Page 99 of Shattered Dreams

For a minute he says nothing and I think… I think he finally understands he’s better off without me. I’m just going to hold him back and if he didn’t take that job, he’ll resent me for it. I’ll always be the thing that kept him from what he wanted the most, and—

“The truth,” he says solidly, his gaze holding mine.

“What?”

“Tell me right now you want me to go and I’ll go. I’ll take the job and Rylee, and I’ll move and be miserable because it’s what I deserve for what I did to you, and you’ll never have to hear from me again,” he says.

Then he takes two steps—no three steps—toward me, and looks me dead in the eye, his expression unaware and honest.

“Andre—”

“Tell me to stay. Tell me you don’t want me to go, and I—”

Tears prickle my eyes.

The words fall out of my mouth.

“I can’t ask you to give up what we both know you want, Dre. Not for me.”

He reaches out and brushes his knuckles over my cheek, and I hate how that one touch unravels me. I close my eyes, turning to embrace his touch. His warmth.

“Tell me to leave then.”

The words are simple. But they are the hardest words I’ve ever had to speak.

A sob escapes my throat as I shake my head.

“I can’t.” I open my eyes, my vision slightly blurred from the tears I can’t stop.

I find myself falling into his gravitational pull, unable to resist the warmth, unable to fight the spark of hope that refuses to die, even now.

Andre leans his forehead against mine, his gaze biting into mine with undeniable clarity.

“Why not?” he whispers, his voice faltering like mine.

I close my eyes, my voice barely a whisper as I set the truth free.

“Because I love you.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

Andre

The last month hasn’t been easy. Paul and I have been trying to mend things while working and taking care of the kids. It’s not like I told him I changed my mind and all was forgiven.

It wasn’t, and I didn’t expect it to be. I broke his trust, and I need to earn that back.

I chose something over him, even if it was only short term. I still did it. I made a huge decision without even talking to him about it.

So I think I have my answer.

I was being completely selfish.

But now I’m on my way back home from an interview at Crestview College, which is only forty-five minutes away.

They aren’t as good as New Haven. But they will be once I get in there to be their new coach.

They offered me the position on the spot, and Paul and I agreed that if they offered it to me, I’d take it.