Chapter 16. You Don’t Love Me

“I simply cannot love you.”

“Why…?”

“I don’t know.”

“I want to know why, Jake… there must be a reason, there must be something. I love you, so why can’t you love me back?”

“It’s because…” Jake looked off towards the woods instead of staring into those desperate blue eyes of hers. She was standing close to him, her chin digging slightly into his chest, and yet he felt nothing; no spark, no warmth… he just felt… cold. This felt so different from when Delilah touched him, the beat of his heart would’ve fastened by now, and the warmth her body radiated would’ve already flooded through him… that along with the enchanting sparks. “It’s because you don’t love me, Beatrice. The feelings you have for me are nothing but gratefulness. You only stuck by me because you thought you owed me your life… because I saved you. What you feel for me is not love, but loyalty.”

“W-What?” She stumbled back, tears welling up in her eyes again. “I know what I feel, and it’s not j