Read Online Misguided Truths: Part One by Sarah Elizabeth - Free Book Online Page B

to at least tell him. It’s not fair—”
    “Are you?” My eyes land over on the now open doorway and a dull ache crosses into my chest when I see him. “Are you done?” His shoulders are slumped low, and his eyes are dull. I’ve never seen him look so pale, so dejected before.
    I glance slowly between him and Rachael as she p laces her hand gently on my arm, “Holly?”
    I nod at her, and she gives me a small smile before she stands up and heads over to the door. She quietly whispers something to Brandon, and I see him give her a tight smile , as though in understanding, before she closes the door behind her.
    “Um …” I sit straighter and wait for him to come and sit with me, but he doesn’t. He stays standing on the other side of the room, with his gaze firmly fixed on the floor. “I …”
    I have absolutely no idea what I should even say to him. Telling him about what happened between me and Neil will mean that I’ll lose him. I don’t want to lose him. But, I can’t pretend it didn’t happen, either. If I could, then I would, but the guilt is eating away inside.
    “Just hear me out, okay? I swear, Holl's, if I’d have known how upset you’d be then I would’ve—“
    “You’d have cancelled the gig and come with me instead?” He closes his eyes and leans his head against the back wall.
    “I don’t think I’m gonna like the answer to this,” he exhales a deep breath , and rakes both of his hands through his hair while taking a seat beside me, resting his head in his hands. “But, I need to know.”
    When he lifts his head, I see they’re glazed over and an almost grey color. Purple s rings are underneath his eyes, “W-w-what?”
    He knows.
    “I fucked up. I know I did. But, Holl's? Please don’t …” Brandon’s eyebrows furrow and a deeper frown etches over his mouth. I follow his gaze and see that he’s now staring at the gift he gave to me on Friday night, still in its box and sitting on my nightstand. “Are you breaking up with me?” His voice cracks as he asks. Though his hands are gripped tightly together in front of his mouth, they’re shaking. He doesn’t look at me; he just keeps his eyes focused directly ahead.
    He thinks that this is all of his fault, and this alone makes it’s impossible for me to hold them in any longer. Tears begin to treacle down my cheeks and a knot twists in my stomach. “Brandon?” I whisper and watch him lift his head up before turning to face me. “I’m—“
    He stands back up and begins pacing the length of my room, stopping when he reaches the window. He rests his hands against the windowsill and gazes outside. A few moments pass by before he drops his head in defeat, “Rach was right, wasn’t she? You’re … you’re done.” His voice is a whisper and laced with sorrow.
    My cell vibrate again , and when I check the screen, it’s another message.
     
    What’s Brandon doing in your room?
     
    What in the hell?
    I shove the phone into the top drawer of my nightstand and slam it closed. Brandon looks over with a questioning look in his eyes before returning his focus back out of the window. My hands are shaking as I stand and walk over to him.
    He turns his back to the window, and is facing me now, with a look of desperation crossing into his eyes, “I’m in love with you, Holly.” He lowers his gaze to the floor and shakes his head. “I fell in love with you.” His voice is a hoarse whisper and my breath catches when he says the words. He’s never told me he loves me before. The guilt I’d been feeling was nothing compared to how bad I feel right now.
    Wrapping my arms around his shoulders, I pull him into me and close my eyes, inhaling his scent. God, I’ve missed this. He places his hands lightly on either side of my waist and rests his chin on my right shoulder. His breaths are uneven, and I know that I need to say those three words back to him.
    “Please give me another chance, Holl’s,” he whispers while wrapping