Fighting Shadows (On the Ropes #2)(10)

“Are you insane? I’m not taking your money!”

He stopped in his tracks and spun to face me. “Excuse me?”

“There is no way I’m taking your money.”

“Yes, you f*cking are!”

“That’s your money. Not mine. Use it to take care of your wife and daughter. I can figure out college on my own.”

“You’re absolutely right. It is my money, and I busted my ass to earn it so I could take care of my family. You are my family,” he bit out.

“Unfortunately, that’s true,” I mumbled.

It was childish and a lie, but they were the only words I could think of to hurt him. However, since he was standing across the room, Eliza was the only one who heard them.

“Flint!” she scolded, wiping her tears away and squaring her shoulders.

Fuck. I knew that look, and it didn’t bode well for me at all.

“Till, take Blakely and go get that check. I’m gonna help Flint pack a few things.” She smiled sweetly, and it quite honestly scared the piss out of me.

Till must have recognized the look too, because as he took the baby from her arms, he bit his lip to conceal a laugh.

Not even a second after he walked from the room, Eliza started in on me.

“Are you done?” She crossed her arms over her chest.

“Yep.” Unwilling to listen to her lecture, I spun myself away. But before I could get turned all the way around, she lifted her foot and slammed down on the brake of my wheelchair, thrusting me forward from the sudden halt.

“You’re not done.”

“Oh, I’m not?” I laughed humorlessly, rolling my eyes. After releasing the brake, I began to leave again, but Eliza had other ideas.

Moving in front of my chair, she leveled me with a menacing glare. Bending over, she rested her hands on my thighs. “Kiss me.”

“What?” I questioned, leaning away.

“You love me, right? You’re leaving because of that, right? Then kiss me. Who knows? Maybe I’ll like it.” She shrugged and moved in even closer.

I had envisioned kissing Eliza no fewer than a million times. Never once had it been out of pity or desperation. Those two things were enough to ruin even my wildest dreams.

“Wow, Eliza. I didn’t take you for a cheater.”

“It’s not cheating, because I would feel nothing.”

I laughed again, trying to hide the hole her words had carved in my soul. “Well, when you put it that way.”

“Then tell me why you’re leaving,” she demanded, never moving away.

“I told you. College. Besides, I’m sick of you guys taking care of me. I need to do this on my own.”

Oh, and because I want to rip the arms off my brother every time he touches you.

“Bullshit. You’re leaving because of me.”

“Wow. Aren’t you full of yourself today? Not everything is about you.”

“I’m well aware of that, but this is,” she hissed. “I love you, Flint Page. And I know you love me, but not like this. If finally kissing me will make you see that this thing you have for me is nothing more than an infatuation, then I’ll take the hit.”

“The hit? Christ, now I’m in the mood,” I said sarcastically, but my eyes dropped to her mouth.

Fuck it.

Suddenly, I grabbed the back of her neck, hauling her impossibly close. Her eyes went wide and her chin quivered, but she didn’t back away.

I’d spent years pining over Eliza, but with her lips less than an inch from mine, I was hit by the overwhelming reality that it was never going to happen for me with her. I could steal a single kiss, but I’d never have more than that. I should have realized that about the time she’d married my brother, but it wasn’t until right then—as fear and anxiety covered her gorgeous face—that the truth sank in.

My chest ached as I made the decision to finally let her go. She stared at me, pleading through her sparkling, blue eyes—a single tear spilling out then trailing down her cheek.

Fuck. That one f*cking tear gutted me.

It was the end.

With that realization lingering between us, my angry fa?ade melted away, leaving me stripped and vulnerable in its absence. I couldn’t even stop the truth as it tumbled from my tongue.

“I don’t know what to do. I’m so f*cking bitter, Eliza. I don’t even know why most of the time. I mean, of course, there’s the obvious.” I looked down at my legs. “But God, it’s so much more than that. I’m starting to hate him because I love you. Yet, at the same time, he’s my brother and I love him, but I hate you so f*cking much for loving him too.”

“You don’t love me, Flint,” she whispered.

“You can’t say that! You don’t know!” I boomed before falling quiet. “I just need to get away from here.”

“Okay. Then I won’t fight you. If you want to move out, fine. But I have this feeling that you’re not planning to come back.” She dropped to her knees in front of me. Then she squeezed my hand painfully tight. “I need you to swear to me that, even if your address changes, you’re not actually going anywhere.”

“I can’t . . .” I trailed off.

“You don’t have be around me if you don’t want, but please don’t do this to Till and Quarry.” Her voice hitched.