Louis POV
one week later
••••
"Come here," I pleaded, and she barely scooted closer.
"Don't ruin it," she begged in return.
"Don't ruin what? Why won't you tell me why you keep acting like this?" I asked.
I grabbed her arms, pulling her across the bed until she was in my arms and our foreheads were pressed against each other's. She let out a shaky breath, running her thumb over my cheek.
"You're trembling," I mumbled, and she lifted her eyes.
"I can't."
"You can't what?"
"I can't be here. I can't do this." Her eyes began to fill with tears.
"Jo, stop I'm here. Quit pushing me away."
"Louis.."
I cradled her face in my hands, "Stop."
"You stop, please."
Our noses brushed, and I leaned in to press my lips against hers and felt her pull back.
I fought to keep my patience. "Jo."
"Louis, I said stop." A tear rolled down her cheek and she shook her head. "I don't want you to get hurt."
"Then why are you punishing me?"
"I'm not trying to," she cried. "Hurting you is the last thing I want, Louis."
"Then stop pulling away."
She frowned in silence as I leaned forward again to press my lips to hers.
My face jumped away—speechless—at the searing hot shock that ran over my lips. Next, it soured through my fingers, legs, and everything else in contact with her. I fell off the bed trying to get away from her.
"Goddammit Jo, stop doing that!" I screamed, pushing myself off the ground. "This is all I have!"
She buried her face into her knees, "Holding me won't bring me back. Sign the papers, Lou. You have to move on."
"Give me–give me three seconds."
"I told you not to ruin it," she whined. "Why are you making me do this, Louis? You know it hurts me!"
I slowly got back onto the bed, gingerly reaching out to touch her again. "How many times do I have to apologize?" I exhaled at the lack of shock, scooting into her again.
"Stop coming back! What's it going to take for you to stop coming back?"
"What's it going to take for you to stop leaving?"
"Our son is dead!" She yelled, pushing her searing hands into my chest. "And I killed him! I can't come back from that, Louis. How can you?"
