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“Choice?” Her eyebrows pinched together. “What do you mean by that?”
“It was a long time ago. Why do you want to rehash the past when we can’t change anything?”
“Because it’s staring me in the face every time I look at you. You broke my heart, Tristian. And I need to know why, so I can work on forgiving you.”
“It’s not going to change anything, kitten. We’ve still lost twenty years of not being together.”
“Then why didn’t you come back for me?” Her eyes became glossy. “I waited for you, every day, for years. I waited for you to come back to me.”
“Belle…”
“You know I didn’t just lose a boyfriend that night. I lost you as my best friend too. I didn’t have anyone after you left. Do you understand how hard that was for me? You took it all away without even explaining why.” She couldn’t control her tears as they slid down her cheeks.
I kissed them away, whispering, “I’m sorry, kitten. I’m so fucking sorry.”
“I thought… I don’t know… It just didn’t feel like we were going to end like that.”
“I know, but we had so much against us back then. You know that as much as I do.”
“If that’s the case, then why did you pursue me? Why would you make me fall in love with you?”
I shook my head. “I have no excuse for myself. The only thing I have for you is my profound regret of what could have been if I had come back to you.”
“Why did you leave me in the first place?”
“Trust me, I didn’t want to.”
“Then why did you?”
“I didn’t have a choice.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means exactly what I’m saying. I left to protect you.”
“From what?”
Looking deep into her eyes, I declared…
“From the shitty decisions I made before I met you.”
Chapter Eighteen
—Tristian—
Despite our afternoon ending on an unpleasant note, the rest of the day progressed nicely. After I promised I’d tell her the truth when I was ready, she let it go. Which was enough to silence her insecurities for a little while. Since I wanted to continue our date, I reserved us a table out on the beach with music for a late dinner and drinks.
We laughed.
We drank.
She danced, and I watched with a drink in my hand.
“Come on, dance with me!”
I grabbed her arm and tugged her to my face. “Not when you’re dancing for me.”
She smiled, beaming.
