Chapter 31

Bryan's POV

I stood at the corner, my mind reeling as I struggled to process what had just happened.

Emelda's words still echoed in my ears, her voice ringing with a defiant fire that I had never expected from her, a fire that had left me mouth-tied.

I don't know the one that stood out, the hunger as our lips joined or the intensity of her slap when I began to be my usual self.

I touched my face again, the heat of her slap still stung on my cheek as I tried to make sense of the situation.

I was never one to ever lack words to say but the echo of Emelda’s words coupled with the slap I never saw coming glued my tongue to my teeth.

Emelda's words had struck a nerve, had stirred something deep within me that I had long since pushed down, something that I had tried to bury beneath layers of bravado and apathy.

I could still picture her face, the hurt and anger in her eyes as she'd turned away from me, her words a condemnation of my actions.

I was still lost in my thoughts when my phone ra