How To Love

Foreword

Clark walked into the apartment without acknowledging Lana and headed straight for his room.

She jumped off the couch and hurried after him.

“You're back early!” she said, practically bouncing around him. “How did it go? I want details.”

“Why did you set me up?”

Clark stopped so suddenly that Lana crashed into his back.

She stumbled backward, rubbing her forehead.

“You didn't like her?” Her excitement immediately faded.

Clark slowly turned around.

His fists were clenched at his sides.

“I never asked you to help me find a girl.”

Before Lana could respond, he stepped toward her.

“You're making it harder for me to be around you.”

“Clark...?”

She barely had time to react before he pushed her back against the wall.

Lana gasped.

His arms came down on either side of her head, trapping her between his body and the wall.

She stared up at him.

For the first time since she'd known him, Lana was afraid of him.

“I told you I'd take care of it myself.” His voice was low. Controlled. Somehow, that made it worse. “Do you really not understand what the problem is?”

“He said he wanted you to have happiness too...” she whispered.

Clark let out a dark laugh.

“Find happiness?” He leaned closer.

“Jason was afraid I'd steal his.” He growled in her ear.

Lana's breath caught.

She didn't know what to say.

“I've reached my limit.”

Clark grabbed her hand and pulled her toward his room.

“Clark, wait—”

The door slammed shut behind them.

Lana spun around, her heart racing.

Clark stood with his back against the door, taking slow, uneven breaths.

Then he lifted his head.

“Is it so wrong to want a piece of that happiness for myself?”

His eyes locked onto hers.

“Can you really not feel the pull between us?”

“Just slow down for a second.” She backed away.

Clark followed.

Slowly.

Carefully.

Like he was afraid one sudden movement would make her run.

“How can I?” His voice was barely above a whisper.

“How am I supposed to slow down when you're standing right there?”

Lana's back hit the edge of his bed.

Clark stopped just in front of her.

His expression changed.

For one second, the anger disappeared.

And she saw something else.

Something almost desperate.

“You have no idea what you're doing to me.”