Chapter 36: Mad Love

An awkward silence fills the car. He waits patiently for my answer, threading his fingers through my hairs.

I know there’s no way I can escape his questioning. So after a long pause, I finally open my mouth.

“I—I just think it’s a weird timing, with you and James suddenly appear at the beach house…” I say in a low voice. “…and I thought you were giving up on me after—you know— that night. So what made you change your mind?”

So that’s my final decision—not telling him the truth.

I know a relationship counselor would probably tell me that it’s important to share things with my boyfriend and to keep it open and honest in a relationship. But I’ve decided against it. Eason is the most manipulative person I’ve ever known. I have to keep my guards up around him—even though I don’t want to.

I really hope that I can just throw myself into his arms and pour my heart out. But there’s something about him—something that I can’t quite put my finger on—that stops me from fully committing to this