The Resistance(85)

He grabs my wrist, squeezing so tight I can’t escape. “I didn’t mean it like that. I didn’t. Cory’s death has fucked with my head—”

“No! You don’t get to use Cory’s death and you won’t use Dex’s drug problem, or the band ending to excuse what you just did to me. I get what you think you saw, Dalton, but you are wrong. I was giving a friend a goodbye hug, thanking him because he was gracious enough to not only come out and support me today, but to bring lunch for us because he knew we wouldn’t be able to get away.”

“You have money. You can order delivery.”

“Oh my God! You don’t get it, do you?” I shake my head, but his grip tightens. “You live in your own world. You’ve said it yourself. I may have money, but everyone doesn’t drop their lives for me. You’re so caught up in yourself that you’ve failed to notice you’ve been losing me.” Remembering Rochelle’s advice, I refuse to back down. “I can’t live like this anymore. I can’t live only for you anymore.”

“I do things for you. I do, so don’t turn this around like I haven’t. I have.”

“What are you talking about? And what have you done for me? Because where I stand, everything has been about you from the start, starting with the lies you told to get laid back in Vegas.”

He stares into my eyes, his mouth slightly open, then he says, “I’ve flown across the world just to be with you.”

I nod, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. When I open them again, I look down, away from his, not able to reason between how he’s hurt my feelings and the love I feel for him. I don’t think I’m going to be able to in this parking garage either. I take a step back, but stop because he’s still holding my wrists. When I glance over at two women entering the garage, he loosens, then releases his hold.

When I take another step back, he moves closer. “Holliday?”

I don’t understand how a man who loves me so much can hurt me so badly. “Don’t.”

He doesn’t listen. He moves and pulls me to him. With our bodies pressed together—one of his hands lands on my lower back, the other on the back of my neck. “I don’t want to hurt you, but my life is a whirlwind.”

I want to kiss his regrets away, but he needs to feel everything right now. He needs to escape this state of numbness he’s been living in since Cory’s death. I’m just sorry that him living again is coming at the expense of us. “Your life is a tornado, destroying everything in its path.”

The whispers return as a group of teenagers exit an elevator down the row of cars—their giggles getting louder as they hurry in our direction. Their mission accomplished as they point at Dalton.

We head for the car. I get my key ready to help with a quick escape as my steps pick up. But there’s a hollowness to the echo from the solo footfalls of my heels hitting the cement. Panicked, I turn around, realizing there’s no we, but me here and him over there. My eyes connect with his as he remains where I left him. My heart beats faster as my hand goes out, trying to close the distance. Even though I know the answer before I ask, I do it anyways, hoping to be surprised. “Are you coming?”

“No,” he says, “Go on without me, Holliday.”

I glance over at the teens with their phones out, squealing in excitement, then back to him. With a small nod and a silent goodbye, he signals for me to leave. I turn back around, standing there a second longer before I walk away from him… and he lets me.





“Sometimes what you want and what everybody else wants from you are two different things.” ~Johnny Outlaw





I’m exhausted—today mentally and physically drained me. The tears I cried earlier have dried on my cheeks, so I rinse my face, the cool water feeling refreshing on my hot skin. After changing into boxer shorts and a tank top, I pull my short fuzzy robe on and go out onto the patio. I glance over at Danny’s patio door, but it’s closed. The light is on, but when I knocked earlier to check on him there was no answer.

Lying back on the chaise, I tilt my head up and stare at the stars. My eyes feel heavy and I close them, relaxing into the chair.

“Clear sky tonight.”

Danny. I jump up and go to the short wall of my patio that faces his. “How are you?” Grabbing hold of the stucco wall, the sharp edges and smooth grooves are contrasting like my emotions. I gulp before I speak, worried he’s mad at me… or worse, hates me.

“I’ve gone through two bags of peas and one steak I was planning on having for dinner tonight, but I think I’ll live.”