“I don’t want a part-time boyfriend.”
“Part-time is better than nothing.”
She grimaces. “Is it? Maybe you should find another woman.”
“I’ve had other women. None of them were you.”
All they cared about was my money or being with someone famous. Addy is different. She didn’t even know who I was the first time we met. And she didn’t care either.
“I don’t want you to hang on to me when it’ll be years before I can leave the island. Mila is only nine.”
“I don’t care. I’ll wait for you. Hell, I’ll wait forever for you. I love you, Addy.”
Clouds cover her beautiful brown eyes. “I love you, too, Gage.”
Warmth spreads throughout my body. My songbird loves me. I want to shout it from the rooftops. I want the world to know this amazing woman is mine. I want to put a ring on her finger so every man knows she’s taken.
I lean forward to kiss her but she holds up a hand to stop me. “Sometimes love isn’t enough.”
“Yes, it is. Love is enough.”
She presses on my shoulders until I retreat. She stands and walks toward the house.
“This isn’t the end, Addy.” I refuse to allow her to walk away from me just because she can’t move to Steel City. “We’ll figure out a solution.”
She glances at me over her shoulder. Tears are streaming down her face. My heart breaks at her pain. I never want her to be in pain.
“I don’t think there is a solution. This isn’t a football field. This is real life. And real life isn’t fair.”
I’m intimately acquainted with how unfair life is. Which is why I’m not letting my slice of happiness get away from me.
“I’ll leave, Addy. But just for today. I’m not leaving you forever. I will never leave you.”
“You already did, Gage. You chose your sponsors and money over spending time with me. I know all I need to know. Bye, Gage.”
The door shuts behind her. I hate how she’s in pain. But I know better than to push her more than I already have today.
I’ll be back. And with a solution to our situation. I refuse to believe there isn’t a solution. I don’t give up when I know what I want.
And Addy is what I want. My little songbird is the love of my life and I’m not living without her.
Chapter 34
Love is never simple.
Addy
Islam the sliding glass door behind me and sprint past my family, still sitting and eating birthday cake at the table like my life isn’t ending. Tears stream down my face, but I don’t allow myself to sob until I’m safely tucked away in my room.
I knew falling in love with Gage was a bad idea. I tried to stop myself. I tried to keep my heart safe.
But it’s impossible not to love him. He’s sweet, kind, generous – a real gentleman. Not to mention sexy. And my family loves him. My family isn’t the easiest to please but he slipped through their coverage like a running back who sees daylight and doesn’t look back.
I groan and drop onto my bed. Now I’m thinking in football metaphors.
“Addy,” Mom calls.
“Not now, Mom.”
