Chapter 22

Marie’s POV

"Tristan." I stop dead in my doorway. "What are you doing in here?"

"I needed to see you." He's sitting on the edge of my bed, hands loose in his lap, and his voice has none of the party's ugliness left in it — soft now, almost pleading. "I'm sorry. About tonight. I was out of line and I know it, and I couldn't just go home without telling you that."

"You should go home anyway."

"I will. I just — five minutes. Please." He stands, hands spread like he's showing me he's harmless. "I scared you tonight. I know I did. I hate that. I hate that more than anything."

"Tristan, I'm not ready to talk about this right now."

"I know. I know, and I respect that, I just needed you to hear that I'm sorry, that's all, and then I'll go." He takes a step closer. "You mean more to me than anything else, M