his voice was even and almost tender. He murmured:

“Let’s get back to the apartment.”

When I finally worked up the courage to look his way, he was already standing and turning away from the table. I hopped up to follow, and we both marched right out of the shop. A barista was calling after us, probably to try to give Corin the drink he ordered, but Corin never even looked back.

He was focused straight ahead, and all I could do was follow behind.

If this was truly over, I was pretty sure I would be doing this the rest of my life. I would forever be watching his back, trying my best to chase after him. I was willing to do it, but as my heart squeezed in my chest, I wasn’t sure I would survive it.

CHAPTER TWELVE

STEPPING INTO THE apartment, it was like stepping into a morgue.

I had always felt such warmth and comfort in this place, but all those feelings were long gone now. Corin, on the other hand, seemed to be acting just fine. He dropped his outer layers on the floor and headed straight for his bed.

It was all too normal for something so wild to have just transpired.

Wiping my sweaty palms across the thighs of my pants and trailing behind him like a simpering puppy, I tried to broach the subject:

“Corin. I’m sorry. I know this all looks and sounds… no, I know this is bad. I know I was bad, but you have to believe that I am a different person now.”

He spun around, plopping down on the edge of the bed. His facial features were frozen — completely expressionless. So when the next words came out of his mouth, I could hardly believe I had heard them:

“Let’s play.”

I blinked.

“What?”

He tilted his head to the side, giving me full access to the right side of his face. Then, he said:

“Hit me.”

As sexy as this would’ve been any other time, I didn’t think this was the time or place for this. I would rather play and avoid all of this if I could, but I knew the outcome wouldn’t be good if we didn’t at least talk things out. So, as I walked up to him, I tried.

“Wait, Corin. I think we should—”

“Hit me.”