Chapter 22

Leslie's voice still had a hint of a choke in it. In that other world, she was the terrifying villain everyone feared-stunning, cold as ice. But now, back beside Broderick, she'd reverted to the girl she used to be, only letting down her guard in front of him. Broderick's gaze turned darker, deeper. "Ricky, I had a dream," she said, voice trembling slightly. "In it, I totally ruined you. Your whole family was destroyed because of me, and I died too. After something like that... do you still want me with you?" Leslie stared right at him, eyes filled with longing and a hint of fear. She bit her lip. That past... it was her deepest wound. She'd been so foolish, fooled by the Greens over and over-love, family, care-it had all been a trap. And she'd walked right in, ruining everything she could've had. Something twisted sharply in Broderick's chest. "After that dream, I changed. I swear it. Ricky, when I think about everything collapsing like that, I get scared. Please don't push me away. I