He never looked away from me as he asked the question, kept his voice even and restrained, but the words made me wince. I trusted him. I trusted him with all of me except for my heart. I kept my gaze firmly locked with his. “No. I don’t.”

Ford gave a firm nod, pushing off the bookcase and striding for the door, not saying a single word. As the door slammed behind him, I slowly sank to the floor. Tears flowed freely and unchecked now. I bit down hard on my knuckle, silencing the sound of any sobs.

I was weak. So damn weak. Letting the fear of him leaving, of the possible comparison, the guilt over having always loved a boy who belonged to my sister eat away at my strength, at my bravery. And that weakness was going to cost me my one shot at happiness.

28

FORD

I let the door slam behind me as I strode out towards the beach. I was being a sulky asshole and knew it. But hearing Bell say out loud that she didn’t trust me… It sliced deep, twisting and turning the blade as it went.

I blew out a harsh breath as I watched the waves crashing into the shore, darkening right along with the sky. Doubt crept in right along with the tide. Maybe too much was broken between Bell and me for this to work. Maybe I was crazy to think that she cared for me, too. But then I’d remember the flicker of heat in her eyes when I touched her, the quick catch in her breath. The way her voice cracked when she’d said that even if she did want more, she couldn’t go there with me.

She was scared. Afraid because I’d hurt her. “Dammit.” I’d done the exact thing I’d sworn I wouldn’t do. I’d left the second things got tough. The only message I was sending her with that was that I couldn’t handle her emotions, her hurt. Bell needed to feel free to share anything she was experiencing with me: her pain, her anger, her fear. I had to be strong enough to hold it right along with her, no matter how much agony it brought.

I let out another curse as I turned to head back to the workshop and make this right. Movement flickered in my peripheral vision, but before I could turn to find the source, pain cracked against the side of my head, light flashing behind my eyes before my vision tunneled. My legs seemed to go out from under me, unable to obey my brain’s command to stay upright.

Darkness descended. The world flickered in and out. Rocks dug into my back, cutting into flesh as it felt like I was moving. My body was moving, but I wasn’t responsible for the action. I tried to force my eyes open, but darkness engulfed me again.