Chapter 69. Too Much To Love

Lila’s POV

I didn’t even see him. I was still scared from seeing that figure that had appeared and disappeared mysteriously

I was walking, hugging myself so tight it hurt. Trying not to cry again. Breathing like my lungs had failed me.

**Okay, hold it in, hold it together.** I said to myself and then—

“Are you really sneaking out or what?”

His voice. Behind me.

I spun so fast I almost tripped.

And there he was. Ryder was staring at me like I started a fire.

He was standing there like he’d run the whole way. His chest heaving, hair all wild like he’d been pulling at it, and his face was so pale. Eyes so tired they looked bruised. And pissed.

Ryder stared at me like he was going to vomit fire any minute, he looked so different, not like the Ryder I know, not the Ryder I had fallen for.

“Ryder—”

“We’re not doing this,” he muttered. “Come back.”

There were so many things I wanted to say. I wanted to apologize