Escape | ✓

18 [part two]

Make sure you read part one first!

I wasn't sure what to say when I saw Reuben standing outside my door. Part of me felt as though I should be happy, but I was also confused. I was confused about whether or not it was a good thing. Was he here because he wanted to talk, or was it because he wanted to officially end things? I wasn't sure I wanted to know the answer.

"Can I come in?" He asked, his voice sounding less confident and sure than I was used to hearing.

I took a deep breath and nodded. I moved to the side and allowed him to enter. Reuben looked around the room before taking a seat, but he still refused to look at me.

"Why are you here?" I reluctantly asked and took a seat across from him.

Reuben finally looked at me. "I wanted to talk."

"Talk?"

"Talk about everything that happened," he elaborated. "Look, Eli, I wasn't trying to hurt you, okay? I told you at the beginning, there's a lot you don't know about me—"

"You also told me you would give me one chance—give our bond a chance," I said quietly.

Reuben blinked. "You think I haven't been doing that?"

"I don't know, Reuben and that's the problem!" I couldn't help but raise my voice out of frustration. "One minute you're telling me we don't belong together, then you're joking around with me, and after that, you're back to raising your guards. It's hard for me to tell if we're getting anywhere when you're always flipping back and forth."

Reuben remained quiet, so I continued. "I don't know what's going through your head, Reuben and that's what scares me. You could hate me for all I know."

I didn't like being left in the dark. I'd gone years not knowing what the next step in my life would be. I was sick and tired of the unknown.

"I don't hate you, Eli," he said with a sigh. "I don't. In fact, I like you much more than I first thought I would, okay? I may not always have the best way of showing it, but I do think you're a nice guy. An attractive guy."

No other words were exchanged and it was as if my brain stopped functioning. That all too familiar feeling of desire coursed through me. I could practically feel Reuebn's scent surrounding me, the hazelnut smell grew stronger and before I knew it, I closed the gap between us, and my lips were on his.