God. That ache in my chest twisted deeper. I remembered every sound she made, every way she came alive under Jeremy and me. There was no comparing that... not ever.
“Hey,” I said gently. “That’s not stupid. Don’t minimize it. Sex matters, Luna. It’s not everything, but it’s important. You deserve to feel good. To be touched like someone’s grateful to have you.”
She nodded quickly, tears still hanging in her lashes. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be saying this to you. It’s not fair. I don’t have anyone else I can say this shit to.”
My heart cracked. I hated that she felt alone, but selfishly, I loved that she still came to me. That I was still her safe space.
“You always have me, Luna girl.”
She went quiet again, her lips parting like she wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words. She looked tired and yet so beautiful. Still mine, even if she wasn’t.
“Luna,” I said softly, leaning toward the screen, needing her to feel it. “Come to Chicago.”
She blinked. “What?”
“My last season. Come.”
I swallowed hard, knowing I shouldn’t say anything else.
“Not forever. Just . . . a season.”
She stared at me, and I watched the conflict play out on her face. Guilt. Want. Sadness.
“I can’t date you,” she said, almost like it physically hurt her to admit it. “I can’t do that again.”
“Then don’t. Keep dating... Will.” His name hit the back of my throat like splinters. “Keep being with him if that’s what you want,” I said, even though my chest was screaming. “But come anyway.”
“Why?”
Because I miss you.
Because I love you.
Because I can’t play my last damn game without knowing if this thing between us still exists when we’re in the same room.
Because I need you, even if I can’t have you.
“Because it’s my last season,” I said instead. “And you promised, Luna girl. You told me once you’d be there for my last skate.”
She covered her mouth with her hand while her shoulders trembled.
“I remember,” she said finally.
I waited, hope bleeding slowly and recklessly in my chest.
“Just think about it,” I said. “Please.”
She nodded, so small I might’ve missed it if I hadn’t been watching her like my life depended on it.
“I’ll think about it,” she whispered. “I have to talk to Nova.”
“Yeah . . . you should.”
“She deserves to know. I can’t lie to her anymore, not even by omission. I can’t sneak around with phone calls. Not after everything she’s done for me. Not after everything I’ve kept from her.” Her eyes flickered to the ground. “But, Dirks, there’s so much here I love. My life, my job, my space. I’ve built something here. And I love Nova and Ollie, and... I don’t know. I just— I can’t leave.”
I didn’t ask what she meant, but I had a feeling it wasn’t just about me.
And I couldn’t tell her that Austin was back in town either, not yet. That wasn’t my story to tell. Plus, I doubted Nova would come back to Chicago anyway. Not with the life Luna had described. Not with the fiancé and the perfect home and the peace they’d both finally found. That was something we’d all have to face... later.
