Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 98643 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98643 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 395(@250wpm)___ 329(@300wpm)
As I hunted for even the smallest scrap of paper and a pen, I knew I was taking the coward’s way out again, but I no longer cared. Admittedly, I’d had this foolish hope that if I was in Flynn’s vicinity again, maybe something would happen. Maybe we could have talked. Cleared the air. Maybe there would have been some magical revelation that we both experienced and everything would fall into place like it was supposed to.
I searched the bathroom on the off chance that I’d find something in there, but Flynn clearly traveled light because there was only the most basic of amenities. I glanced at the mirror. I looked like shit. Dark circles made my skin look even paler than usual and the few cuts and scrapes I’d gotten during the ride up the mountain had started to scab over. It wasn’t until I saw the shimmer on my lips that I remembered the tinted lip gloss I had in my pocket. It was the only makeup I figured no one would notice, and wearing it made me feel less exposed. I took the gloss from my pocket and stared at the mirror for a moment. I only had a small amount of gloss available, and it would be hard to see, so there was no way I’d be able to say the things I’d wanted to say. I settled for writing a couple of words on the vanity’s countertop because it was solid white.
I was just stepping out of the bathroom when Flynn chose that moment to enter his room. I was standing between his nightstand and the door that led into the small bathroom, so I couldn’t have been found any guiltier of snooping if I’d tried.
“Sorry,” I began automatically before stopping. I had no speech planned. No fancy words to explain anything and everything. It was like I was expecting Flynn to understand all the things the single word meant.
Flynn, for his part, didn’t seem particularly happy to see me. If anything, he looked irritated. His entire body was tense, so much so that I could see the muscles flexing along his arm as he closed the door behind him.
The air around us may have been charged with electricity, but the silence was painfully awkward. I let out a nervous laugh that I tried to pawn off as a laugh of surprise or amusement.
“Sorry, I was just looking for something to write on so I could leave you a few words… um, a note I guess…” I stammered as I motioned to the bathroom. Flynn’s complete and utter lack of reaction had me on edge. “It wasn’t important,” I said with a shake of my head. “I’ll just let you get your rest. I’m sure you’re tired from doing whoever—” I stopped abruptly when I realized what I’d said.
Whoever? Really, Jules? What the fuck?
“Whatever,” I blurted. Flynn didn’t react.
Okay, it was time to call a spade a spade. There was no graceful way to recover.
Period.
God, if the man would just move aside so I could slide past him and out of the door and his life forever, it would make it a lot easier to put one foot in front of the other. Flynn wasn’t getting the hint, though, so I simply hung my head, hurried toward the door muttering “sorry” as I neared him, and then maneuvered my body so I could slide past him and escape the room.
I tried to slide past him, anyway. It was hard to do any sliding when the one you needed to get past wouldn’t move.
I was forced to come to a stop in front of him. We were a foot apart at most and yet he didn’t move.
God, the man was stubborn. It was maddening. Since he wasn’t making any attempt to stop me, I used my arm to reach past Flynn, making sure not to touch him, before going for the doorknob. Flynn’s hand covered it before I could get to it.
And the bastard still wasn’t speaking.
“Look, fine, okay, you got me,” I snapped in an effort to maintain a shred of dignity. “I just wanted to tell you something, but it’s moot now. It doesn’t matter anymore. I’m sorry I didn’t realize it sooner. And I’m sorry for invading your privacy.”
“What ‘doesn’t matter anymore’?” Flynn asked gruffly.
“It!” I bit out. “It! The things we told each other. The way we… the way we…”
“Touched?” Flynn supplied. If anything, my attempt at an explanation was only pissing him off even more.
“Fine, yes, touched. Seeing Brooks and Xavier together, finding out about Curtis and Del—I just. I didn’t want the same thing to happen. I wanted to look you in the eyes when I…” I couldn’t finish the thought because it hurt too fucking much. I didn’t even truly know why it hurt. Saying goodbye to Brooks would be hard as hell and yeah, it would hurt, but not like this. Not like I was being cleaved in two.