The door closes quietly behind her with the faintest click leaving us alone. He doesn’t say anything, he’s not even looking at me as he stares out the window. I’m getting anxious waiting for him to speak when he begins to pace back and forth in front of me. I follow him with my eyes, watching him get visibly more agitated with each passing second. He runs a hand through his hair and it’s the first time I’ve noticed a bit of gray peppered throughout his chestnut strands. Say something! I’m not sure if I’m talking to myself or to him but all I know is this silence is making me crazy.

I’ve just convinced myself that I should speak up when I’m against the wall with his arms caging me in. “Whitney.” He lets out a slow shaky breath. “You are… impossible. Did you just ask me if I liked her?”

I go to respond when he puts a finger up. I listen because I don’t really have a response or a reasoning behind my irrational jealousy I’d have to explain.

“I wish I did like her.” His right hand moves off the wall and finds my face. His palm rests against my cheek as he drags his thumb under the space just beneath my eyes that are now welling with tears. “I wish I liked anyone. But I don’t.” He shrugs before shaking his head. “I can’t. Not while I’m still in love with you.”

A gasp escapes my lips and the sound sends his eyes to my mouth. He bites his bottom lip and my eyes follow the movement.

“Say something,” he whispers.

“I don’t know what to say.” And that was the truth. I feel like my mind has gone blank.

“Tell me to walk away.” I don’t speak. He drags his hand away from my cheek and I know the pinkness is coating my cheeks in response to his touch. His thumb finds my bottom lip and he strokes the skin gently. “Tell me not to kiss you.”

I don’t speak.

Chapter Nine