During the whirlwind wedding plans for her brother Axel’s arranged marriage, Wyatt was shot with a Defender when he found and sedated an escaped animal native to Alpha-Prime near the bauxite pit’s lovers’ lane.
Valene had hoped Axel wouldn’t erase Wyatt’s recent memories, but it hadn’t worked out that way. She’d had to do quite a bit of explaining when Wyatt lost forty-five minutes of memories that night instead of just ten.
The Defender looked like a hand-sized megaphone since her brother Cam—who was in charge of security for both the upstairs and downstairs businesses for the Big Bang Truck Stop—had modified the design to a compact one for everyday use.
She usually carried the smaller version in her purse, because Cam insisted on it as standard protocol for the family. Especially after learning Wyatt had been zapped at the bauxite pit. Once when she accidently left the small one at home, she failed Cam’s surprise inspection of her purse. He didn’t even say anything. He just shoved another compact Defender inside her bag and gave her a stern look of reproach. She’d stowed the extra Defender in her parents’ glove box, not wanting to have to explain it to anyone.
Wyatt watched her patiently.
She waffled and waited and hoped some as yet undiscovered perfect answer would present itself that would allow her to live her life on Earth with the love of her life.
But so far, nada.
Wrapped in Wyatt’s arms, trying not to explain why she wouldn’t marry him, Valene had a burst of clarity. Abrupt and terrible logic. Unless Wyatt was suddenly identified as a royal Alpha alien like Juliana or some other non-Earth creature, there was absolutely no hope of them ever being together. At least not unless she forced him away from his large, wonderful family to live on Alpha-Prime with her forever.
How could she live happily ever after if she forced him away from everyone and everything he’d ever known, leaving them wondering where he was for all time? This was the problem she pondered every single day. It wasn’t rocket science. She had her answer. She’d always had it. She couldn’t expect him to leave his family without any notion of where he’d gone.
It was the same conclusion she always came to, but it didn’t help alleviate her feelings for Wyatt. She loved him, but she had to let him go. She had to let him go…once and for all.
Valene stepped out of his arms. “I’m sorry, Wyatt. We can’t see each other anymore.”
He looked stunned. “Not ever?”
“Not in a romantic way.”
Wyatt shook his head. “I do not understand, Vee.”
“I know you don’t. And I can’t explain it. I do love you, you don’t know how much. But we can’t be together. Please don’t call me or try to see me.”
She took another step away. A queasy feeling settled in her stomach. This was it. No more Wyatt in her life.
“You’re really breaking up with me?”
She stared at his incredulous expression for a couple of seconds and then nodded, once, unable to say the words out loud.
He put a finger beneath her chin and lifted her face up. “Please don’t break up with me.”
She blinked tears onto her cheeks and sniffed. “I’m sorry. I can’t do this anymore. It’s too hard for me.”
“Well, it’s hard for me, too, because I don’t want anyone else but you, Vee.”
She swallowed hard, her resolve weakening. But she had to be strong. She pictured the expression on his face when he learned he’d have to give up his family and move two galaxies away. He’d get the look he currently had when Daphne Charlene tried to engage him in conversation or hug him or snatch him into her clutches. Aggravated. Perturbed. Repulsed.
Valene never wanted Wyatt to look at her that way. She shook off her melancholy and backed away until her butt hit the kitchen door and they weren’t touching.
“I’m sorry, Wyatt, but this is it. I hate that it has to be this way. I know you don’t understand. And I’m sorry that I can’t give you the explanation that you deserve. We need time apart. It’s for the best.”
His eyes narrowed. “I don’t believe in ultimatums,” he said quietly.
Where is he going with this?“Neither do I.”
“I hope that you understand me when I tell you that I can’t keep this up, either. Breaking up with me after I propose to you has become too painful.”
“What are you saying?”
“If you are about to leave through the back door yet again for ‘time apart,’” his fingers raised to do finger quotes, “…then don’t bother coming back at all. My heart can’t take it. I’m done.”
His expression shifted to one of absolute desolation. She saw how much it pained him to say those words. Her gaze shifted to his pocket. The one that held the perfect engagement ring. He saw her looking and reached in to pull the ring box from his pocket. He set it on the corner of the kitchen counter.
