Page 92 of Make Me Bleed

“That’s what I thought.”

I turn around and pick up my mug for something to do with my hands. The warmth is nice, and I savor it for a moment. Eyes closed, I finally work up the courage to murmur, “I’m scared.”

There’s a long pause.

“Is that all?”

My eyes snap open. “‘Is that all’? Are you kidding me? That seems pretty big to me.”

Peris rolls his eyes, and I want to smack them out of his head. I almost do, but he beats me to it and grabs my wrist before I can. “Let me go.”

“Don’t fucking hit me again, runt. You’ll regret it.”

“I already know that,” I snap back. Because I will, but right now, I just don’t care.

“Abel, you’ve been scared your whole fucking life. What’s so different about now?”

“What’s different? What’sdifferent? Nothingis like it was, and I just gave up the one thing that gave me my freedom—so I could be with you. So, forgive me for being a little fucking terrified of what that entails!” By the time I’ve finished, my chest is heaving, and my eyes sting with a fresh wave of tears I refuse to let fall.

“You didn’t have to do that for me!” Peris yells back, and I lose it. The teras fall, and I let him fucking see them becausefuck him.

“Of course, I did!” I scream. “How could I let you go again when you’re right here, and you fuckinglove me, Peris! And I love you, damnit!And you’re here, and you want me, and I can’t say no again. I can’tleave youagain. It’ll fucking kill me this time. So, yes. I’m scared, but I didn’t really have a choice… I’m just…” I drop my head between my shoulders and rub the tips of my fingers into my temples to ease the ache. “Freaking out because I hate change, is all. But damnit. You’re a pain in my fucking ass,” I snipe when I feel his fingers lift my chin back up.

“Only you can make saying I love you sound so angry,” he muses, and I bare my teeth.

“It’s a special talent,” I snap back—literally. Peris chuckles, and the sound warms me from the inside out.

“Not the only one you’ve got, though,” Peris says with a lifted brow, and I roll my eyes.

“You fucking know it. Now, am I the only one making huge confessions, or are you gonna spill some truths tonight, too?”

“What would you like to know, runt?” Peris says with a sigh, like he’s so bothered, and I can’t help but smile as I take a small sip of myblood tea,as Peris called it.

“Do you love me?” I ask, holding my breath for the answer.

It’s quiet for the length of three heart beats, and then he says, “Too fucking much.”

I don’t waste any time setting my cup on the counter and jumping right into his arms. He catches me with ease, and our mouths find each other’s like they were always meant to.

CHAPTER 23

ABEL

It’sthe first game I’ve seen of Peris’s in person since he started college, and I’m not gonna lie, I’m fuckingnervous.Not for any other reason than it just feels like a big step for us. But Elise is meeting me here, and we’re going to sit together, so that will be okay, I think.

Things are still kind of awkward—mostly on my end—but I’ll get there, eventually.

The crowd is insane, and it’s hard to work my way through them as I try to find my seat, but by the time I do, I’m feeling frazzled and a bit out of my skin.

“There you are! I was worried you got lost!” Elise says when I finally find her.

I drop down into my seat with a sigh of relief and run my fingers through my hair. “I kind of did, honestly. This place is huge.” I stare out into the crowds. It’s bustling and noisy, and I’m grateful we’re seated close to the floor instead of up in the stands.

“Don’t worry, I did too the first couple of times. You get the hang of it.”

That makes me smile, and I drop my face into my palm to try to hide it, but I think Elise sees it anyway.

“It’s good that you came. I know Peris wanted you to.”