The seconds it takes me to get to Ian edge on forever.
Noticing his door ajar, I burst inside his loft. Seeking him out, I come to an abrupt halt.
He sits on the sofa, face tipped down, shoulders hanging. It’s not good. Tears instantly gather in my eyes, and I murmur his name. Hearing me, he abruptly stands up, and I see his red-rimmed eyes. The forlorn look shadowing his gorgeous face kills me.
I jump into his arms, wrapping myself around him, wishing to take all his anguish and make it better. He holds on to me like I am his only safeguard, surrounded by the deep end.
I would give anything to alleviate his pain.
“I’m so sorry. How is Levi?”
Ian places me down and drags a hand down his face.
“I was there earlier. The doctor told him that he won’t be able to play again. His knee is shredded,” he says, sighing deeply and balling his hands at his sides.
I take his fisted hands in mine, caressing his knuckles. That’s bad.
“And Amelie?” I choke out.
“She’s with him, but he’s upset so…”
What he doesn’t say has my insides clenching with worry.
He shrugs, not hiding the dejected look.
“Their relationship will overcome this.”
He offers a nod that does nothing to ease the tension hanging in the air, making it hard to breathe.
I don’t know what to do or say. Helplessness crashes over me like a tidal wave—unexpected and brutal. Ian looks outside the floor to ceiling window, his hands tucked in his sweatpants pockets.
Listening to my gut instinct, I lock my arms around his torso, kissing the spot between his shoulder blades. He stiffens for just a second before he relaxes, and I breathe a sigh of relief.
“Can I do something?” I would do anything to ease him.
“You’re helping me by just being here. Sorry if the company sucks.” He lets out a sad chuckle that clenches my heart.
I round him to be face-to-face. Rising on my toes, I palm his face. “You could never suck at anything.”
He avoids looking at me, gulping. “I failed yesterday.”
“It wasn’t your fault.” But it’s like my words don’t register, so I insist, “It was an accident. An awful accident.”
He shakes his head, features taut. Guilt wages carnage in his midnight eyes.
“Banks was free. I saw him but…”
I pull his face down to be at eye level. “Blaming yourself won’t help. It won’t help Levi either. It was an accident.”
“An accident,” he repeats, as if in a trance.
His gaze drops to my lips. I am about to erase the last inch when he drops onto the sofa, resuming his position and holding his face between his hands.
“How was your visit with your mother?”
I have been on the direct path of falling in love with him, but at his interest, I get the confirmation that I am in love with him—truly, deeply, irrevocably. He tore all my walls down and breached my heart, making it his, more and more, with each passing day.
Today is not about our feelings, but just getting over this loss.
