Page 129 of Too Far

K thinks he’s helping. He thinks Decker can be reasoned with. Only, he doesn’t know about last night. He doesn’t know how desperately I tried to get through to him. How steadfastly he denied me.

Ignoring me, Kendrick rises, gripping his side of the table. “What do you want,Cap?”

Before I can beg him to drop it—to leave well enough alone, to give me these last few minutes of time-out where Decker isn’t on the outs with us, to give me a moment to pretend my heart isn’t so broken and battered—Kendrick turns to me.

“Fine. He’s forcing my hand. There’s a way out of this. There’s a waythroughit.” He stands taller. “Cap and I had a conversation this morning. He knows there’s a way to edge out his father once and for all. What I don’t know”—he sets his sights on his friend again—“is whether he’s brave enough to do it.”

“You figured something out?” Locke sits up straighter and laces his fingers on the tabletop.

Kylian is silent as he watches the exchange.

“I had an idea, yeah. But it’s Decker’s choice. It comes down to what he wants to do.”

Decker scoffs. It’s a loud, indignant huff of outrage. “It’s not that simple,” he growls. He’s gripping the table so tightly his knuckles are white.

“That’s okay.” I release Locke’s hand and make my way to Decker. Gently, so as not to spook him, I rest my palm on his forearm, then glide my fingertips down to his wrist.

With a pained exhale, he allows me to peel his hand off the table. That’s when I take my shot. I slip into the space between his body and the wooden surface. He doesn’t budge, so it’s a tight squeeze.

“I don’t need simple,” I promise, tipping my head up and brushing the hair from his forehead. “I want you, too, Cap. Whatever it is, I’m in.”

“Josephine,” he growls in warning. “No,” I snap.

I’d stomp my foot if I had enough room to move. But as it stands, I’m trapped in his hold, even if he refuses to touch me. Refuses to look me in the eye.

“I want you. You want us. Don’t you dare dangle the possibility of a solution in front of my face, then start up on your martyr shit again. I swear to God, Decker, whatever it is, I’m in. Whatever it takes, let’s do it.”

Onyx eyes find mine. His expression is pained, forlorn, but under the surface, there’s a spark of hope, too.

“We have to get married. You and me, Josephine. You’d have to marry me.”

Chapter 59

Josephine

Mybodyjoltsasif it’s been struck by a shock of electricity. My bum slams against the table as a ringing sounds in my ears.

No, not a ringing.

A cackling.

Uncontrollable, maniacal laughter.

It takes a few seconds to realize the sounds are coming fromme.

Delirious, possibly losing control of my sanity, I swipe the tears from my eyes and suck in a deep breath, willing my heart rate to level out. “I’m not marrying you.” The statement comes out on a hiccup that sends me into another fit of laughter. “We aren’t eventogetheranymore because of you.”

Lightheaded and oxygen deprived, I inhale, let it out, and do it again, equally amused and exasperated.

All that hope for this?

Sighing, I shove away from Decker and march back to my seat.

Except as I sit in my chair and collect myself, I realize the room is quiet.

Tooquiet.

When I look up, all eyes are on me.