Redeeming 6 (Boys of Tommen #4)

by Chloe Walsh

“Oh my god.” My breath hitched in my throat. “Why, Joe, why?” “Why do you think?” he whispered brokenly, still obediently keeping eye contact with me, as I held his chin in my hand. “I broke you.” “No, Joe, you didn’t break me.” I shook my head and blinked back the tears stinging my eyes. “You broke you.” “It’s my fault.” He looked away then, pulling his face free. “What happened to you is on me.” “You didn’t do anything wrong.“ “I brought you into that house,” he hissed, swinging back to glare at me. “I put you in harm’s way and harm got you.” “I’m okay,” I choked out, reaching up to touch his cheek only to feel the sting of rejection when he leaned away from my touch. “Don’t do this. Don’t throw away everything you’ve worked so hard for.” “I don’t have anything, Molloy,” was his lifeless response. “I never did.” “You have me,” I breathed, chest rising and falling quicky, as I fought to maintain my composure in a classroom surrounded by peers. “You still have me, Joe. I don’t blame you, okay? I don’t.” “I’m him.” “No, you’re not.” “Yeah, I am.” He shrugged. “You said it yourself.” “That was my hurt talking,” I choked. “I didn’t mean it.” “It was your brain talking,” he corrected. “It was your truth.”