The happiness I’d been feeling moments agopletely evaporates as a surge of irritation takes over


    my entire body.


    “When I said everyone, I meant everyone, Noah. There will be no exceptions.” I grind out between


    clenched teeth.


    “But I don’t want her toe,” he snaps at me.


    “Who is Sierra?” Rowan cuts in.


    “It’s this annoying girl in my ss that I don’t like. She’s such a pain in the butt, and seeing her on my


    special day will just ruin the day for me.’


    I get that Sierra annoys him, but to refuse to invite her to his birthday when everyone else will be invited


    is downright mean and uncalled for.


    “Do you know how hurt she’ll feel when you invite everyone else except for her? It will most likely break


    her heart.” I try to reason with him calmly, but I know it’s not doing any good, especially when he res


    at me.


    “I. Don’t. Care”es his reply, which is said in a harsh and hard tone.


    I was starting to lose my patience with Noah. It’s not like I’m siding with this girl, but I’ve been there. I


    know how it feels when everyone else is invited to birthdays and asions, but you’re not.


    I know how much it hurts when others treat you with contempt when you haven’t done anything that


    would warrant their hatred towards you.


    “Noah…” I warn.


    “I’m not going to invite her; she can cry and fill up a whole ocean and I would still not inviting her!”


    I reach my limit, and the seams that were holding me together snap. Banging my hand on the d amn


    table, I turn to Noah with fury written all over my face.


    Everyone is surprised. I’ve never lost my temper, but Noah had just pushed me to the f ucking edge.


    “I don’t care whether you like it or not! You’ll invite her to the party if you’re going to invite your whole


    ss, or there won’t be a da mn party, am I clear? You either invite her also or I cancel the whole


    thing,” I shout.


    “You wouldn’t dare.” Noah looks at me in shock.


    “Try me,” I snap.


    He stares at me with a cold look before shoving his chair and leaving the table. I hear his feet stomp


    against the floor. I would usually follow him, but not today. I was still angry. Still wired. Plus, this had to


    be done.


    Running my hand through my hair, I stand up. I need to breathe. I need some space.


    “Ava…” I avoid his and his brother’s shocked eyes.


    “Don’t… Don’t f ucking talk to me until you’re ready to tell me what the hell you’re hiding from me,” I


    snarl before walking away.


    I rush to the bedroom I was in a few minutes ago. I want to scream, to shout, to punch something or


    someone. I am so worked up, and the frustration made me want to cry.


    “Ava, please talk to me.” His soft voice prates my mind. I hadn’t even noticed that he’d followed me


    or that he’d entered the room. “Are you going to tell me what you’re keeping from me?” I ask as I feel


    the tears I’d been holding back fall down my cheeks. He just stares at me, turmoil behind his grey eyes.


    Finally, he shakes his head. “I can’t, Ava. I just can’t.”


    “Why the hell not?” I shout at him before grabbing whatever was near me and lunging it in his direction.


    He skillfully steps aside, avoiding the hard cover book that would have done some damage.


    “I just want to know the truth; why can’t you just tell me, Rowan?” I crumble and fall on the bed, feeling


    all the fight leave me.


    He walks the short distance and kneels before me, gently taking my hand in his.


    “Because you’ll leave me if you ever find out the truth. I can’t have that, Ava. I can’t live without you.”


    Love and fear shine in his eyes.


    That’s when I see it. He really is afraid that I’m going to leave him. He really is afraid of losing me.


    “But you know that anything built on lies eventually crumbles, right?” I ask, wiping away my tears.


    “I know… but I just need a chance, Ava.”


    “A chance? A chance for what?”


    “A chance to win you over. To write my wrongs and fix what I broke. After that, I promise, I’ll tell you the


    truth myself,” he answers, his grey eyes pleading with me.


    Should I trust him? He has left the ball in my court. Should I give him the chance and hold off on


    knowing the truth, or should I insist on knowing the truth he’s hiding?


    Damn it. Why was this so hard?