THE THIRD OPTION
QUINTON
“What doyoumeanyou’re leaving?”
Emery stands in front of me, a shell of herself. Weak. Quiet. Sad. It hurts my heart seeing her so faded, so damn defeated. She avoids eye contact, her body visibility shrinking as she lets out a frustrated sigh.
“I can’t do this, Quin,” she mutters. “It’s not… It’s not fair to you. To…” She swallows. “To Damon. I-I need to leave. I need to leave before I end up hurting both of you.”
“You’re not going to hurt me.” And I believe it. Every word.
She tilts her head, finally allowing her green eyes to connect with mine. “Your confidence is admirable, Quin. But it’s rooted in something that doesn’t exist. Icouldhurt you. So badly. I don’t…” Pain mars her brows. “I don’t understand why you’d risk that…for me.”
My gut clenches. How could she not understand? How can she stand there and doubt my devotion, however complicated? I’d rather get burned every time she touches me than not feelher at all. Her uncertainty will be the death of us. She’s already withdrawing. The light I’ve grown to love is dimming.
I did this to her.
We both did.
I step closer, unable to bear the distance between us. "Emery," I say, gentle but unwavering. "I know we’ve put you in an incredibly difficult position, and it’s not easy, I know it’s not. But what we have? What we can potentially grow into? It’s remarkable. It’s something that’s worth fighting for, and this is me…fighting for you."
She looks up at me, and my pulse quickens. Emery has two sides. One side is fire, full of confidence and life. But it’s the other side I’ve grown to admire, the side she rarely shows to the outside world. But I’ve seen it. Her vulnerability. She’s afraid of that side. She’s afraid of showing it, sharing it, loving it.
Emery’s lips part but words elude her. Instead, she takes a small step closer, her hand trembling as it reaches for mine.
Our fingers brush, and in that simple touch, the world tilts. Emery's doubts and fears haven't vanished, but perhaps she's willing to let go, to trust in the fragile magic of our relationship. I offer her a small, hopeful smile, not demanding an immediate answer but simply extending an invitation to entertain the uncertainty.
"Stay," I say softly. "Stay for the New Year's Eve party, Emery, and if you still feel like leaving in the morning, I’ll have the jet ready for you. But just for tonight, take the risk. Take the risk and stay.”
I wish I could hear her thoughts. I wish I could tap into her subconscious mind, be privy to her process, to that gorgeous brain as it churns with deliberation. She can’t leave. I know what her departure would mean. I know she’d be steadfast in her decision.
She’d be running away from me.
From him.
And at this point, with that scary look in her eyes, I’m not sure either of us would be able to catch her again.
“Just for tonight,” she whispers. “Then I’m leaving.”
I need to change that.
We… We need to change that.
The study reeksof betrayal and brandy as I walk in, and I clench my fist, unwilling for the past to dictate my future. Damon’s head snaps up from behind a newspaper, expression stormy, his dark eyes flashing with contempt.
“You’re alone,” I note, surprised not to find Maya hovering around him. “Where’s your…friend?”
“I got bored,” he says, tone sharp and defensive. “Why do you care?”
I fight the urge to roll my eyes as I sit in the armchair in front of him. “I care for the same reasonyoucare, Damon.” I pause for a loaded beat before stating, “Emery’s leaving.”
Damon sits up, shoulders stiff. “Leaving?” His voice is so hoarse he has to clear his throat. “What do you mean she’s leaving?”
“Just that,” I say. “She’s leaving. I convinced her to stay one more night, but tomorrow, she wants to leave. She said she can’t do this anymore. That it’s not fair to either of us.”
He shoots me a piercing look, his jaw clenching. "Well, I appreciate the update. You can go now."
I take a deep breath, my temples pulsing by his lack of authenticity. "It’s our fault, Cavanaugh. We did this to her. We… We’re making her choose. We’re making her decide when she’s nowhere near ready."
