Stronger by Ang Chris

Chapter 16

I felt so displayed and exposed. He had walked away again. I tried to stop from crying but anger, frustration, and vulnerability overflowed.

I sunk to my feet covering my mouth keeping all sounds inside. I let them flow down.

*I’m going to cry. I’m going to be upset. This is not what I wanted. Then I’m going to stand up and make sure he doesn’t

see.

I gasped and pressed my l*ps shut. I cleaned up my face. I dried my hair. This is not what I had expected. This is not what I want.

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I finished getting myself ready. I put on baggy clothes wanting to forget he’d seen it all and backed away.

He was in Brians’s room when I got out there and I ate my breakfast in silence. Thankfully I did not have to the scorn on his face.

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I grabbed some of my favorite books from the trunk of the car sitting in my seat and putting in my earbuds turning them up all the way.

I wanted the stories I knew to have a happy ending. I wanted to know if it would all work out for a moment. I would not look at him again. I would not give him an opening to humiliate me.

Resentment, fury, disgust, and embarrassment swilled and stormed chasing around inside of me. I felt like I was suffocating in it all. 1

When we got to the hotel that night I placed a blank card on my face. I would not give away anything.

“Anna?” Ella knocked on the door of my room as we were getting ready to go to dinner.

“Come in,” I took a deep breath and turned to put my hair up halfway to keep it out of my face.

“Are you okay?” she sat down on the bed.

I froze, terrified of what was to follow. He hadn’t. Please tell me he hadn’t.

“Why do you ask?” I closed my eyes trying to stay calm.

“You’ve been so quiet today. I thought you’d be excited we’re finally in Canada. I know we’re barely across the border but.” she shrugged looking at me as if I should explain. “This morning you didn’t say a word and you looked so. Sad or angry I don’t know but you seem upset,”

I shrugged as nonchalantly as I

kept his dismissal of

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tell Grayson if that’s what you’re worried about. He’s my aloha but you’ll be my luna,” she offered.

6

“Just missing home,” I falsely responded. Smiling so she

worry. Let’s eat some

for me. I didn’t

“Of course,”

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steakhouse that night. The men had taken it upon themselves to

bull bites and steak medallions with bearnaise sauce and a side of shrimp. The food was wonderful yet

thought I didn’t see his quick

would not let this go. He had left me there n*ked. How did he expect me to

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placed his hand on my back and I moved away

once.

a moment that was

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into the bedroom. I did not want to be anywhere near him. I changed into my pajamas and was crawling into bed when he came into sleep on the couch.

know this morn-”

into bed rolling over

in again. “I know it

control

sorry it happened,” I sat up and looked him in the

am trying to be respectful I don’t want

pretend that you’re trying to be respectful. I don’t know what it is that’s stopping you but if you can’t do something don’t start something. You have no idea how I felt after you left. I’m sorry that this is so hard for you but until you can recognize it’s

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me yelling so she accepted me with a hug and put on a rom–com.

in and she sat next to me. I knew she wanted to say something. It probably wasn’t easy to see your

ate together, Grayson

we were getting ready I think enough time had passed and her

all are lucky to have him. I know it’s a hard task but if you give him time I know he

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us and she cared about him. Grayson evoked strong loyalty out of everyone I had met so far and that

now jeeps. The road