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“Sadie. I would feel better if I could get you home.” The last thing I wanted to do was leave her here.
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. I’ll text you when I get home.”
“Malysh…”
“I know you have to go,” she said. “I understand. Everything’s going to be fine. And I’m here for you.”
“Stubborn.” I kissed her one more time, trying to make it count. Trying to make it memorable. I had no timeframe on when I’d get to do this again. Only the vow that my lips would find hers again in the future.
It felt fucking awful. It almost would’ve been easier if we hadn’t slept together. Then we could both have made a clean break. I could go deal with my family’s business, and Sadie could…
What? Find some other man?
No. She was mine.
“Wait for me,” I said. “Please.”
“I’ll be here when you get back,” she said. “But let me know when you land. And let me know if you need anything.” Sadie dabbed at her nose with the sleeve of her sweatshirt. “I wish I could go with you.”
“I wish you could too. But you can’t. You have your classes here. Your brother to keep in line. And—” I choked on the words, and I knew I needed to go. If I fell apart as the reality of losing my parents set in, I didn’t want it to be here. Not in front of Sadie. She needed me to be strong for her. “Take care of Mamachka and give her my love, okay?”
“Of course I will.”
I hugged her, pressing her body to mine, and then I left her there in the space we’d shared.
I’d told her to wait.
I’d told her I’d return to Smythe.
And somehow, it still felt like the end of something I wouldn’t be able to get back.
