"That's not fair."
"Fair?" She steps back into her room, and I follow, closing the door behind us. "You want to talk about fair? You begged me to trust you. You promised no more secrets. You made me feel crazy for being insecure about Bree when this whole time you were planning your exit strategy!"
"I wasn't planning anything! I don't even know if I want it!"
"Bullshit! I watched you play tonight, Declan. You were playing like your life depended on it. Like hockey is the only thing that matters."
"Because it's my job! It's what I'm supposed to do!"
"And what am I supposed to be? The girl who waves goodbye and wishes you luck?"
"I didn't know how to tell you!" The words explode out of me. "I didn't know how to tell you I might have to choose between hockey and you!"
"Might have to choose?" She stares at me. "You've already chosen. You've been choosing for weeks. Every time I asked what was wrong, you said, 'nothing.' Every time you shut me out. Every time you lied."
"I didn't lie."
"Lies of omission are still lies!" She's crying now, angry tears streaming down her face. "You let me sit there tonight thinking we were building something real."
"Sutton, please—" I reach for her, but she jerks away.
"Don't touch me."
"Just let me explain."
“I can’t believe I was stupid enough to fall for your bullshit twice."
"You're not stupid."
"If I were important, you would have told me!"
"I was scared!"
"Of what?"
"Of this!" I gesture between us. "Of you looking at me exactly the way you're looking at me right now! Of losing you!"
"Well, congratulations. Mission accomplished."
The words hit like a physical blow.
"Sutton, don’t. Don’t do this."
"Get out."
I don’t move.
"I said get out!" She moves to the door and yanks it open.
I don’t know how to fix it. Can I fix it?
"Just go, Declan. Please."
The "please" destroys me. She's not even angry anymore. She's just tired. Defeated.
I walk to the door. Turn back one more time.
She's standing there with tears streaming down her face.
