669小说网

第8部分（第2页）

the　past　two　weeks。　And　I　know　what　happened　to　Crystal。〃

His　words　hung　in　the　air。　Her　eyes　begged　him　to　say　no　more。　She

bolstered　the　plea　with　her　low　whisper。　〃Then　you　can　understand　why　I

cant　bear　to　think　back　on　that　time。〃

〃It　was　an　accident；　Chloe！　It　wasnt　your　fault！〃

〃But　she　died。〃

〃And　you　lived；　is　that　it？　You　cant　forgive　yourself　for　that？〃

She　jumped　to　her　feet。　With　her　heart　pounding　a　thunderous　beat；　she

stared　at　him　for　an　agonized　moment　before　forcing　her　feet　to　move。

Her　steps　were　slow　at　first；　then　gained　speed　as　the　force　of　habit

took　over　and　she　jogged　toward　safer　ground。

With　pitiful　ease；　Ross　caught　up。　He　caught　her　elbow；　using　her　own

momentum　to　bring　her　around。　When　she　faced　him　at　a　full　stop；　he　held

her　by　both　arms。

〃Im　trying　to　be　honest；〃　he　said。

〃But　it　hurts。　Cant　you　see　that？　It　hurts！〃　She　was　consumed　by　it；　a

hurt　that　was　alive　and　festering。　He　had　to　see　it　anywhere　he　looked。

〃The　only　way　the　hurt　will　stop；〃　he　chided　gently；　〃is　for　you　to　put

the　past　behind　you。〃

Her　eyes　filled　with　tears。　〃Do　you　think　I　havent　tried？　Do　you　think

Ive　spent　the　past　eleven　years　purposely　living　with　a　ghost？〃

**skip**〃Maybe　not；　but　youve　done　it。　You　havent　resolved　a　thing　in　the

eleven　years；　if　that　hurt　in　your　eyes　is　for　real。　Its　your

punishment；　isnt　it？　Your　punishment　for　living。〃

She　shook　her　head　and　whispered；　〃No。　Thats　not　true！〃

〃Not　true？〃　he　echoed　in　a　voice　strangely　mellow。　〃Answer　me　one　thing；

Chloe。　Have　you　been　with　another　man　since　we　were　together？〃

〃Thats　none　of　your　bus…〃

〃It　is　so。〃　He　took　her　face　in　his　hands；　correctly　anticipating　her

attempt　to　look　away。　His　touch　was　gentle　but　firm。　〃I　was　the　first。

Its　my　brand　that　shaped　you。　How　many　others　were　there？〃

〃Thats　vulgar！〃　she　cried。

〃Maybe。　Answer　the　question。〃

〃I　wont。　Are　you　jealous；　jealous　and　guilt…ridden？　Well；　I　dont　need

either　of　those　traits　in　the　man　in　my　life。　Im　doing　just　fine

withoutwithout…〃　Her　limbs　trembled。

Ross　drew　her　against　him；　pressing　her　cheek　to　his　chest；　wrapping　his

arms　around　her　back。　〃Without　love？〃　he　asked；　so　softly　that　she　might

not　have　heard　him　had　the　word　not　been　on　the　tip　of　her　tongue。