Chapter 25

Madden lifted two fingers beneath her chin, gently bringing her face toward his.

“Just say it,” he whispered.

Poppi’s lips parted.

Her heart told her one thing.

Her mind screamed another.

Then his eyes dropped to her mouth.

That tiny movement nearly broke her.

She could feel herself leaning toward him.

Barely.

Just enough.

Madden noticed.

His breath caught.

He leaned closer.

Their faces were inches apart.

Poppi could feel the warmth of his breath.

One more inch.

One more second.

And everything would change.

The promises they’d made at the spa.

The boundaries they’d agreed on.

Every reason they’d given themselves for why this couldn’t happen.

All of it began slipping away.

Poppi’s eyes closed.

Then she jerked backward.

“No.”

Madden stopped immediately.

Poppi stepped away from him, shaking her head.

“We can’t.”

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Then, stronger—

“We can’t do this.”

Madden stayed where he was.

His chest rose and fell heavily.

He looked at her like he was trying to understand how they’d gone from standing several feet apart to almost kissing in the span of a few breaths.

“Yeah,” he finally said.

But there was no agreement in his voice.

Only frustration.

“I know.”

Poppi wrapped her arms around herself.

“You need to stop.”

“I know.”

“You need to stop looking at me like that.”

“I know.”

“You need to stop making me feel like—”

She stopped herself.

Madden’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Like what?”

“Nothing.”

“No.”

He took one step toward her.

She immediately took one back.

“Don’t do that.”

“Like what, Poppi?”

She shook her head.

“You know what you’re doing.”

“I think you know exactly what I’m doing.”

“Madden.”

“You still haven’t said it.”

“Said what?”

His voice dropped again.

“Tell me you don’t want me.”

Silence.

Poppi stared at him.

The words should have been easy.

They should have been the simplest thing in the world.

Instead, they felt impossible.

She backed up another step.

Then another.

Putting distance between them.

Rebuilding the wall she’d spent so much time trying to keep standing.

“I don’t want this to become something we can’t take back,” she said.

Madden’s expression softened.

“Neither do I.”

“Then why are you doing this?”

“Because I’m tired of pretending I don’t feel anything.”

Her eyes flickered.

“Madden…”

“I didn’t say we should do anything.”

“You almost kissed me.”

“You almost kissed me too.”

She immediately looked away.

“That isn’t fair.”

“Neither is pretending this is only happening because of me.”

Poppi’s eyes filled with frustration.

“You don’t understand.”

“Then make me understand.”

“I can’t.”

“Why?”

“Because if I say it out loud, it becomes real.”

Madden went completely still.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then he nodded slowly.

“That’s what I thought.”

Poppi looked at him.

“What does that mean?”

“It means you feel it too.”

She shook her head.

“No.”

“You don’t have to admit it.”

“I don’t.”

“You just did.”

She stared at him.

He gave her a sad, almost defeated smile.

“Go back inside.”

Poppi hesitated.

“You first.”

Madden glanced toward the house.

Then back at her.

“I’m not ready yet.”

“Neither am I.”

Their eyes met again.

And somehow that was worse.

Because there was no anger anymore.

No teasing.

No argument to hide behind.

Just the truth sitting between them.

Poppi finally turned away.

“I’m going inside.”

Madden didn’t stop her.

She took a few steps toward the house before his voice followed her.

“Poppi.”

She stopped.

But she didn’t turn around.

“I’m not going to ask you again tonight.”

Her heart squeezed.

She finally glanced over her shoulder.

Madden was still standing exactly where she’d left him.

“But I’m also not going to lie to you,” he said. “I want you.”

Poppi’s eyes closed.

Just for a second.

When she opened them, he was still watching her.

“I can’t give you that,” she whispered.

“I know.”

She turned back toward the house.

“Goodnight, Madden.”

“Goodnight, Poppi.”

She walked away.

Her steps became faster with every second.

Because she knew herself well enough to know that if she slowed down, she might turn around.

And if she turned around…

She wasn’t sure she would have the strength to walk away again.

Behind her, Madden remained in the darkness.

He stared after her until she disappeared through the door.

Only then did he drag a hand across his face and exhale.

He’d told himself he could handle being around her.

He’d told himself the boundaries were enough.

He’d told himself that wanting something didn’t mean he had to act on it.

But tonight had proven something neither of them wanted to admit.

The line they’d drawn between them wasn’t as solid as they thought.

It was already cracking.

And eventually—

One of them was going to cross it.