Her tone was void. Distant.
“Angel…”
She moved to the door. “I think we need to take a timeout.”
I pushed up to my feet. “A timeout?”
“Yes.” She faced me, her chin held high. “This has made a bigger mess than we intended. I think it’s best if we don’t see each other for a while.”
“No.” My response was immediate. “I can’t walk away.”
“I’m not saying forever, Preston.” She blinked back tears. “Maybe after I graduate, if you still have feelings for me…”
“Feelings for you?” I scoffed at the minimization of what she meant to me. I stalked to her and took her face in my hands. “I love you,” I admitted in a harsh whisper. “I am in love with you, and six months or six fucking years are not going to change that.”
A quiet sob left her throat, and I pressed my lips to hers. She kissed me back, but it lacked the intensity she usually gave. It was timid and scared. It was like she was saying goodbye.
When we pulled apart, she met my eyes. “I love you too,” she whispered. “But sometimes, it’s just not the right time.” Her lips tilted in a forced smile.
“I don’t want this,” I voiced.
“I know, but it’s for the best. My dad is sick, and I don’t know how much time I might have left with him.” Her hand cupped my face. “You have a team to lead. Get Krew back on that field. They all deserve it and he deserves to be in the draft. We both know it.”
I still had my hands on her face. I couldn’t let go. “Please.”
She rose on her toes and pressed a quick kiss to the corner of my mouth. “Just a timeout, Coach.”
Then she turned, opened my front door, and tore my fucking heart out.
50
Trinity
It had been one week.
One week since we’d started thetimeoutI had suggested. It was the dumbest idea I’d ever come up with, even though my bones told me it was the right one for the time being. My body physically suffered the consequences. I couldn’t sleep. Had zero appetite, and the days on campus were excruciating when I had to see Preston at practice. He was so close, yet so far away. We hadn’t spoken. But he still texted me every single night. The same thing.
I need you to do something for me. Don’t give up on us.
My heart was heavy as I stared out at the Texas sunset. It dipped behind a set of gorgeous hills at the back of my dad’s ranch.
“Breathtaking, isn’t it?” A voice came from behind me.
My dad idled up next to me, handing me a cup of coffee.
“Thank you.” I smiled, taking the warm cup in my palms.
We had finished our Thanksgiving lunch earlier and spent the last couple of hours watching the twins play outside as me, him,Jodie, and her parents sat around the firepit. At some point, I wandered away, my mind drifting to Preston and what he was doing today. Was he visiting Ray with his sister? Was he cooking dinner at his house? Did he miss me as much as I missed him?
“I’ve never formally apologized, Trinity.”
I glanced up at the man who was turning out to be nothing like the man I’d pictured my entire life.
“I wasn’t always there for you like I should have been. I traveled a lot, and things with your mom…” He trailed off. “Let’s just say she didn’t make it easy.”
“Preaching to the choir, Dad,” I muttered before I took a sip.
He smiled, but it was weak. “I let my issues with her take me away from you. It was wrong. There is no excuse. I wasn’t a present father, and for that, you’ve suffered.”
