He rubbed my back. “You do. But California isn’t that far. Long distance isn’t as hard as it used to be.”
“I can’t do that. Not to him. Not when I know how badly it would hurt.”
Not being with him every day, not coming home to him at night? Being forced to spend our days texting and FaceTiming, missing each other? That would be torture. And I couldn’t do it to either one of us.
It was time to get back to my life.
Time to forget about Oliver, if that was even possible.
Time to forget about the best two weeks of my life.
Even though I wasn’t sure that was possible anymore.
CHAPTER 10
Oliver
After Tessa said her goodbyes, both Matthew and Noelle wrapping her up in a big hug, I loaded her stuff in the car.
The ride to the airport was quiet, like both of us knew exactly what awaited us when I dropped her off. Matthew had offered to take her, but I’d insisted.
I knew we needed this goodbye.
Instead of dropping her off at the curb, I parked, interlacing our fingers as we walked with her bags to the airline check-in counter.
Tessa was wearing an oversized sweatshirt she’d stolen from me, and a baseball cap tugged over her loose blonde waves. She was beautiful, even with her blue eyes clouded in sadness. The most gorgeous woman I’d ever seen. And right now, she looked likemine.
Her bag was checked, and as we stood in front of security, I knew this was it.
There were so many things I hadn’t said. But could I?
Fuck it. I had to try.
I took her hand in mine. “This doesn’t have to end. We can do longdistance. I can—”Visit.
But even as I said that I knew what it would be like. I saw the expression on her face. It wouldn’t be enough. Not with her.
Tessa Harper deserved a big, sweeping, epic love story. She deserved to shine under the Hollywood lights. I couldn’t keep her here. I wouldn’t.
No matter how fucking bad I wanted to ask her to stay.
She shook her head, her eyes glassy, but no tears fell from her beautiful blue eyes. “We can’t, Oliver. I can’t. I’m sorry.”
And with that, her boarding pass in hand, she grabbed her suitcase, turning to go through security without another word.
I didn’t turn around the entire time, hoping she’d look back just once.
She didn’t.
Finally, when she disappeared from view, I turned, and with a sigh, I left the airport, knowing the girl I loved was gone.
And there was nothing I could do about it.
Tessa
I made it.
Oliver
