Chapter 61 Mason With King and Niko gone for the meeting with the fron Serpents , and Zuri finally asleep upstairs , Alyssa and I are alone .
Shes watching Enchanted for what has to be the millionth time .
Ive never actually watched the damn movie .
Thats usually something she does with Niko , but I swear I could recise it word for word if someone held a gun to my head .
I should be reading the book in my hands , but I find myself reading the same lines over and over again , the words refusing to stick .
Instead , my focus keeps drifting to Alyssa the way she smiles at the cheesy parts of the movie , how she curls her legs up on the couch , hugging herself .
She looks like she wants to be held , and I want to be the one to hold her , but Im still too much of a fucking coward .
Ive been sleeping in what used to be her mom for the past week .
Close enough to feel like Im in her orbit , but never close enough to actually touch her .
Never close eisough to be more than just a shadow .
I know Niko told me to tell her .
To just get it off my chest .
But I cant .
Theres no space for a third guy in this situation .
I refuse to have any hope that she would ever go for that .
But the jealousy continues to eat away at me when I watch King and Niko with her , and Im tired of pretending like it isnt .
e .
Whats wrong ? I ask quietly , glancing up from my book .
Suddenly , I notice her watching me .
She giggles , a soft sound that spreads warmth across my chest .
I think I should he asking you the same thing .
Every time I look at you , I find you already looking at me .
1 glance away , a smile tugging at the corners of my lips .
Cant h help Youre beautifL Her cheeks Bush a rosy pink , and she tugs at her hoodie , pulling it tighter around herself like my compliment has made her feel too exposed .
Fuck .
After a long moment , she asks , hesitantly .
Mace , youre not bored hanging out with me , right ? 1 shake my head , swallowing hard .
Never .
Really ? She sounds so surprised , like she truly cant believe fl enjoy her company .
I thought maybe you were forcing yourself to stay down here to keep me company .
I didnt think you actually enjoyed it .
I nod , but inside .
Im mentally beating myself up , How can I be this close to her and still make her feel like I dont want to be here ? I suck at this .
If I cant make it clear that 1 like spending time with her , how the hell am I ever supposed to tell her how I feel She turns her full attention towards me , her eyes more serious than they were before .
Is there something you want to talk about ? I know something must be on your mind if youre too distracted to read .
Thesitare , my fingers tightening around the edges of the book .
I guess I just want us to get to know each other better .
Her brows furrow slightly , but she stays quiet , waiting for me to say more .
Ive never been one to open up , not to anyone , really , But for some reason , I want her to know .
The real me .
Not just the version of me that others know , the one whos always nonchalant , always has his guard up .
want her to know what I keep hidden from everyone else .
1 Alyssa bites her lip Well , you already know everything there is about me , but I dont really like asking you guys anything about your pasts .
I know it was rough , and well , I dont want to make you relive that Shes talking like her childhood was all sunshine and roses .
But maybe thats all she remembers , all Gray has allowed her to know unfortunately , its not my place to tell her .
Neither is it Kings or Nikos or they wouldve done it by now .
Youre not much different than us .
I marmur , keeping my voice soft .
Both of your parents are gone as well .
Thats true .
She sounds legitimately surprised , like she never thought of it that way .
I take a deep breath .
This is it .
The moment I either back out or dive into the deep end .
Do you want to know what happened to mine ? She stares back at me , her head nodding slowly with hesitation .
Only if youre comfortable talking about it .
Only King .
Niko .

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Gray … and the Moonshadow Creek Police Department know exactly what happened .
But I want to tell her .
Even if it makes her look at me differently , No.
She wouldnt do that , She accepts Kings past , why wouldnt she accept mine ? 1/2 9:10 AM Chapter 61 1 stand up and settle beside her , the soft fabric of the couch pressing against me .
Her sweet , floral scent envelops me , calming my thundering heart and anchoring me to this moment .
Her eyes never leave mine as I spill my dark past .
My dad was a monster .
He … he did things to me and my twin sister when my mom wasnt around .
And since he couldnt keep a job .
She worked nights as a nurse , and he couldnt keep a job due to his excessive drinking , so … Alyssas eyes go wide , horror flashing across her face , but she doesnt speak When we were fourteen , my sister killed herself .
After that , he started taking it out on my morn .
It got worse every day until one day I came home from school and found him standing over her bloody naked body .
He forced me to bury her in the backyard , but I finally snapped .
I grabbed the shovel and hit him with it over and over again until he was unrecognizable .
Mace .
Alyssas voice trembles , tears gathering in her eyes.
I was arrested .
I continue, my v voice rough Somehow your father ! Esther found our , and agreed to make the charges disappear on one condition that I joined the Crimson Reapers .
Her lip trembles , and she reaches out , hesitating , Can I just … hug you ! Please ! I nod , and the next thing I know , shes wrapped around me , her bee buried in my chest .
Shes so soft , so goddamn warm .
Like hugging sunshine .
I close my eyes , inhaling the sweet scent of her hair .
I wish this moment could last forever .
But I know better than to wish for that She pulls away slightly , her eyes gearching mine , and I see her glance down at my lips .
My hand lifts to her check before I even register what Im doing , the warmth of her skin seeping into my palm .
A shiver runs through me Im sorry , she whispers .
You and your sister , you deserved so much better Ive heard those words before , but this time , they mean something .
Because theyre coming from her .
I want to kiss her so badly .
right time .
Not like this , after Ive unloaded all this dark , heavy shit on her .
But this isnt the ver go just in time .
The low rumble of King and Nikos motorcycles cuts through the moment , growing louder as they pull into the driveway .
1 let her ng walks in first , his face blank , but I can see the anger and worry hidden beneath his mask King Somethings wrong And I bet it has everything to do with Alys SEND GIFT