Oh, no.

I wasn’t done.

We were not done here.

“Don’t you dare walk away from me!”

“Or what?” Miles retaliated. “This conversation is going nowhere. I knew friendship crossed a line with you. I never should have done that.”

“Why not?”

“Everything was fine until we became friends!”

“And what the flipping heck does that mean?”

His eyes blazed with something indiscernible in the darkness. “Because people like you and people like me don’t mix, Your Ladyship.”

There was a darkness to the final two words that hit me hard. “Don’t call me that.”

“Why not? That’s what you are, is it not?”

A lump rose in my throat as he turned away from me for a second time. I watched as he made it to the top of the stairs before I did the same, except for me, tears burned in my eyes as I stalked along the path.

I was cold. I didn’t know where I was going. Even as a light flicked on, I wasn’t sure I knew where I was.

He really hated me, didn’t he?

Eva had it all wrong. He didn’t like me. Not at all.

How could I have been so very stupid?

CHAPTER NINETEEN

I dropped to the seat under a trellis and buried my face in my hands. I could still see and hear the party, so I clearly hadn’t gone far.

That was promising news.

I was so silly.

How could I have ever thought Miles liked me? He was clearly nothing but a judgemental, classist, prejudiced pig who—

Gravel crunched under feet not far from me, and I looked in that direction.

I’d know those steps anywhere.

Even if I were blind, I’d know him. And wasn’t that just so utterly terrifying?

“What do you want?” I asked coldly, trying to keep the true scale of my emotions out of my voice.

“Couldn’t leave you out here alone.” Miles came closer. “You’re freezing. Take my jacket.”

I shook my head and looked away into the darkness. “No, thank you. I would rather not.”

“Don’t be a hero.”

“I’d prefer if you’d stop trying to be one yourself.”

“Gabriella.” He sighed. “Come inside at least. I’ll leave straight away.”

“It’s fine. I’m ready to go home anyway.” I got up again and walked towards him, fully intent on pushing past him, but he had other ideas.

Miles stopped me, grabbing my hand. “Bloody hell, fine. I didn’t want to be friends with you because I knew this would happen.”

I inclined my head his way.

“Because if we were friends, I knew there wasn’t a bloody chance in hell I wouldn’t fall for you.”

I swallowed.

“Does that answer your question, princess? Do you want to shout at me some more? Or are you content in the knowledge that I’ve held you at arm’s length because me having feelings for you isn’t appropriate?”

I turned and looked up at him, almost glad I couldn’t fully see him because of the darkness.