Chapter 24

Nikki

Chad must have thought he had heard wrong because he stared at me like I had grown three more heads. I wished he would understand how uncomfortable he was making me and just give me a straight answer. I looked everywhere in the room except for him.

“Nikki, what are you saying?” He shook his head in response, finally speaking. “I mean…” He stepped backward, scratching the back of his head in a nervous manner. “I don’t have feelings for you, it would just be taking advantage of you.”

Hurt flashed through my eyes with a gasp to accompany it. How could he say that? Did I think he had feelings for me in the first place? So many endless things ran through my mind all at once that I felt myself shatter from the inside. It was indescribable.

“Look, I’m so sorry; I don’t mean to hurt your feelings, it’s just…” He looked like he hadn’t planned on saying the words out loud.

I cut him off, folding my arms across my chest. “It’s just you didn’t think you were