“If I stay in this competition with you, I’m putting a target on your back,” I said, voice wobbling. “If I stay with youat all, I might be doing that.”
His expression changed—not hurt, not angry. Devastated.
“You’re not responsible for Graham’s actions,” he said, low and fierce. “He doesn’t get to take things from you. Or from me.”
“But he will try,” I said. “I know he will.”
Nate took another step. “Then let him try.”
I shook my head. “I can’t let you fight my battles. Or get caught in the crossfire of them.”
“You think I can’t handle him?”
“That’s not it,” I whispered. “I know you can. That’s what scares me. You’ll take the hit. You’ll protect me. You’ll stand between him and me even if it costs you something. And I can’t—” My voice broke. “I can’t be the reason anything happens to you or Tilly. You’re finally in a place where you get to spendmore time with her. The Pennywhistle is everything; it’s your legacy. It’s your livelihood. I won’t ruin that. I can’t.”
Silence fell, heavy as the snowfall outside.
Nate swallowed, eyes locked on mine. “Eliza… I love you.”
The words landed like a blow and a gift all at once. I sucked in a breath.
“I love you,” he said again, voice rough. “I’m in this. I’m in you. I don’t know when it happened, but it did, and I don’t want to pretend it didn’t to make things easier. You have to know. You’re important to me, Eliza. You’re everything.”
I felt like I was being torn in two because I felt the same.
“I love you, too,” I whispered, tears slipping down my cheeks. “And that’s the problem. I love you too much to let you risk your daughter’s future for me.”
His face crumpled—just for a second. Just long enough for me to see the truth. The hope, the fear, the way he’d already handed me his heart without hesitation.
“Eliza,” he said, stepping toward me. “Please.”
“I can’t be the reason something bad happens,” I cried. “I can’t.” I set the mug down before I dropped it. “I need space. I need to think. And you—you need to be safe from me.”
He shook his head almost violently. “The safest place I’ve ever been is next to you.”
“Don’t,” I whispered, voice shaking. “Don’t make this harder.”
“I’m not trying to make it harder,” he said, pain threading through every word. “I’m trying to make you understand. When you know from the bottom of your soul someone is meant for you, you fight for them.”
I backed up until I hit the counter. Remy and Linguini circled my feet like they sensed the crack spreading down the middle of me.
“I need to be alone,” I said. “Just for a little while. I need to figure out how to keep you safe. I need to figure out how to be strong enough to take care of you, like you do for me.”
He stared at me as if the ground had shifted beneath him. “I don’t need protecting.”
“Maybe you don’t. But Tilly does. You’ll see that once you’re not right here. When you’re back home and with her, then you’ll understand,” I whispered. “That’s why you’re going to let me do this. Just for now. Please give me some space to figure this out. Please. It has to be me. I’m almost ashamed to tell you that if it weren’t for Tilly, I’d probably let you protect me. And I want you to know—to believe—that if this works out for us that I’ll protect her too. She deserves that.”
His chest rose and fell, slow and tight.
“Okay,” he said finally. “If you need space, I’ll give it to you.”
My heart felt like it was tearing. “Thank you.”
He took a step back, then another, like each one cost him something. At the doorway, he paused.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he murmured. “Even if you need distance. Even if you’re scared, I’m not leaving you alone in this. Call me when you need me. Anytime. I mean it, Eliza. Promise me you’ll call if you need me, so I can go.”
I squeezed my eyes shut as tears spilled hot and relentlessly. “I promise.”
