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I’ll never stop loving her.
“Maybe prolonging this will just make it harder.”
“It doesn’t matter when, baby girl. It’s going to fucking suck.”
“Can we still talk?”
“Every day.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.” It’s going to kill me to take us back to just being friends, but I love her too much. The alternative is losing her only family, and I can’t do it. I can’t be the reason for that.
“So, tonight.”
No. No. No.
I swallow back that reply and to say the right thing, even if the words taste like acid on my tongue. “Tonight.”
“Set the alarm on your phone.”
“What time?”
“Six, I guess. I don’t want to risk him finding me down here.”
I do as she says, setting the alarm, and pulling her back into my arms. “I hate this, Emerson.”
“I hate it too, but we knew this was a possibility, right? I mean, you’ve been worried about this from the beginning, and while I think Forrest can go fuck himself where we are concerned, I get it. I hate it, but I get it.”
“I don’t know of another way.”
“Yeah,” she agrees. “If I’m being honest, I know you’re right. He’s stubborn where I’m concerned. He has this vision of what he thinks my life should look like. Maybe in another life.”
“Then I might not have met you. I met you through your brother. So I’d like to keep this life and the memories of you being mine.”
“I think I’ll always be yours, Roman. I don’t think my heart knows any other way.”
“Our hearts are on the same page.”
She’s quiet and I think she’s finally fallen asleep. “Rome?”
“Yeah, baby girl?”
“Don’t let go, okay? Just for tonight. Don’t let go.”
I tighten my arms around her. “I’m right here.”
I love you.
I stare at the clock and watch as every minute rolls into the next. I hold her, just as I promised. When my alarm goes off, I’m wide awake. I hate to wake her up. I don’t want to leave this basement. This is the last time I’ll ever have the love of my life in my arms.
Fuck.
I hate doing the right thing. It hurts so fucking much. Knowing I have to stay strong for her, I shake her awake gently. “Baby girl, it’s time to go up to your room.”
She nods and hugs me tightly. “Even with the distance, these have been the best moments of my life. The time that I was yours.”
You’re always going to be mine. In my heart, you’re mine.
