But all I could think about was Colby. I eased back from him and rested my forehead against his chest.

Afraid to look at him. Afraid to face the truth of what I had to do.

He tilted my chin up, his eyes heavy with desire. “Don’t pull away, Elizabeth. Not from me.”

But I did.

I exhaled heavily, all the while trying to mentally distance myself from his heady maleness that made me want to crawl into him and never leave.

“Come with me and we’ll get out of here,” he said quietly. “Just—don’t tell me what I think I see on your face.”

I closed my eyes. No, this had to stop. If he wanted the truth, I’d give it to him.

“Wait,” I said, taking another step back. “You haven’t heard everything. Colby—he chased me relentlessly, and I just couldn’t wrap my head around why a guy like him wanted me. I didn’t have rich parents or the right clothes or even a car. I wasn’t popular, although that changed once he made it known he wanted me. Suddenly I was part of the in-crowd. Girls wanted to be my bestie. Guys talked to me. Looking back, I see now I was merely a trophy to him, the girl he couldn’t have. The virgin.” I bit my lip hard.

Declan’s face tightened.

My gut churned with memories, but I couldn’t stop. I had to get it all out this one last time. “He—he bought me flowers, texted me fifty times a day, and I was too naïve to see what was right in front of my face. He was a player who’d left a trail of broken hearts—but he told me I was different and that he’d change for me.” I sucked in a deep breath, forcing the words out. “Prom night he provided the alcohol and drugs. Things got hazy. One moment I was dancing and the next I was in a hotel room with my dress ripped apart. It wasn’t what I wanted,” my voice cracked, and I yanked it back under control. “That night, darkness slithered its way into my heart, and I vowed to never fall in love again. Two days later, my mom still wasn’t home from Vegas, and I—I slit my wrists to end the blackness inside me. I—I never want love to push me to the brink of ending myself again.”

Declan had taken to pacing during my story, but now he came to a standstill and looked at me, his fists clenched at his side. “I’ll kill the bastard.”

My voice quivered. “He’s untouchable—even for you.”

“Did you report him?”

“And ruin my life? Put myself through a pointless court battle and public censure? I’m a nobody!”

“Never say that.” The tightness around his mouth softened as his eyes searched mine. I pulled back from him even more, my eyes everywhere except on his face.

He saw too much .

He gathered my stiff body in his arms and held me.

But I couldn’t relax. I wanted to hide away forever. I wanted to disappear.

“I got you, Elizabeth. Let me take care of you. Let me be the one you run to. We can figure it all out together.”

My breath hitched. I debated on telling him more about Colby, about the text and the threat behind it, but I couldn’t involve him. I couldn’t lead him on. Because in the end, I could never love again.

“Elizabeth?”

I gazed up at him. “Declan …” My voice trailed off, unable to form the words that teetered on my lips.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, eyes clinging to mine, hope on his face.

“I—I can’t.” My voice sounded strangled.

“Tell me why.”

Emotions warred in me, part of me wanting to sink into his arms and throw caution to the wind, but the other side …

“Why won’t you let me in?” he insisted.

“ You know why ,” I said, closing my eyes briefly and pulling back.

“Say it. Get some guts and just fucking say it. You know how you feel about me.” His hands clutched my arms.

“Because I—”

“Yes?”

I shook my head and swallowed down the words in my heart and went with the ones in my head. “I—I can’t be with you. You’re all wrong for me. You’re a fighter and you’re beautiful and you’ll break my heart. You’re just another one-night stand, okay? That’s it. Nothing more. Just—just leave me alone. We’re done .” I jerked away from him, chest heaving.

Immediately, I wanted to yank the words back, but the rules girl in my head told me to run and end this misery.

So I did.

“Wait,” he barked out, but I moved furiously through the quad, dodging students as I bolted for the parking lot.