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I bent down and reached for her, but she refused to get up.
With all the venom in his voice, he pointed a shaky finger at her. “Don’t you talk to me ever again. I fucking hate you right now. I don’t know how I can forgive you after this.” His eyes swung my way. “You know what? I take back everything I said. You guys deserve each other. Have a nice life.”
Then, he stormed out the door, slamming it shut behind him.
“Syd,” I whispered, leaning next to her and wrapping my arms around her. Her body shook uncontrollably.
“No …” she croaked out, pushing at my chest and standing.
She took two healthy steps away from me, and my heart fell to the floor.
“I can’t do this right now.” She swiped at her nose, her face a blotchy red mess. “He’s going to go crazy, and who knows what he will do? How could I be so stupid?”
“Syd, no. Stop!” I shouted, panicked as she rushed back to my room, and I trailed behind her like the damn lovesick puppy I was.
“Where are my clothes, Austin?” She lifted the sheets, the ones we’d made love on. “Where are they?” she shot out.
I walked toward my closet and plucked her slacks and top from the floor. How could things have changed so quickly, in an instant?
When she reached for them, I raised the articles of clothing over my head. “You shouldn’t leave like this. You’re upset. Please, Syd, stay and talk to me. I’m here for you.”Please, please believe me.
She shook her head and angrily yanked the clothes out of my hand. “How could I do this to Alec? I don’t know what I’m going to do,” she cried, tears pouring down her face.
My hands ached to touch her, but I knew she’d only push me away.
I watched helplessly as she changed, as she spewed more self-deprecating lies. I knew Alec would calm down. And in time, he’d see that I loved his sister and had no intentions of hurting her.
Sydney had to see that. She had to know.
I should have let it go. She was upset. She loved Alec, and he was angry. I got where he was coming from, but I couldn’t take her talking about us like we were over.
I reached for her, pulling her in by her elbows. “You were thinking with your heart this time, putting yourself first. And Alec is only pissed because he’s still hurt about Brandy. He’ll get over being mad at you. I know it, Sydney.”
When I cupped her face, she shut her eyes, and her face fell. “I can’t do this. Not now. I’m sorry.”
Panic. My body was going haywire with it. Words and emotions were lodged in my throat as I followed her out.
I reached for her wrist, stilling her and bringing her toward me. “What does that even mean, Sydney?”
Her eyes broke when they met mine. “It means, right now, my priority is Alec. And you and me, whatever this is, it has to wait.”
I barricaded her path to the door, no longer capable of hiding my turmoil and hurt. “Whatever this is? I love you. And you said you love me.” Anger bubbled inside me as I stepped forward and held her shoulder, leaning down to get directly in her line of sight. “Are you really going to let Alec keep us apart?”
She tore herself from my grasp, swiping at her cheeks. “I can’t do this. Please … just give me time to sort things out.”
I threw up both hands. “Like how much time? A month? A year? What are we talking about? Are you going to wait until Alec gets married, and then you’ll be free to do what you want?”
I was being an asshole, but I couldn’t help it. This was bullshit, her giving up every time to appease her siblings, being fucking selfless—one of the qualities I loved about her, but it was time she grew a backbone.
She ignored me and slipped on her shoes, and when she opened the door, I placed a palm against it, shutting it hard.
She peered up at me, sadness and regret in her eyes, and my heart clenched.
“I leave for California in a few days. Your flight is booked. Where does that leave us?” My heart was on my sleeve, and my voice choked up with emotion.
“I just can’t …” She reached for the door handle and tried to pull it open, but my hand on the door prevented her from doing so. “Austin …”
“Don’t run from this, Sydney. You know it’s wrong.” I was pleading now, but I didn’t care. She was letting her family’s happiness trump her own.
