Damaged by Jody Holford

Author:Jody Holford [Holford, Jody]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-944179-01-4
Publisher: Penner Publishing
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

It may have seemed stupid to hold his ground and make her walk the five feet to him, but he felt it was somehow symbolic. This time, Maddi had to come to him. If she came to him, it would mean progress. He watched the debate play out in her expressions. Exhaustion shone in her stormy eyes and her lips were drawn down into a frown. He hated thinking that what happened today brought back something horrible for her, which clearly it had.

“I told you I don’t know how to do this,” she whispered.

His gut clenched at the look of sorrow on her face. “Well, typically, when a couple has an argument, they listen to each other’s points of view and then get right to the make-up sex,” he said, smiling at her. Her brows creased in response and she pursed her lips, making him wonder if his joke was poorly timed. He needed to hear her laugh.

Understanding dawned and she gave him a haughty look. “I didn’t mean how to have an argument.”

Jesus, she was cute, and he was tired of standing in the same spot.

“I needed to make sure because I can’t have you dumping me every time we argue,” he said reasonably.

Maddi let out a long, deep sigh before covering her face with her hands. Thinking he’d made her cry, he stepped forward to go to her when she looked up and began walking toward him. His heart lurched in his chest. He didn’t want to screw things up, but he couldn’t be the only one in this either. Noah hadn’t expected to fall hard and fast or so thoroughly. Not that he was anti-relationship, he’d just never put in much effort to maintain one. Familial, platonic, or otherwise.

“I do care about you. More than I should.”

She was just out of his reach, and he closed the distance only to have her hand come up between them.

“But not enough for this. I can’t do this.”

“Maddi.”

“Let me go.”

Something cracked inside of him, made his voice unsteady. “I don’t want to.”

Her lips firmed and tears shimmered but she kept her back straight, her jaw clenched.

“It’s too much.”

Noah didn’t want to lose her. Panic made his breathing shallow. “It’ll be okay,

Maddi.”

“Let me go.”

“You’re who I want.”

“You can’t know that.”

He took a step closer, crowded her in her space purposely, but didn’t touch her.

“I thought that too. How can someone know? How can they be sure? I’ve walked away from enough things in my life to realize that none of them hurt like this is going to. The things I walked away from made me stronger. This won’t. And it won’t fix what’s broken inside of you, Maddi.” He thumped his hand against his chest. “I know. I’m sure. I can’t let you go. You’ll always be part of me. But I’ll go. Until you’re sure.”

“I won’t ever be sure.”

“When you’re ready, I’ll be sure enough for both of us.” He touched her cheek just lightly enough to torture himself and pulled his hand back before he could haul her close.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.