Page 72 of In a Perfect World

“Iwastrying to cross my way into Mexico,” she retorted.

“Which is why he’s trying to squelch the rumor,” I pointed out.“By you accepting residency in Blooming Heights, then it will show the world that you’d still rather live in the RNA than ever live in Mexico.The first-round winners will all be political PR stunts.”

Triana began shaking her head, running her hands down her face.“This can’t be real.”

“It is,” I assured her.“All you have to do is apply, baby.”

Still shaking her head, she said, “Tomasco, Sonia, and I are already packing to move to Hillrom.Tomasco and Sonia already have jobs there, and they’ve even sold their homes.We’re...we’re moving, Kairo.We’re making new lives in a new town, and...and I’m not just going to back out because of a rigged citizenship lottery.”

I could feel my heart drop to my feet.“Wh...what?”

“Yeah, I’m moving,” she repeated.“I’m moving with my brother and Sonia, and...and it’s too late, Kairo.”

Despite the reason that we were in this position in the first place, I raced across the creek like I’d done the last time, and when I was standing in front of her, I took her face in my hands, saying, “Don’t fucking leave me, baby.I will do whatever I have to in order to make you forgive me, but you can’t leave me.You just fucking can’t.”

“Kairo-”

“It’s not too late for us,” I begged.“It’s not too late for us, and I refuse to believe otherwise.”

“Don’t do this to me,” she whispered, her voice choked up in an attempt to fight the tears.“Don’t do this to me, Kairo.I...I’ve made other commitments that I’m not going to break for you.”

“Then break them foryou,”I urged.“Break them for the freedom that you’ve always wanted.Break them for the chance at some real happiness, Triana.”

“I can’t,” she bit out as she stepped back, forcing me to drop my hands from her face.“Tomasco and Sonia are the only two people in this entire world who have proven their unconditional love for me, and I am not going to repay that loyalty by backing out on them.”

“Baby, please...please just...just give it some thought,” I said, suggesting anything to keep her from leaving me for good.“This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing, Triana.If you don’t apply for the first drawing, then that’s it.Any hope for something different will be completely lost.You might be living in a new town and have a new job, but your life will still be the same one that you wanted to escape from.”

“It doesn’t matter,” she lied.“I owe my brother and Sonia the same loyalty that they’ve shown me, and if I end up alone for it, then I’m prepared for that.”

“Baby-”

“Go back to your life, Kairo,” she said, and not for the first time.“Go back to your perfect life and leave me alone.”

My back straightened, regret trying to drop me to my knees.“Say it.”

“Say what?”she asked as her brows furrowed in confusion.

“Tell me that you don’t love me anymore,” I ordered.“Tell me that you’re no longer in love with me and that Hillrom is where your heart really is.”

“Hillrom is where my future is because it doesn’t matter if I still love you or not,” she replied brutally.“Love doesn’t conquer all, Kairo.If it did, then the United States of America never would have become the Regions of New America.”

I had nothing to say to that.

I had nothing to say to that, and she fucking knew it.

We both fucking knew it.