He blinked a few times. While he tried to process what she’d just said, she shared even more.
“The pictures were all date and time stamped. Even if we had tried to fight it, my father’s lawyers would have been able to prove they were legit. And if he’d sent those to your commander…”
“I would’ve been court-martialed.” Matt’s voice turned flat as he finished for her.
Kat nodded sadly. “I couldn’t let that happen. I knew how much being in the Navy meant to you. I never would’ve been able to live with myself if you’d been kicked out…or worse…because of me.”
Understanding finally began to filter through his dark eyes. “So you broke up with me.”
“Yes.”
He walked over to the window facing the front of the cabin and ran a hand over his scruffy jaw. She waited for him to say something more, but he didn’t. He simply kept staring out at nothing.
“I couldn’t tell you the truth,” she said honestly. “My father had a guy watching us on the pier that morning. He said if it even looked as though I was trying to tip you off on what was really going on, the man would call him. If that happened, Dad would have gone straight to the post office and mailed the envelope containing the pictures.”
When Matt remained silent, Kat continued talking, desperate to make him understand.
“Don’t you see?” She moved in closer. “I didn’t end things with you because I didn’t care. I broke up with you because I loved you. I loved you so much.” Kat paused a moment to work past the painful pressure in her throat. “Enough to let you go so you could have the life you always wanted.”
His head turned toward her, his heart breaking all over again before her very eyes. “The only life I ever wanted was with you.”
“I was scared, Matt. I knew my father wasn’t bluffing. He would have had you arrested if I hadn’t gone along with his plan. I couldn’t let that happen to you. I didn’t know what else to do.”
“You could’ve told me.”
“I already explained that. I couldn’t or Dad would’ve—”
“I mean after, Katherine.” He shook his head. “If what you’re telling me is true—”
“It is,” she cut him off again, her eyes pleading with him to believe her. “I swear with every fiber of my being I’m telling you the truth.”
“The statute of limitations on that shit was up a long time ago. You could have come to me then. Told me what your father had forced you to do, rather than continuing to let me believe you were some cold, heartless woman who didn’t give a shit about me.”
“Oh, sure.” She chuckled without a hint of humor. “Because you would’ve believed me, right? Look around, Matt.” Kat gestured to the small space surrounding them. “The only reason you’re even listening to me now is because we’re stuck in this tiny cabin with nowhere else to go. I saw the look in your eyes on the pier that day. I remember every single word you said to me. You talk about how I threw you away like you were nothing, but what about you?”
“Me?” His face twisted with confusion.
“Yes, you. You claim to have been so madly in love with me you were ready to propose. Yet at the first sign of trouble, you bolted.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” He closed much of the distance separating them. “Youbroke up withme,” he growled.
“And youletme!” Kat yelled back. Her chest heaved as she tried to get her point across without crumbling into a million pieces. “You could’ve fought harder, but you didn’t. You claimed to have loved me, but believed me the second I said I didn’t want to be with you anymore.” She swiped angrily at a tear. “What my father did to us was unforgivable, butIdidn’t have a choice. You did. And you chose to throw that ring in my face and walk away without eventryingto fight for us.”
“What would have been the point?” He threw his arms to his sides before letting them fall back down, his hands slapping loudly against the tight denim stretched across his toned thighs. “By your account, I would’ve gone to prison had I stayed. So whether or not I tried to fight for us wouldn’t have even mattered.”
“It would’ve mattered to me,” her voice cracked. When he threw that ring at her that day, she’d watched him walk away, feeling as though he never really knew her at all.
“I can’t…” Matt swallowed hard before shaking his head. “I can’t be here right now.”
Her stomach tightened. Not because she was afraid of who may come after her, but because deep down, she didn’t want him to go.
“You promised to watch over me.”
“I promised to keep you safe.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket.
“W-who are you calling?”
“Zade. I’ll have him come stay with you.” Without looking at her, he hit a number on his contacts list. “He was a SEAL. He’ll protect you.”
