“Excuse me,” some nurse wheeling a patient on a stretcher says curtly.

Kit stirs in my arms, burying her face in my neck.

“Move.”

“This is a hospital, young man. Not a—”

“I don't give a fuck, lady.”

I plow past her and continue down the short hallway until I find our room. Once I'm inside, I head to my bed and pull the curtain around us.

Kit sniffles. “She's never going to forgive me.”

My jaw locks and I debate my next words carefully.

What I want to tell her is that Breslin's a bitch, so it's really no great loss if she doesn't, but I know that won't help matters.

Breslin's important to her. And judging by the frantic way she came in here earlier, Kit's important to Breslin.

However, the girl knows how to hold a grudge. If Landon dies, the resentment Breslin will harbor for Kit will sever their bond.

“She will,” I offer, giving her the standard crap people say. “She's upset right now, but she'll get over it.”

“No, she won't. Don't you get it? I was the reason he was there in the first place.”

Christ, I don't know how much more I can take of this. Kit's acting like she's the Grim Reaper and it couldn't be further from the truth. “You want to know what I really think?”

She nods, easing back to look at me.

I tighten my hold on her. “It's not your fault. What happened to Landon sucks, there's no getting around that. But you didn't put a collar around his neck and drag him there with a leash. Nor did you coerce him into going somewhere dangerous.”

My thumb sweeps across her wobbly lower lip. “It was a school cafeteria. Millions of students all over the world eat lunch in one every day. But the thing is, whether it was a cafeteria or not, it doesn't matter—it could have happened anywhere, Kit. And the only person who could have predicted what happened today was the one who took it upon himself to walk in there and take the lives of innocent people. But that person isn't you, and it isn't me. There's only one person to blame for all of it, and his name was Kyle.”

She looks down. “I get that, but it still doesn't change the part I played in it.”

I tip her chin. “You went to eat lunch with your friend, angry girl. That's all. There was no way you could have foreseen what was going to happen.” I shrug. “Technically you're the reason I was there too, but I'm not blaming you.” I palm her cheek. “Because I know, no matter how good the hand you start out with is, the river can change everything.”

She scrunches her face. “The river? Is that some kind of poker analogy?”

I laugh, not only because she's adorable, but because the double entendre isn't lost on me. “I take it you've never played.”

She shakes her head. “I think gambling is stupid. No offense. I just don't see the point. You lose far more than you ever stand to gain.”

I grin. “I see your challenge, Bishop, and I raise you one game.”

“No.” She rolls her eyes. “I have no desire to gamble, let alone with someone like you.”

I put my hand over my heart, feigning offense. “You wound me.”

She starts to smile, but then without warning, she untwists herself from around me and stands up. “This is wrong.”

I raise a brow. I have no idea what she means. “I'm not sure I follow.”

She backs up, putting a few feet between us. “We can't be friends.” Before I can respond, she adds, “I appreciate what you did for me in the elevator and just now, but it doesn't change anything.”

I fold my arms over my chest. “So, I'm only good enough to be your friend when you're upset and there's no one else around?”

Her nostrils flare. “No, that's not it. Don't stand there and act like you don't understand why a friendship can't happen. Becca—”

“Is a manipulating cunt,” I roar, frustrated with her inability to take off those rose-colored glasses. “Jesus Christ, how can you not see that? Are you that fucking gullible? That goddamn stupid?”

Her hands clench at her sides. “I'm not gullible and I'm not stupid. I know more than anyone how Becca can be.”

I smack my skull. “Then what the hell—”

“She's who I thought about!” she screams, her voice thick with emotion. “After Kyle shot those first two students and I thought I was next...Becca flashed through my mind. Despite how much she hurt me, I wanted one more chance to tell her how much I loved her...and hated her. It didn't matter; I just wanted more time with her.”

She wipes her tears. “There's a reason for it, Preston. I know you don't get it and I don't expect you to. Your relationship with her was very different from the one she and I had. You don't love her, and she doesn't love you. But I love her and I know she—”

“Is playing you.”

I don't know what Becca told her last night, and she's so far gone it no longer matters.

I have to pull her out of Becca's vortex.

I walk over to her. “I'm not telling you this to be a jerk, or because I have any residual feelings for her. I'm telling you because I know for a fact that even though you think you love her...she doesn't love you. She never did.”

I tap her temple. “You didn't think about her in the cafeteria because it was a sign, or destiny, or real love, or any of the bullshit you're convincing yourself it was. You thought about her because that's how users and manipulators work. They invade your thoughts. Fuck up your psyche. They prey on innocent people like you, Kit. Trust me, I know.”

My stomach churns with nausea, but I stuff it down. This isn't about me; this is about getting through to her. Making her see she deserves better than someone like Becca.

She starts to turn away, but I grab her face and bend down so we're eye level.

The air between us turns heavy. Charged with tension so dense it prickles over my skin.

I know she feels it. I can practically hear her heart beating a mile a minute.

Those full lips of hers part to take in more air and my cock strains against my zipper, taunting me with what I've wanted to take since the moment she scowled at me on that bridge.

I lean in and Kit trembles, those wide eyes staring at me like I'm crazy. Hell, I just might be.

But I'm not folding...fuck that. I'm betting max and going all in.

She places her hand on my chest. “Pres—”

I close the space between us.

Instantly, her body melts into me, her fingers gripping my hair as I coax her mouth open. I groan when the tip of her tongue flicks mine in the sweetest little tease...right before she bites my lip so hard I taste blood and her knee recoils, attempting to strike me in the nuts.

I back up, narrowly dodging the intrusion, much to the relief of my frightened family jewels. That's now twice in one day she's tried to attack them.

She wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. “What part of I'm in love with Becca and lesbian do you not understand?”

I spit blood on the floor. “I was trying to—”

“What, convert me? Or fuck me and make me all confused in hopes of luring me away from her?”

“Are those my only choices? If so, I'll gladly go with the latter.”

She narrows her eyes. “You're unbelievable.”

I wink. “I know.”

“I don't mean that as a compliment, you freaking narcissist.”

My jaw works. “Get over yourself, Bishop. It was a goddamn kiss, not Chinese torture.” I hold her gaze. “Don't act like there was nothing there. Lesbian or not, I know you felt it.”

She shakes her head. “The only thing I felt was someone using me as an escape in order to avoid their own problems.”

“I don't—”

“That's just it...you don't.” She starts walking toward the door. “You don't care how your actions affect other people. You don't care about the damage you leave behind. The only thing you care about is yourself.”

“Kit,” I whisper, willing her not to leave.

Our eyes meet and my chest closes up.

If looks could kill...I'd be grateful.

Because the look she's giving me is worse than death...it's the cold, hard reality.

She's seeing the real me for the very first time.

“You know how users and manipulators work because you're one of them, Preston.”

She walks out, leaving me with nothing but the taste of blue raspberry on my lips and a spasm in a heart I wasn't so sure I had.

But I know it's there now. I feel it...and it fucking hurts.