Page 98 of Don’t Go Breaking My Heart

“I’m not a criminal. I don’t have a record. As to why they keep pulling me to the side, you would have to ask them.”

It was clear he wasn’t interested in discussing it with me. I decided to leave it alone. He was pissed. Once he cooled down, he would tell me what happened.

The plane landed not long after and we made our way through the terminal in the same tense silence. I tried a couple of times to catch his eye, but he avoided my gaze.

“Kannon, stop stonewalling me. We need to talk about this.”

He didn’t look at me, staring straight ahead. “I’m not in the mood, Merritt.”

“Too bad,” I shot back, my frustration bubbling over. “It’s not my fault you got flagged for extra security checks. And even if it was, it’s over now. We made the flight. No harm done. What’s the big deal?”

He turned to me. His eyes flashed with anger and hurt. “The big deal? The big deal is that the first thing you want to do now that we’re together is try to change me.”

I blinked, taken aback. “That’s not what I’m doing⁠—”

“Sure feels like it,” he interrupted, his voice rising. “You’re coming after the biggest part of me, Merritt. The one thing that brings me joy, that saved me from the nightmare of the last three years. And you want me to just give it up?”

“The riding?” I asked with confusion.

“Yes. My bike. You don’t get to tell me to stop riding. You can’t ask me to do that.”

“I never said that!” I protested, my voice shaking. “I’m not asking you to stop riding. I’m asking you to be a little safer. To think about me, about us. I don’t want to lose you, Kannon.”

He shook his head, looking away again. “You don’t get it.”

“I do get it,” I insisted. My voice softened as I tried to explain. “You know how precious life is, how quickly everything can change. I’m just asking you not to take foolish risks that could take you away from me forever. That’s all.”

We walked out of the airport. I spotted a waiting taxi and started toward it. He opened the door and gestured for me to get in. I scooted over, expecting him to get in beside me. Instead, he closed the door.

“Kannon?” I called out, panic rising in my chest. “What are you doing?”

He didn’t answer. He just turned and walked away. I watched him walking down the sidewalk, his shoulders hunched and his hands shoved deep in his pockets.

“Wait!” I pushed the door open and leaned out, my voice trembling. “Kannon, come back!”

But he didn’t turn around. He didn’t even glance back.

I watched him walk away, my heart breaking a little more with each step he took. Finally, I sank back into my seat, swallowing the lump in my throat.

“Take me home,” I told the driver, my voice barely above a whisper. I gave him the address and closed my eyes.

As the car pulled away, we passed Kannon on the sidewalk. He never looked up.

I stared out the window, the weight of the day settling over me like a heavy blanket. I thought we were finally on the same page, finally moving forward together. But now? I didn’t know what we were anymore.

All I knew was that it hurt. And I wasn’t sure how to fix it.

The taxi ride home was painfully long. By the time I reached the house, I felt drained.

Everywhere I looked reminded me of Kannon. I had no idea if he was going to show up to finish the job or if he was going to leave me hanging. I wasn’t sure I wanted him to show up.

I was pretty hurt and seeing him would only make the hurt worse.

39

KANNON

Iclimbed into a taxi and slammed the door so hard it earned me a dirty look from the driver. I ignored the man’s glare and leaned my head back against the seat. The frustration and confusion had built up inside me, making it hard to think straight. Why couldn’t Merritt understand? It wasn’t just about the bike or the thrill. It was a fundamental part of me.