“Let’s not sleep tonight,” she said, wrapping her arms around me.
I nodded. “You read my mind.”
Chapter 15
TATE
If I’d had a gun, I would’ve shot that damn alarm. We hadn’t planned on sleeping, but I’d set the alarm just as a precaution. Good thing, too, as Blair and I had dozed off in each other’s arms sometime in the middle of the night.
“Oh my God.” Her hair was a beautiful mess as she blinked. “We fell asleep.”
“Yeah…” I said somberly.
She reached out to touch my face as we stared at each other.
I exhaled. “I thought I could do this, but now that this day is here…”
There were those words again, at the tip of my tongue, ready to beg her to run away with me. I tried to talk to myself.
You can’t be selfish.
She needs to live her life.
You have work to do on yourself that you can’t involve her in.
A relationship was never part of the deal.
Let her go.
Let her go.
I knew I’d regret not writing her a letter like she had me. There was just no time left. I’d spent every waking moment with her until sleep took us.
“I’ve got to get downstairs,” she said. “My ride is scheduled to come in ten minutes.”
Her flight was two hours earlier than mine, and we’d decided to part ways here to spare ourselves the stress of a dramatic airport goodbye.
My heart raced, even as it felt like it was breaking.
Blair rushed around the room to gather her things without making eye contact. When she finally looked at me, I saw tears in her eyes.
Fuck.She didn’t want me to see that she was crying.
I felt my own eyes water. It surprised me how little control I had.
She shook her head and looked down. “I don’t want you to come downstairs with me, Tate. It’s just too hard. Let’s end it here.”
No.
This can’t be it.
I had to act fast. Reaching out my hand, I said, “Give me your phone.”
She handed it to me, and I entered my number.
“I know we said this would be the end. But if youeverneed me, for anything, even just to talk, call me. Please. Okay? Anytime. You don’t need to give me your number, and honestly, I wouldn’t trust myself with it. But I feel better knowing you have mine, that the ball is in your court.Even if years go by, I don’t care where I am or what I’m doing, I’ll always be here for you.”
“Okay.” She nodded. “That means a lot. And Iwilltake you up on that.” She let out a breath. “I do feel better having your number. So, thank you.”
