I don't know what made me blurt out the truth. Maybe I just didn't care anymore. After all, I'd just professed my deepest feelings and got a slammed door for my troubles. What did a few more feet of free fall matter?

In retrospect, it a really dumb thing to do given what Tessa had already been through. I saw the shock on her face turn to anger, saw her reel back. But I did nothing, just stood there and let her slap me.

Only, she didn't slap me. She punched me in the jaw so hard I saw stars.

"How could you?" Tessa shouted. "I hate you! I hate...