I rushed out of my room, eager to shake off the lingering frustration from last night’s conversation with Mr. Clinton. The constant denial of his feelings was a relentless gnawing ache trapping me in a vicious cycle of confusion and longing. Every glance, every gesture, every whispered word from him left me spinning my own wheels, desperately making me seek a way to make him admit he feels something for me. Even if it was to stir a tiny feeling within him, one that he can’t quite ignore or back away from.
As I turned the corner, I collided with a familiar figure- the one who had the power to shatter my heart and soothe my soul.
“Easy there, where are you rushing off to?” Mr. Clinton said, steadying me by the shoulders.
I apologized, avoiding his gaze. His disappointing words from last night were still fresh in my mind. “Sorry, I wasn’t watching where I was going,” I said flatly, attempting to walk past him, but he quickly grabbed my wrist, sending a twinge of electricity jolting through me. This man’s actions always seemed to effortlessly manipulate my body. Damn, how can I be angry at him!
I turned to meet his gaze, keeping a blank expression. “What is it?” I asked, but no matter how hard I tried to feign irritation, I was falling short in the act.
His eyebrow rose slightly, intrigued by my jarring behavior. “Are you… upset… with me?” His voice spiked with curiosity and slight amusement as he let go of my hand.
I crossed my arms, concealing the flush threatening to creep to the surface. “Yes, I am. And you know what? I think we should set things straight-”
“Hold it there, young lady…” He interrupted; the intrigue in his eyes disappeared instantly. “If it’s about our last conversation, then you should save it for later…” He said, his expression turning serious. “I have some news. Erin’s been arrested.”
My eyes widened in delight as a triumphant smile spread across my face. “Really? That’s indeed good news!” I exclaimed, brushing off my earlier facade.
“The police tracked her down to a motel on the outskirts of town,” he explained, his voice low and reassuring. “She’s being held without bail.”
My smile widened, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. “Thank goodness. Finally, she got what she deserves…”
Mr. Clinton gave a curt nod before adding, “Not quite yet. The trial is still pending, and we need to ensure she faces justice.”
My smile faded, replaced by a surge of determination. “Isn’t it about testifying in court? I’ll do it,” I said, my voice firm as my eyes blazed with more resolve.
Mr. Clinton’s gaze softened as he stepped closer. His eyes flashed with guilt. “I’m sorry all of this happened to you and my mom… I was too… trusting…” he said apologetically before letting out a silent sigh.
I shook my head with a wry smile and stroked his shoulder. “Don’t be too hard on yourself, okay? You and I fell for her trap and pulled ourselves out…”
A small smile curved up his lips, seeming impressed by my comforting words. “Now you’re being more like an adult.”
My cheek turned to a delicate flush of red as I exhaled sharply. “What the heck, Mr. Clinton,” I snapped, retracting my hand from his shoulder. “That was an insult.”
A fleeting smirk tugged at his lips as he turned to leave me reeling with his words. And I refused to allow that to slide so easily. I immediately grabbed the edge of his sleeve, stopping him from walking away. “We aren’t done yet. Let’s continue our earlier conversation…”
He tilted his head; his expression contained a mix of disinterest and boredom. “I’m going to pick up my mother.”
Reluctantly, I released him, my lips twitching as I flashed him a look of disapproval. My expression dropped as I recalled the particular conversation from last night. His words had tugged at me relentlessly, dwindling my hopes. And despite that, I wanted to press further and establish a firm relationship that wouldn’t disperse when problems arose in the future. When I say problems, I meant my father…
As he turned to leave again, I swiftly stepped forward, blocking his path. “Wait…” I pressed my hands on his chest to stop him, my eyes locking onto him in an earnest stare as if willing him to cooperate with me.
“Before you leave, answer this question,” I said, my voice taking on a more serious tone.
“Go on,” he urged, his curious gaze now fixed on me.
“What can I do to make you forget Nicole completely, to create room for myself?” I asked, my voice dropping to a whisper. “Because I’ve exhausted every plan, every move, and every idea… I figured that one of the reasons you find it hard to requite my love is… her.”
He looked away, his jaw clenched. “Sarah, you can’t erase memories,” he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.
I took a sharp breath, his response weighing heavily on me. I felt my heart twisting at the outright truth that I was afraid of believing.
I nodded, my gaze falling to the floor. “Yeah, you’re right; I can’t erase memories,” I admitted, my voice deflated but laced with a hint of hope. “But I can make new ones, only if you allow me to.”
His clenched jaw relaxed, his gaze softening as he looked into my eyes. “Sarah, listen… I…” he exhaled heavily, his eyelids fluttering closed for an instant. When he opened them again, his gaze betrayed the turmoil brewing within, a window of internal conflict that threatened to consume him.
“To be honest…” he continued, his voice filled with sincerity, “I still can’t grasp my feelings for you. I’m torn between…”
“The guilt of betraying my father’s trust and the undeniable, growing emotions you have for me,” I anticipated his words and filled in the rest of his sentence.
He nodded affirmatively. “It seems you understand now.”
“Yeah, I do.” I smiled tersely, my hands crawling from his arms to his neck as I pulled myself closer to him. “But that shouldn’t stop you from expressing your feelings for me… well, sometimes you express them a bit, but you back away the next minute, and it hurts… really badly.”
As I spoke, my voice whispered with softness. My eyes never left his, as they were filled with a mix of concern and understanding. I saw the faintest glimmer of hope, and my heart pulsed with exhilaration.
The air seemed lighter as the tension dissipated, replaced by a sense of longing.
He pressed his forehead to mine, his hot breath fanning my face as we basked in the intimacy.
He pulled his face away from mine, his eyes flickering with genuine affection. “Sarah, you’re a tangled mess, and I’m also caught between the weight of my past, not just about betraying your father’s trust,” he explained, his voice calm and sincere.
My brow furrowed at a particular word that had piqued my interest. “What do you mean? What past?” I asked, and he pulled away completely, avoiding my gaze.