Chapter 174

#41

I watch the soft, relaxed expression on Eli’s face vanish, replaced by a sudden rigidity that makes his shoulders lock. His large hands drop from my waist and an immediate panic washes over my chest as the vulnerability of what I just confessed hits me.

“You don’t have to say it back,” I say quickly, taking a step back and wrapping my arms tightly over my uniform skirt. “I… um… I just wanted you to know.”

Eli rubs the back of his neck, his knuckles catching on the edge of his collar as he looks down at the floor, refusing to meet my eyes.

“Why,” he says, his brows pulling together in a tight frown. “Why would you even say that?”

The tone of his voice is entirely devoid of the tenderness from a moment ago. It sounds flat, bordering on annoyed, and the rejection hits me hard. My panic instantly morphs into a hot, defensive anger as my defenses flare up to protect whatever dignity I have left.

“What the hell kind of response is that?” I demand, my