After You by T.M. Cromer

Author:T.M. Cromer [Cromer, T.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fae Press

CHAPTER 31

“Is this your revenge?”

A device clanked on the hospital tray, jolting Annie awake.

Quinn.

And his sour mood hadn’t sweetened since his previous visit. His entire vibe screamed accusatory.

“Go away.” She flipped him off and shut her eyes to block him out.

A day had passed since the article was published, which was exactly four days after he’d initially accused her of conspiring with Sammy to ruin his love life and two since he’d left in an aneurysm-inspiring rage.

Five days too many of brutal self-reflection. Annie hated herself and practically everyone else on the planet who drew air.

“I asked you a question,” Quinn said, exasperation heavy in his tone.

“Fuck off.”

Michael had detailed his conversation, unknowingly wounding her in the process. To think Quinn believed she would offer up the intimate details of his visits pureed her heart, leaving only sludge for an organ.

She’d half suspected their confrontation would’ve taken place sooner, but she was happy for the reprieve. It had given her time to lecture herself on lost causes. Harden up. Gird her loins.

Sure, the coward in Annie had wanted to keep her head low and sleep her life away, but the fighter in her wanted to flay him alive at the injustice of it all. He was convinced she’d wronged him. And there was no coming back from that.

“Annie.”

As his voice washed over her, his emotions were a churning tide. But his standard warmth was lacking, and she knew whatever barriers she’d erected weren’t high or thick enough. They never would be. A sense of raw pain burned the back of her throat, and all the words she wanted to scream were held there by the thinnest of threads. Unable to look at him without losing control, she picked up a pen.

“I need to speak with you.”

“No, you really don’t.” She clicked the pen off and set it parallel to the notebook she’d been using to write out her PT exercises.

“Did you…” He cleared his throat. “Did you speak to the press? Be honest with me, please.”

Rage fired up every single one of her cells. The blaze engulfed her, burning her to the point she couldn’t reply even if she wanted to. She aligned her laptop with the rest of the items on the tray.

“Annie.”

Her eyes scanned the hard surface to avoid his probing stare.

Something was off with her arrangement.

She picked up her water bottle and wiped the condensation with the sheet’s edge before she set it back down. Next, she removed the spiral notebook and pen. When Quinn called her name a third time, she moved the laptop to the center of the tabletop.

He gripped her wrists to stop her fussing.

“Why did you do it?” he demanded.

She jerked free and shoved at his offending hands. “Go. Away!”

“I trusted you,” he spat out, his temper finally letting loose. “I trusted you, and you…”

His accusations stung. Damn if they didn’t. Her gaze flew to his. “Get out of my room, and don’t come back.”

“I want an explanation,” he ground out.

“And I want

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