A family.
Children.
Something he knew he’d fail at.
“Jacob?” Mack pressed.
He shrugged and forced a smile. “Just something I’ve thought about. Didn’t exactly have the best example, you know?”
Mack opened his mouth but before he could say anything Hallie materialized before them.
Her cheeks were pink and her eyes were bright. Being with her family breathed life into her soul. Jacob would have to be blind not to see that. And the way she was with the kids? There was no way she wouldn’t want a few of her own.
And he’d done her a disservice in dragging out their relationship. He’d clung to what he wanted selfishly when he knew she’d be settling if she chose him over all of this.
Just like he’d be settling if he had to walk away from his job.
“Hey,” she chirped, her eyes darting from him to Mack and back. “You’re here.”
He nodded, gripping the back of his neck. “I’m here.”
She didn’t move. The wariness that crept into her eyes was more than enough to tell him she already knew. How long had she been suspecting? He shouldn’t be surprised that she’d caught on. Hallie had always been in tune with him. And he’d been off since that party.
“Could… we talk?” He asked.
Hallie glanced at Mack again, but she wouldn’t get any answers from him. The man did tense though. Could he sense it too?
Probably.
Jacob sighed. He was such a jerk. And the next few minutes would only further prove it.
Hallie nodded and wandered through the maze. It was torture to watch her go back and forth until she made it to an exit. Then she nodded toward the opposite side of the house where they could get some privacy.
He didn’t miss the way she wrung her fingers together until they turned white. Nor did he miss the way her skin had turned a few shades paler.
“Hallie—”
“Brent mentioned that you had a good competition last week. Sorry I couldn’t make it.” Her voice shook and Jacob’s stomach churned.
“We should probably…”
She continued. “He said your sponsor is thrilled. And rightly so. You’ve worked really hard, Jacob.” Hallie wasn’t looking in him the eye, and it took all his strength to reach out and take her chin so she would meet his gaze.
What he saw in her beautiful hazel eyes gutted him to the point he nearly chickened out. But had to stay strong. This was for her own good. She couldn’t be locked into something that would inevitably make her unhappy. “We can’t do this anymore, Hallie.”
She squeezed her eyes shut so tight two tears tumbled down her cheeks. “Jacob, don’t…”
“I know you don’t see it the way I do. But it’s for the best. I couldn’t in good conscience?—”
Hallie tore her chin from his grasp, her eyes flaring with fire. “Good conscience? That’s what you’re going with?” She scoffed, the sound sharp and derisive. “You’re a real piece of work you know that?” Her hands clenched into fists and she charged away from him.
It took a few moments before he realized she wasn’t coming back, and he chased after her. “Hallie, wait.”
She barked out a laugh of disbelief but continued charging in the direction of her home on the property. His long strides allowed him to catch up to her in no time and he reached for her hand, but she yanked it out of his reach before spinning to face him.
Tears were streaming down her face and no amount of swiping at them stopped her cheeks from the wetness they left in their wake. The way she stared at him made it almost feel as though she was going to say something to convince him to change his mind, which was a direct opposite of the way she’d stormed off moments ago.
Hallie opened her mouth, shut it, looked away, then shook her head. She folded her arms and refused to look at him even when he framed her face with his hands.
