Page 118 of Taming Grumpy Dr. Beast

“Did you really think so little of me? That I wouldn’t understand you were protecting Jess?” Hurt flashed in her eyes.

I swallowed and forced myself to look at her. “No,” I whispered. “I thought that little of myself.”

Her voice cracked. “Jaxon.”

“Forget it. How can I expect you to love me when I don’t even believe it’s possible?”

She muffled a cry behind her hand, and yet still she said nothing.

I was done torturing both of us. With a slump in my shoulders and a drag in my step, I turned away from her and walked out the door. I half expected her to call out to me. To tell me to stop and come back, but she didn’t.

I’d broken her trust.

We were over.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Lily

Jess gave me a sadshake of her head as she and Alden turned to follow Jaxon out the door. I was frozen in place, left there to stare helplessly at the now vacant space they stood only moments ago. Hope and fear battled in my head. I didn’t want to let him go, but what if he hurt me again? Could I stand it?

My body jerked as Cece’s fingers wrapped around my arm. “What are you doing, Lil? You can’t let him walk away like that.”

I moved away from her. My breath was coming out in pants, and I struggled to draw in oxygen. I’d always relied on my intelligence to help me figure out a solution, to look at all the angles and choose the best course of action. But here, my thoughts were being battered from the emotions my heart was forcing me to feel. Pain, sadness, and loss ripped at me.

I needed to keep my hands busy. I needed to be able to think this through.

There was a pile of mail I’d brought with me to sort through sitting on the counter. With very little conscious thought, I pulled out one envelope after the other not even reading what was inside.

“After what he said, how can you still be afraid to put your heart on the line?”

“What if he changes his mind?” Fear tightened my throat. Patches whimpered and nuzzled his head against my leg. He was always so perceptive and seemed to know just when I needed a little extra support.

“What if he doesn’t?” Those words were like a closed circuit in my head.

“Damn it, Lily. He loves you and he gave up his damn book for you!” Cece huffed at me.