"I didn't mean to manipulate you," Lexie whispered, her voice barely audible amidst the tension. Tears welled up again in her eyes, blurring her vision.
Isiah scoffed, pacing away from her with clenched fists. "You're unbelievable, Lexie. Always pushing boundaries you have no right to cross."
Her shoulders slumped, feeling the weight of his words like a physical blow. "I just... I thought..."
"You thought what?" he snapped, spinning around to face her with a fierce glare. "That a kiss could fix everything? That I'd suddenly forget all the pain you've caused?"
Lexie bit her lip, tasting blood once more, a bitter reminder of her own recklessness. "No," she admitted, her voice trembling. "I just wanted to feel close to you, even if just for a moment."
Isiah's eyes flashed with a mix of anger and something else she couldn't quite decipher. "Closeness? You think that's what this is about?"
