NovelEnglishALL MY FAULT LAURA
Josh stepped closer, his movements deliberate but hesitant, as if he was afraid of doing more damage. "Let me
take you to the emergency room," he said, his voice soft but firm.
| shook my head, keeping the ice pressed to my face. "It's not necessary."
"It's not your call, Laura," he shot back, his tone sharpening just a little, frustration creeping in. His hand reached
out, thumb and fingers gently cupping my chin. The warmth of his touch sent a jolt through me, and despite the
ache in my nose, my body betrayed me. | tilted my head slightly into his hand, drawn to him in a way | couldn't
quite explain.
My eyes met his. His ocean-blue gaze was stormy, filled with emotions I couldn't untangle. His brows furrowed as
he tilted my face, assessing the damage. | saw the muscle in his jaw tick, his lips pressed into a thin line.
"Fuck it," he muttered under his breath. "I can't believe I..." His words trailed off, and | could see the storm inside
him brewing, a mix of anger, guilt, and disappointment.
| wanted to say something, anything, to ease the weight | could. see on his shoulders, but the words stuck in my
throat. He blamed himself-l could see it so clearly.
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"Josh, it wasn't your fault," | whispered. My voice was steady, but the tears threatened to spill.
His eyes flicked to mine, the guilt intensifying in their depths. He leaned forward, dropping his forehead to mine.
The closeness. stole my breath, his exhale warm against my skin,
"You shouldn't have gotten hurt," he murmured, his voice cracking slightly. "If I'd kept my ego in check, your face
wouldn't have a bruise forming. It wouldn't be bloodied. This is on me."
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtHis sincerity struck a chord deep inside me, and | closed my eyes, taking a steadying breath. My hand moved on
its own, finding his chest, the cool cotton of his shirt grounding me. My fingers curled slightly, holding onto him
as though I could anchor us both. "I promise, I'm fine," | said, my tone soft but insistent.
Josh pulled back, his hand falling away from my chin. The distance felt immediate and cold.
"I saw you flinch, Laura." His voice was heavy with emotion, his gaze locked on mine. "You were scared. Of me. |
saw it, and | can't unsee it. | did that."
The crack in his voice broke something in me.
"You didn't-" | started, but he cutoff, shaking his head.
"Don't," he said, his voice firm now, though I could see the tears shining in his eyes. "Don't try to makefeel
better. | need to sit with this because | can't ever let it happen again."
"Josh, | flinched because adrenaline was still coursing through
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my veins and because... well, because it was a reflex." My voice trembled slightly, but | pushed forward. "It
wasn't because of you. It's muscle memory, Josh. | promise."
His eyes softened, but then something else flickered in them- shock, maybe even horror. It was like he was
seeingfor the first time, and not in a way | wanted to be seen.
I swallowed hard, realizing I'd said too much. This was why | never told anyone. Not Jess, not Sam-no one.
Nobody knew what really happened during those years when my mother brought men home, one after another.
Nobody needed to know who took the beatings when they both got drunk and turned reckless.
When | begged them to keep it down so | could study.
When | learned that silence was safer than fighting back.
| made it through-shattered, maybe-but | made it.
Josh's hand hovered near mine, his fingers twitching as if he wanted to reach forbut wasn't sure he should.
"Laura," he said, his voice barely a whisper.
| turned my head away, not ready to see the pity | knew would be there. "It doesn't matter now," said quickly,
trying to brush it off, but my voice wavered. "I'm fine. I've been fine for a long time."
"Stop," he said, the word cutting through the space between us. His tone wasn't harsh-it was pleading.
| risked a glance at him and saw the
raw emotion wATde, his featltes.
ie jawngas HighE h s lips pressed
together as if The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
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holding back words he wasn't ready to say.
I" [1 : + n
It does matter," he said firmly. "It
pl
matters because it's you. And
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because-" He paused, (ils harfas
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cgrling INE Fists at his sides.
I" 1
Because no one should've done that
[i
to you. No one should've made you
: : : : [1
feel like flinching is muscle memory.
My throat tightened, and | couldn't bring myself to respond. His words settled over me, heavy and unrelenting.
I" : n
I need you to know something," he
said, stepping closer. This time, oy
Ce r O
didn't pull away loathe: And |
Sear yo I will never, ever give
you a reason to flinch because of
I" :
me." The content is on
novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
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