Chapter 44

A niggling pain worked its way into my chest. With regret, I reclaimed my hand from his and took a step away.

“No, no!” Jer caught my hand in both of his, pulling me to him. “Don’t move away, Theodore, this isn’t about you.” Jeremy wrapped me in a bear hug, breathing deeply into my neck.

Relief flooded through me. For some reason, tears burned at the corner of my eyes. Why did this guy make me cry like a baby?

The heat of his breath sent tingles rippling through me. I squeezed him, deciding to just enjoy the moment.

“I need to see Heather,” he declared.

I stiffened. Here we go again

“But not to go back with her.” He lifted his head, his dark, searching gaze catching mine. “I owe it to her, to give her an explanation. To be honest with her about what I’m feeling.”

“She’ll try to convince you to go back with her.”

“Aye, she will.”

“What’s to stop you from listening to her?”

“I don’t love her.”

“But she—”

“I love you.”