“I’ve never lied to you,” said Tyler. “I’m not going to start now, okay?”

She had no idea where this was going. It sounded like a prelude to him kicking her ass out of his apartment.

But then he said, “I’ve liked you since the day you went off on me in Merrick’s driveway. I like that you aren’t afraid of me. I like that you don’t seem to be afraid of anything. I like that you’re driven, that you dance in the middle of the woods when you have nowhere else. I like that you’ve been through hell with your family, and you’re still willing to come up kicking.”

Quinn peeked at him through the fall of hair.

“You know what I hate?” he said evenly. “I hate that you’re too stubborn to ask anyone for help, even though you damn sure need it. I hate when someone tries to help and you do everything you can to make them wash their hands of you. But the absolute worst thing, the thing that I can’t fucking stand, is how you’re this beautiful, talented girl, but for some reason you act like you need to buy a guy’s favor.”

Tears were running down her cheeks now. “I don’t do that. I don’t.”

“You do, Quinn.” His hands softened on her wrists. “You do it with me, and you did it with Merrick.”

“I never did anything with Nick.”

“Are you kidding me? You pretended to be his girlfriend! You were so desperate to be attached to a guy that you latched on to one who doesn’t even like girls.”

“I was helping him,” she cried. “Because he was my friend.”

“No, you were afraid to let him go,” said Tyler. “Because you were afraid to give someone a chance to like you for real.”

She needed him to stop talking. She needed to stop crying. She needed out. To get out. Of here. Right now.

But her limbs felt too weak, like she couldn’t hold herself up.

“I get it,” said Tyler. “I’ve seen your family. The people who should love you, don’t. I just—you’re worth more than that. I wish you could see that.”

“Have you been studying for your Psych one-oh-one final or something?” she said, trying for anger, but her voice came out defeated. “Why don’t you leave me alone.”

He sighed and let her go. Quinn didn’t move.

Tyler ran a hand through his blond hair. “Are you hungry?”

Quinn glanced up at him. After a long minute, she nodded.

“Feel like Chinese?”

“Okay.” Her voice sounded broken.