Chapter 172

Tristan

"Baby that's not..." I started, moving toward her instinctively because everything in me needed to be closer to her, needed to touch her and make her understand.

But she stepped back and the movement stopped me cold, froze me in place like she'd physically pushed me away.

My hands hung uselessly at my sides.

"That's not what I meant," I tried again, looking into her eyes and seeing pain there, seeing hurt that I'd put there with my careless words and my stupid fears.

She just looked at me and I could see she didn't believe me, could see the doubt written all over her face.

I...