Page 142 of What About Us

“It’s happened twice already!” Her face is stricken as she stares at me. “Twice. I’m so in love with you, it’ll destroy me if you get hurt again and forget everything we’ve built together. You want to be here, you want to play. And you should. But Jesus, Xander, what about us? What if something happens and you forget m-me, and we’re n-not a we anymore?”

I can’t fucking stand it. I rush around the island and yank her to me, crushing her against me.

“No. You listen to me, that’s not going to happen.”

“But you can’t promise. You can’t promise.” She pulls away and shakes her head. Her phone pings, and when she checks it, her eyes close. “That’s my car.”

“Stay. Don’t go back to Montana. You need to stay here so we can talk this out.”

She shakes her head and reaches for her bag, and the world falls out from under me.

“You’re leaving.”

“I’ll be back in less than two days. I have to go. Because I also have a job that I love and responsibilities back home. I’m coming back.”

I don’t think you are.

I don’t believe her.

“Fine.” I take a breath and step farther away from her. “Go ahead and leave, just like all women do.”

“I’m not leaving you, Xander. I’ll be back the day after tomorrow.”

I don’t reply. I’ve already asked her to stay. I’ve already tried to reassure her.

I’ll be fucking damned if I’ll beg.

“I’ll text you when I get there.”

I lift my chin but don’t say anything.

“I love you.”

Fuck me.

“I love you too, Ivy.”

And with that, the woman I love more than anything in the world walks out of my penthouse and out of my fucking life.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

IVY

Ilanded in Bitterroot Valley at eight in the morning and was at work at the hospital by nine. I didn’t even have time to go home to see Cally, who I feel so guilty for leaving for a whole week. Ava’s been at the house every day to see her, but still. That’s not enough people time for her.

It seems guilt is just my middle name today.

I never keep my phone on me during work, but I quickly check it between patients, just to see if Xander ever texted me back after I landed.

Spoiler alert: He didn’t.

I know he’s upset, and I should have stayed to talk it out, but all I could think was that I had to go. First of all, the patients need me today, and I can’t just not show because my love life is bruised up. That’s not okay.

And second, maybe I just need a minute to breathe and get my head on straight.

Thankfully, the day goes fairly smoothly, and I’m off work by six, so I immediately go home, and when I walk through the door, Cally comes running. She purrs and weaves through my legs as I set my stuff down, and then I lift her in my arms and hug her close, bury my face in her side, and feel the tears come.

She’s making biscuits on my shoulder as I carry her to the living room, where I sit and hold her in the silence and take a moment to just be with her.