Read Online Starless Nights (Hale Brothers Series Book 2) by Kathryn Andrews - Free Book Online
Authors: Kathryn Andrews
Tags: Hale Brothers Series
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me. Pulling in every amount of self-control and strength that I have, I turn to face him.
“You didn’t hurt me. You can’t hurt me. I stopped allowing that three and half years ago on the day I moved. You lost your right to hurt me.” I had been hoping this would have come out more firm and assertive, but it didn’t, and knowing him, he probably saw right through my words.
His nose flares and his eyes narrow as he lets out a deep sigh. “Whatever you say, Leila.”
“Whatever I say?” I repeat back to him. He hears the tone in my voice but doesn’t acknowledge it.
A moment of silence passes and neither one of us break eye contact. The tension is so thick, the air around us is heating up.
My hands shake as I go to open the door before his warm hand grabs me by the arm, stopping me from climbing out of the Tahoe.
“Leila, I really am sorry you saw that.” The look of pity has returned and the air instantly chills.
“Stop saying that to me! You aren’t sorry at all! You stopped giving a shit about me a long time ago.” His eyes widen and the tears that had been swimming in my eyes spill over. “You never used to lie to me Beau, so don’t start now.” I jerk my arm away from him but continue to sit there looking out the front window.
Part of me knows this is it. We are at an impasse. It’s now or never. I should get out, walk away, and keep my mouth shut, but those margaritas either made me super brave, or really stupid.
“Oh god Beau, why do I still feel like this? When will all of this go away?” I look up at him and forcefully pat my chest directly over my heart. “Why did you ever become my friend? Why did you call me your best friend, when I really wasn’t? Why did you kiss me that day on the bench? I could have given that moment to someone who would have cherished it and me. Why?” My tears still drop.
Beau’s face is blank. He’s watching me but giving nothing away.
My hands clench into fists and drop to my lap. “I just . . . don’t you get it? I know exactly what it feels like to have nothing, or no one. Why? Why did you do it? I lost everything, even the things I had from you. I kept them in this box and I took it to the house to show you before I left but it burned in the fire. And back then, I thought that was going to be the worst of it.But noooo , over this last year, you’ve made me feel so much worse!” I’m bordering a little on hysterical, but I need him to talk to me, give me answers, something.
“Leila, you need to stop,” Beau says, his hands have moved to the steering wheel and his knuckles are white as he grips it.
“No, I know I’m rambling, but you have talked to me once in three and a half years to tell me that you aren’t my friend anymore. Well now it’s my turn. Last summer, after I returned and saw you on the beach, you know what you did . . . you walked away from me. That’s what you should have done years ago instead of giving me the silent treatment. I missed you so much for so long, and what was the point? You could have ended this the right way, instead of treating me like I am just a no body. You are a coward!”
His eyes dart back to mine and a flush works its way onto his cheeks. The temperature in the car is back on the rise. He’s mad and it’s radiating off of him.
Good let him be mad, I know I am!
“You’re drunk and you should go inside,” he says through gritted teeth.
“Maybe, but what, can’t take the truth?” I snap at him.
“You don’t know what you are saying. You’re slurring your words and quite frankly, embarrassing yourself.”
“Embarrassing myself? I’m sorry if the delivery here isn’t perfect enough for you, but then again I never have been or will be and you remind me of this daily. Why I ever thought you were someone important, someone special, I’ll never know. You know what? I’m done. I can’t do it anymore. I finally give up, after all of this time . . . you, my wasted hope, and everything else
“You didn’t hurt me. You can’t hurt me. I stopped allowing that three and half years ago on the day I moved. You lost your right to hurt me.” I had been hoping this would have come out more firm and assertive, but it didn’t, and knowing him, he probably saw right through my words.
His nose flares and his eyes narrow as he lets out a deep sigh. “Whatever you say, Leila.”
“Whatever I say?” I repeat back to him. He hears the tone in my voice but doesn’t acknowledge it.
A moment of silence passes and neither one of us break eye contact. The tension is so thick, the air around us is heating up.
My hands shake as I go to open the door before his warm hand grabs me by the arm, stopping me from climbing out of the Tahoe.
“Leila, I really am sorry you saw that.” The look of pity has returned and the air instantly chills.
“Stop saying that to me! You aren’t sorry at all! You stopped giving a shit about me a long time ago.” His eyes widen and the tears that had been swimming in my eyes spill over. “You never used to lie to me Beau, so don’t start now.” I jerk my arm away from him but continue to sit there looking out the front window.
Part of me knows this is it. We are at an impasse. It’s now or never. I should get out, walk away, and keep my mouth shut, but those margaritas either made me super brave, or really stupid.
“Oh god Beau, why do I still feel like this? When will all of this go away?” I look up at him and forcefully pat my chest directly over my heart. “Why did you ever become my friend? Why did you call me your best friend, when I really wasn’t? Why did you kiss me that day on the bench? I could have given that moment to someone who would have cherished it and me. Why?” My tears still drop.
Beau’s face is blank. He’s watching me but giving nothing away.
My hands clench into fists and drop to my lap. “I just . . . don’t you get it? I know exactly what it feels like to have nothing, or no one. Why? Why did you do it? I lost everything, even the things I had from you. I kept them in this box and I took it to the house to show you before I left but it burned in the fire. And back then, I thought that was going to be the worst of it.But noooo , over this last year, you’ve made me feel so much worse!” I’m bordering a little on hysterical, but I need him to talk to me, give me answers, something.
“Leila, you need to stop,” Beau says, his hands have moved to the steering wheel and his knuckles are white as he grips it.
“No, I know I’m rambling, but you have talked to me once in three and a half years to tell me that you aren’t my friend anymore. Well now it’s my turn. Last summer, after I returned and saw you on the beach, you know what you did . . . you walked away from me. That’s what you should have done years ago instead of giving me the silent treatment. I missed you so much for so long, and what was the point? You could have ended this the right way, instead of treating me like I am just a no body. You are a coward!”
His eyes dart back to mine and a flush works its way onto his cheeks. The temperature in the car is back on the rise. He’s mad and it’s radiating off of him.
Good let him be mad, I know I am!
“You’re drunk and you should go inside,” he says through gritted teeth.
“Maybe, but what, can’t take the truth?” I snap at him.
“You don’t know what you are saying. You’re slurring your words and quite frankly, embarrassing yourself.”
“Embarrassing myself? I’m sorry if the delivery here isn’t perfect enough for you, but then again I never have been or will be and you remind me of this daily. Why I ever thought you were someone important, someone special, I’ll never know. You know what? I’m done. I can’t do it anymore. I finally give up, after all of this time . . . you, my wasted hope, and everything else
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