Page 78 of The Destruction You Desire

Lifting her from the dresser, I lay her out on the bed and rid her of the rest of her clothes before spending what's left of our night making the most of her, proving to her why this is how it should be. The two of us against the world like it was all those years ago.

* * *

I come to, with her in my arms but the second I pull her closer, I know something is wrong.

Ripping my eyes open, I find her laying on her back and staring up at the ceiling, her body tight with tension.

"What's wrong, baby?"

She swallows, her lips parting ready to say the words I assume she's been planning for a while.

"I… I need you to leave."

All the breath rushes from my lungs.

"L-leave?"

"Yeah. I need you to go back to Maddison. Back to your life."

"My life is here. With you."

"No, it's not," she snaps. "You're only here out of guilt. You need to leave," she repeats, her voice rough with emotion as she throws the sheets back and attempts to get out of bed, only my grip on her is too tight.

"You don't mean that," I state, feeling like my world has just been pulled from beneath me once again.

"I do. Whatever this is," she says, gesturing between us. "It needs to stop. We're not those same people anymore and we don't have the future we once did."

"No," I say, refusing to accept what she's saying. "What about Libby? What about—"

"Libby is improving. She doesn't need both of us here putting our lives on hold."

"What if I don't want to go back?"

"I don't care, Luc. I need you to leave. I can't d-do this right now."

Reaching out, I cup her cheek, finally turning her toward me. It takes her a few seconds but eventually, her eyes find mine.

The pain and tears in her silver depths slay me.

"Please, Luc. I know you're trying to make things better but right now, you're only making my life harder."

I shake my head, unable to accept her words although knowing that she truly means them.

"I'm sorry, Luc. We're done. This is finished."

This time when she twists away from me to get out of bed, I release my arm and allow her to go.

I watch as she pads naked to the bathroom. She pauses in the doorway and looks down at her feet.

"I think it's probably best if you're gone by the time I get out."

Without waiting for a response, she slams the door closed and flips the lock.

18

Peyton

Istand with my palms on the sink and my head lowered, fighting like hell to keep it all together until I hear the motel room door slam shut.