Fraud

Her face is bright red, and her eyes are watering, tears slipping down her cheeks from how fu

“Are you okay?”

More laughter, before she takes a deep breath in an attempt to stop. “Did you actually think I jumped?”

The look on my face must be hilarious because she busts out laughing again.

Wiping a few tears away, she tightens the towel around her and walks over. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for you to fall.”

“You didn’t?” I ask, my brows shooting up as I grimace at her.

She shakes her head, but can’t stop laughing.

Rolling my eyes, I can’t help but laugh with her.

“Whatever.” I lift a hand. “At least help me up.”

She reaches for me, but rather than letting her pull me up, I tug her down instead.

Ivy squeaks as she falls on my body, her palms braced on my chest as my hands grab her ass.

We stare at each other for a few seconds, and I watch the remaining tears slip down her face.

“We can’t happen,” I finally say, seeing something in her eyes that resembles hope.

Her brows crash together. “Are you talking about us? I’m shocked.”

Scoffing at that, she looks away and back at me again.

“You took that seriously, too, didn’t you? I only brought it up so you wouldn’t follow me around when I was grabbing your keys and a knife. It was nothing serious.”

Except it was.

And even if she won’t admit it to herself, I know it’s true.

It’s always been true.

Since the day we met and I shoved her to the ground for being special.

We hurt each other because we can’t have each other...because it’s the only way we can hold on.

Reaching up, I trace the shape of her lips, our eyes locking as her breath beats over the tips of my fingers.

“This would be a lot easier if you hate me.”

She blinks, her face angling down into my touch when I palm her cheek.

“I do hate you,” she lies. “And you hate me.”

The corner of my mouth curls. “I don’t believe you.”

“About?”

“About either of the statements you just made.”

Ivy sighs, her body relaxing against mine.

“Damn it, Gabriel. You’re not supposed to say that.”

Slowly twisting my fingers into the strands of her hair, I pull her face to mine. Our lips brush, our breath colliding, our eyes dancing together as we both fight what’s always been true.

“Hey! Romeo and Psychobitch. Get the hell downstairs. Some of us have to get back on the road soon and don’t have time for you to fuck again.”

Both our heads turn to see Ta

“You two seriously need to get a room. This crap is getting really damn old, really damn fast. Now move.”

He marches off, and we stay in place until the sound of his retreating steps is gone.

Releasing a heavy breath, I lay the back of my head against the floor and stare up at a woman who shouldn’t be lying on top of me.

This conversation is not going to be fun. But it’s still a hell of a lot safer than the one we were having.