Chapter54:

Hearing him say it and admit it leaves me conflicted. My heart soaring with some stupid light hope and joy but, at the same time, a crushing organ grinding pain because I know it doesn’t mean anything. He doesn’t want to be with me. “Then why didn’t you? You would push and tell me to go but always appear by my side again just as fast. You’ve confused me for years by always being around me, watching over me. Never leaving me alone.” My voice wobbles as a huge lump lifts in my throat, and I feel stupid for the oncoming tears. Dane being this frank has my heart throbbing and my eyes misting. A swirling sensation in my stomach that he is finally trying to be a little straight with me, probably because of what I said. This is as close to the boy I used to know as he could get. Honest, talking it out, not putting up a tough boy guard, and trying to rile me. But it feels like it’s too little, too late. The damage is already done. And I know he is only doing it now to clear up this shit and gi