Someone’s partner. Someone’s equal.
He doesn’t finish that sentence, because he doesn’t need to. I already know.
There was so much of me that longed to hear exactly that, but then there’s also another part of me that prayed he’d never say it out loud. That we’d never have to confront what’s happening between us.
And here of all places. Locked in the center of people who can never know.
It’s scary. Everything about him is scary. The way his mere presence has me questioning everything I once stood firm in is terrifying.
His confession brings us to a boiling point and we both know it. And I just wish that this song would end so I could get off this dance floor to keep from confronting what’s right in front of us.
Emmett drops his head, lips ghosting the shell of my ear. “I know I promised you that I’d protect you and your reputation and the legacy you want to leave. And I’m fully aware that I’m breaking that promise by wanting you. And I don’t know what the fuck to do about it, Reese. For someone who usually has all the answers, I have no idea how tostopwanting you.”
“Emmett.” There’s a desperate plea in the way I say his name. “Please not here.”
When I turn my head to look at him, I find this almost untamed need in his eye and it terrifies me for the next thing he’s going to say.
“I don’t think you understand me. It doesn’t matter where I say it. I wasn’t lying that day in the elevator when I told you to fire me. That’s where I’m at. I’m not willing to risk your reputation, but I am willing to risk my own job to figure out what this might be. So fucking fire me already.”
“No.” I pull away from him in a somewhat dramatic fashion, but thankfully the song ends and plenty of people are separating on the dance floor that no one seems to notice. “Absolutely not.”
“Reese—”
He reaches out for me, but I take a step back to create distance, then look around to remind him where we are right now.
He’s lost his fucking mind if he thinks I’m going to let him lose his job over me. After everything he’s done to get back to this place in his life. After everything he sacrificed.
“Absolutely not.” I keep my voice sharp but hushed. “We aren’t... that’s not an option.”
Can he hear how scared I am? Can he see it on my face?
“Don’t bring that up ever again. I’m . . .”
Not worth it.
And that’s not a lack of self-esteem speaking for me. I know my worth. That’s the fear of him losing everything he’s ever wantedto gamble on me. In that respect, I refuse to let him believe I’m worth that risk.
“I’m...” I try again. “I’m not going to have this conversation again.”
Then I turn on my heel and leave the dance floor as I fast as I can without drawing suspicion. But as soon as I’m out of the main event space, I run.
31
Emmett
“You good?” Kai asks as I bring the bourbon to my lips.
I relish in the burn as it slides down my throat. It’s both delicious and needed.
I know exactly where Reese ran off to. We’re at the stadium after all. But I’m not going to disturb her in her one safe space here. In the one place she can think clearly.
Instead, I’m going to down this drink and reminisce on what a fucking idiot I am for professing my unwavering desire to be with her while in the middle of all our coworkers.
I don’t answer Kai because I don’t have it in me to lie and I can’t exactly talk this out with him right here and now. Instead, I lean my forearms on the cocktail table and take another long swig from the glass.
“I’ll take that as a no, you’re not good, and you don’t want to talk about it.”
I lift an impressed brow in his direction. “You know me so well, honey.”
