Page 85 of Break Out

Is it really that simple?

Chapter thirty-five

Aubrey

“Are you okay?”

I glance up from the books I’m stacking on my desk to see Summer leaning against the doorframe, her arms crossed as she watches me.

“I’m fine, Summer.”

She steps into my office and drops into one of the visitor chairs opposite where I’m currently packing. “I don’t buy it. Try again. What happened?”

“Nothing.” I say, pulling items out of my desk drawers and placing them in the boxes at my feet. Refusing to look at her because I know if I do, she’ll see right through my lie.

“Bullshit. What happened with Brody? You sounded weird on the phone last night.” She pauses, studying me. “Like you’d been crying.”

“Nothing happened. I’m fine,” I say, focusing on my task and hoping that she believes me.

“Stop saying nothing because we both know there’s something going on. You’re in love with the man. That’s not nothing.”

I collapse into my chair, crossing my arms and finally meeting her gaze. “And? His job is here. He can’t play hockey in Hawaii.”

“Aubrey,” Summer protests with a shake of her head.

“Leave it. Please.”

There’s nothing she can say that’ll change my mind. I went through all the scenarios last night after I left Brody’s place. There is no possible solution that would let both of us chase our dreams and be together.

Summer frowns. “Aubrey, I love you, and you’re the smartest person I know. But”—she narrows her eyes—“right now, you’re being an idiot. Why are you torturing yourself?”

I prop my elbows on my desk and drop my head into my hands. “He was willing to give up his career for me.”

“And?”

“I can’t let him do that for me. Hockey was always his dream. The Storm is his family. He was talking about leaving them. That’s ridiculous. He has years left to play. And he’s going to what? Give it up for me? I’m not worth that sacrifice.” My voice cracks and tears run down my face. Summer must hear the emotion in my voice because she places a comforting hand on my arm. I lift my head and see her leaning over the desk, peering at me.

“Why do you get to make that decision for him? Don’t you think he can make whatever choice he wants.”

I reach for a tissue from the box on my desk and dab at my eyes, contemplating how to answer the question. “If he’s going to retire, he should do it on a high. Not after a season like they had last year. He deserves to lift the Stanley Cup one more time. He blames himself for their elimination in the playoffs. I know he does. If he retires now, he’ll spend the rest of his life regretting it and replaying the end of his last season.”

Summer laughs. The bitch laughs at me.

“Do you hear yourself?” She takes her hand off my arm and sits up straight. “Are you sure you’re not the one who plays professional hockey? Because you sure are acting like you do.”

I shake my head. What the hell is she talking about? “What do you mean?”

“What do I mean? For fuck’s sake, Aubrey, let the man love you. What’s this about, not wanting him to sacrifice for you? How would it be a sacrifice? He’s played hockey for how many years? You’re not asking him to go with you. He offered.”

I open and close my mouth a couple of times before turning my attention back to my desk drawers and my packing. “I don’t know what you mean,” I finally manage to say.

“Aubrey, look at me.”

I shake my head, staring down at the desk because if I do as she asks, I know I’m going to lose it. She’s right. We both know it. But all I can think about is the sacrifices my siblings made for love or, in my brother’s case, for the family, and I can’t do it. I refuse to give up my dreams for love, and I sure as hell won’t ask Brody to do that for me.

“I’m afraid that if he gives up the one thing he’s always wanted, he’ll regret the decision. Or he’ll spend the rest of our lives constantly reminding me of the sacrifice he made for me.”

“You know he’s not like that, right? Why can’t you take what he says at face value?” Summer says quietly. “Don’t torture the man. Talk to him.”