Page 143

Story: Bad Little Puck Bunny

Then she swallows hard. “Do you still love me?”

I grip her fingers tighter. “Maya, I will always love you.”

She lets out a small, shaky breath.

I reach up, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear. “But…” My throat closes up.

Her eyes meet mine.Say it.

“I’m in love with someone else.”

She flinches.

Her eyes shimmer, her lips parting slightly. She’s waiting for me to take it back, to say something else.

I don’t.

Her face crumples.

I hate myself.

Her fingers move to my face again, tracing over my jaw, my cheekbones, like she’s memorizing me. Then her lips press to mine, and this time, the kiss is different. It’s slow, breaking,goodbye.

I kiss her back. One last time.

Then I pull away. I stand so she can get off my lap.

“That’s it?” she whispers.

Tears spill down her cheeks. She presses her face into my shoulder, her body shaking.

And I stand here, holding her, knowing I just broke the heart of the only girl who once had mine.

I drop Maya off at her place. She doesn’t look at me as she gets out of the car, just mutters a quietthanksbefore slamming the door shut. I watch her walk inside, my stomach twisting like I might throw up.

I did the right thing.

So why does it feel like I just ripped myself in half?

I grip the steering wheel, exhaling hard before throwing the car into drive. There’s only one place I need to be right now.

Sienna’s.

By the time I pull up to her house, my pulse is hammering. Coach’s car is still in the driveway, so I park a few houses down and wait.

Five minutes.

Ten.

Fifteen.

Finally, the front door opens, and Coach steps out, heading toward his car. I sink lower in my seat until he pulls out and disappears down the street.

I exhale, running a hand over my face.Okay. Okay.

I get out of the car and walk up to the house. Knock once. Then again.

No answer.