I refuse to stand by and watch as he fucks his way through Austin’s social scene, crushing my heart and pretending what we have doesn’t matter.
Maybe there was a time I could’ve done it, but I’m not that woman anymore. At least, I don’t want to be. I’ve changed, and sure, maybe I’m a work in progress, but Miles is the same clueless pendejo I gave my resignation to all those weeks ago.
And after two years of loving him and giving him everything I have to offer, I’m done.
“You were never invisible, Lucy. Not to me.” He exhales, and his nostrils flare. Probably because he can’t deny the part about asking me to make dinner reservations for other women. “Are you really going to throw away this partnership opportunity on a whim? Even you can’t be that stubborn. Triada’s support would elevate So Savvy Traveler to the next level.”
“Whim?” I snort.Men. “I’d hardly call taking control of my life and my mental health a whim. And, just to be clear, I don’t need Triada to succeed. I can do this on my own. Just like I could’ve done this trip on my own. You’re only here because you invited yourself along, not because I needed you, so don’t get it twisted.”
A brief look of horror passes over his face, but he squashes it, apparently deciding not to step on that grenade. “You can’t actually be this stubborn.”
“You’re one to talk.”
A powerful gust of wind rolls in off the ocean, blowing my hair across my face, and I silently curse, because in my haste to reach the end of the road, I didn’t bring a hair tie. Which is just perfect, because while everyone around us is enjoying a beautiful day at the beach, my life is crumbling around my feet—again.
It’s starting to feel like a pattern.
Miles sighs. “Can we please just talk about this like rational adults?”
“That’s exactly what we’re doing.” I’m careful to keep my voice level, but I plant my hands on my hips, because honestly, I’m over this conversation. “My mind is made up. I will not sit by and watch as someone I love is ruled by fear.”
“That’s rich,” he says, matching my stance. “Do you even realize how hypocritical that statement is, coming from someone who’s afraid to step out of her comfort zone and take big risks?”
His words land like a blow, and the air punches out of my lungs.
Qué cabrón. I’m not the one operating from a place of fear here.
“I just quit my job to become a travel influencer and drove cross-country with a questionable fifty-year-old Airstream. So, yeah, not seeing the hypocritical behavior.”
“Really?” He shakes his head in disbelief and leans against the railing. “The Airstream is covered with pictures of places you’d like to visit someday, and yet you chose to travel Route 66.” He lifts his chin in that annoying way guys do when they’re about to mansplain. “This entire trip west was a safe play. You chose a well-established, well-traveled route. You leveraged pre-planned itineraries from the internet. And forget about spontaneity.”
Outrage courses through my veins.
How dare he throw my aspirations in my face. So what if I started with a well-known route? It was just good sense.
Like a test run.
So Savvy Traveler is my brainchild. He has no business telling me where I should or shouldn’t go and what kind of content to post.
“If this is the sort ofpartnershipI can expect from Triada,” I say, throwing air quotes around the P-word, “then I can say with one hundred percent certainty that it’s a good thing we’re parting ways.”
Hurt flashes across his face, but it’s gone in an instant.
“You have the keys to Tallulah.” I square my shoulders and lift my chin, bracing for impact. “I’m going to hang out here for a while, but it would be best if you pack up your things and find somewhere else to spend the night. You can leave the keys on the hook.”
He stares at me for a while, his face inscrutable. When he finally speaks, his voice is calm and measured. “Is that what you really want?”
Of course not, but it’s for the best.
Stay strong, Lucy.
“Yes.”
Without another word, he turns on his heel and retreats down the pier, disappearing into the crowd and leaving me with only my pain to keep me company.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Lucy
