Page 64 of Come to Me

"I..."

Can't even finish that sentence.

We stand there for a while, listening to the sounds of the park and the city around us.

Eventually, he takes my hand and we keep walking.

He lets it go.

But I'm not an idiot.

It's not gone.

That conversation isn't one I can delay forever. No matter how much I might want to.

Chapter Fourteen

Luke

Alyssa can't answer my question.

It's a simple question. It should have an easy answer.

Either she sees a future together, or she doesn't… I'd think, by now, she sees something.

But she clearly doesn't want to say what it is.

So, we walk.

We walk through the park silently, both of us locked in our respective heads.

This is no good. This is not how things should be.

I keep my mouth shut, my hands in my pockets. I'm not going to keep trying to pry an answer out of her.

I may as well have stayed in Los Angeles for how close we are right now.

I glance at Alyssa. She's wearing a frown. Pressing her nails into her fingers.

I run a hand through my hair. Maybe we need a little time away from this subject of conversation. Maybe it's good to walk quietly, like we're...

No. It's not good. It's fucked up.

I pull my hand out of my pocket and offer it to Alyssa. She says nothing, but she wraps her fingers around mine. Her skin is soft and warm, and, for a second, I feel like there's some way to get past this.

Then I feel a drop on my forehead.

Rain.

And, out of nowhere, it's pouring.

"I thought we were past this phase," she says in a low voice.

I move closer. "What phase?"

"The one where you sulk because I won't tell you what you want to hear."

I take a deep breath, trying to summon patience.