Unbreak My Heart by Lorelei James

neck were flushed.
    I pressed closer. “How long you plan on playing this game of cat and mouse with me?”
    “That’s what you don’t understand; this isn’t a game to me. You blow into my life and act like you have every right to be here.”
    “I do have every right.”
    “Wrong. You don’t know me anymore. Not like you think you do.”
    “I am trying like hell to change that. You shut me down at every turn. Every. Turn.” The way I’d gritted that out sounded as if I’d swallowed gravel.
    But my gruff tone put fire back in her eyes. She slapped her hands on my chest hard enough I felt the sting as if I was shirtless.
    “ Every turn? Really? We’ve seen each other three times. That’s it. Just two days ago you swore that you came to see me in a professional capacity. So you don’t get to act all growly and frustrated with me, fucker, because I haven’t thrown myself at you.”
    “Is everything all right?” Ky asked from the middle of the hallway.
    “It’s fine, we’re fine,” Sierra answered. “We’re discussing what came first, the chicken or the egg. It’s always been a hotly contested debate between us.”
    Her unique way of deflecting things hadn’t changed—totally smartass. Still made me smile.
    “So what’s the definitive answer?” Ky asked.
    I said “chicken” the same time Sierra said “egg.”
    “You two are so full of shit,” Ky said.
    “Some of us more than others,” she retorted.
    “Boone, before I kick you out, I forgot to ask if you need a ticket to the game tomorrow? I have an extra one.”
    “Wish I could go, but I’m working the day shift tomorrow and Sunday.”
    “Working,” Sierra repeated with a frown. “Why are you working when you’re on leave?”
    Fuck. Me.
    In my peripheral vision, I saw Kyler backing away, shaking his head at me, and Sierra saw it too.
    “Answer the question, Boone.”
    “Because I’m not on leave anymore.”
    “Then why did you tell me you were?”
    “Tuesday when I saw you I was on leave. Wednesday when I saw you I’d made some changes so I wasn’t on leave.”
    “ You can change your military duty status just like that?” she snapped. “Bull.”
    “It’s complicated.”
    Her eyes turned hard. “Are you even in the army?”
    “Yes, I’m in the army.”
    “Where do you live?”
    “I’m based out of Fort Hood. But as of this week I’ll be living in Phoenix.” I took a step toward her. “This is what I wanted to talk to you about.”
    “Because it’s some big secret?” Realization dawned on her face. “Did everyone know about this but me?”
    Jesus. This was spiraling. “No, just Kyler.”
    “So, you managed to tell him the truth, but you fucking lied to me?”
    “Look, it’s not what you think—”
    “I think nothing changes with you.” Her bitter laugh sliced through me. “You manipulative bastard. The tour of Phoenix was to check out housing areas for you, wasn’t it? Not for a friend .”
    “My army buddy Raj and I will be sharing a place, so technically…” Don’t offer excuses; offer her an apology . “Sierra, I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to find out this way. I told you we needed to talk—”
    “Omigod! You are not blaming this on me .”
    The hurt in her eyes was more than I could take. “I’m not blaming you. Let’s go someplace private where we can hash this out.”
    “No. I can’t do this with you, Boone. Not again.” She started to back up. “I have to go.”
    “Now? In the middle of our goddamn conversation?”
    “It’s not a conversation. It’s you trying to justify your dishonesty.”
    “You’re right. I—”
    Sierra silenced me with talk to the hand as she brushed past me and disappeared down the stairs.
    I waited, half-hoping she’d storm back up after remembering something else she wanted to knock me down a peg for.
    But I heard the distinctive sound of a door slamming hard enough to rattle the rafters.
    Then I heard nothing but the silence of my own