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“Be realistic, Austin. We both have so much else going on right now. I’ll wait for you.” I put one leg into my pants then the other. “Will you wait for me?”
“Of course I would wait, but we don’t need to split up.”
“We do,” I said. “Your coach is kind of crazy, but he’s right. You need to focus all your energies on going pro after you graduate. Having me in your life will just distract you.”
“No…”
He walked around the bed and put a hand on my shoulder as I buttonned my jeans.
“Yes, Austin. It’s the only way.”
“Sleep on it at least, okay?” he begged.
“Okay, but I’m sure it’s the only thing for us to do. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay? Can you hand me my bra?”
“I’d rather not,” he said, but bent down to pick it up off the floor. “But here.”
I took it from him and put it on, reaching around to fasten it as he watched.
“Look, I’ll think about it, okay? Get some sleep tonight. You need to think about football.”
He frowned, not looking happy.
“I’ll call you.” I leaned against his body and kissed him on the lips. He resisted. “Don’t be that way, Austin.”
“Be what way? In love? That’s like telling me not to breathe.”
“Oka
y, now you’re being dramatic.”
I put on my shirt. He stood in front of me, still completely naked.
“I love you, Austin. That’s why we have to do this.”
“Think about it some more tonight.”
“I will.”
He kissed me again, the most passionate kiss we’d shared up to that point. As I walked out of his room and headed downstairs, tears filled my eyes. His roommate Teddy glanced up at me from the couch as I passed, but he said nothing.
I opened the door, walked out, then shut it behind me. It sounded final, like I’d never see Austin again. You’re making the right decision, I told myself as I walked home to my apartment. Jocelyn was still MIA, which was a plus. All I had to do was get Austin out of my mind.
THIRTY-THREE
Austin
On my run the next morning, she called me. I was hoping for good news, but somehow knew I’d be disappointed. She was stubborn.
“Hey, Brooke.”
“Austin, I’ve been thinking about this all morning. Don’t try to stop me.”
“Stop you?”
“I’m breaking up with you.”
“You can’t. I won’t let you.”
