The Last Time I Cried Your Name novel Chapter 151

Petty was usually the one who stayed calm and collected, never the type to act on a whim. But now, seeing Malcom just sitting there on the sofa, head down, quietly slipping his gloves back on without so much as a word or a glare, she felt a wave of guilt hit her hard.

She crouched in front of him, hands clasped together. “I’m really sorry, Malcom. I… I didn’t mean it…”

Malcom closed the magnetic-fastener on his glove, glancing down at her. She looked so remorseful, cheeks pink with embarrassment, like she wished she could just disappear. His eyes darkened, but instead of speaking, he pulled out his phone.

On the screen, he typed: [Why?] He held it in front of her.

Well, so much for her excuse about her hand slipping. Of course he didn’t buy it. Petty scrambled for an answer, but she couldn’t bring herself to admit she’d suspected he was Jay. Her only option was honesty… sort of. “I was just curious,” she said.

That clearly didn’t amuse him. Malcom stared at her for a few silent seconds, then tapped out two simple words: [Forget it.]

Petty’s remorse only deepened.

He started typing again. [My hands were burned in a fire. I wear compression gloves to keep the scars from getting worse.]

Petty wanted to smack herself. Seriously, what was wrong with her? Why had she even considered that Malcom was Jay? Jay’s always swamped. Plus, it was obvious he barely knew Aaron.

Malcom said he wasn’t mad at her, but she could still feel the tension radiating from him, heavy like a thundercloud.

Still crouched at his feet, Petty tried again, even more earnest this time. “I’m really sorry, Malcom. Let me make it up to you. If you’re mad, you can just punch me a couple times. I swear, I won’t fight back. Not that I could beat you anyway. I won’t say a word.”

Malcom just looked at her for a moment and slipped his phone back in his pocket.

Suddenly, he lifted his hand. Petty’s eyes squeezed shut on instinct.

Her eyelashes fluttered, mouth clamped shut, bracing herself. She’d promised not to make a sound, no matter what.

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