Page 67 of Ruin

“It’s too late, Zeus. We’re different people now. I’m different.”

He shakes his head. “You’re still the same. You’re still my little Dove.”

“I…you’re not being fair. You can’t say these things to me. And how am I supposed to believe a word you say? You admit that you lied to me about something so hurtful as cheating on me.”

“It’s the only time I’ve ever lied to you.”

“I honestly don’t know what to believe anymore. All you seem to do is throw bombs at me and then walk away, leaving me to clean up the mess.”

“Believe that I love you. I want you. And I’m not going anywhere.”

“Until you disappear to train for weeks on end for the Dimitrov fight.”

He erases the space I just put between us, and I find myself backed up to the front of the porch.

“I’m not leaving you or Gigi, Dove. I’m here to stay. Wherever my girls are, I’ll be. Port Washington is my home now. That’s why I left the hotel, and I’m renting an apartment.”

My heart lurches and reaches for him. He never once mentioned that he was looking for a place to rent. I just assumed he’d stay in the hotel until he had to start training for the Dimitrov fight.

He’s saying all the right things. Doing all the right things. Everything I wanted from him years ago. But, now…it’s too late.

I can’t risk my heart on Zeus again. I have Gigi to think of now.

I steel myself, putting the walls back up, and slip out from between him and the porch.

His body follows me around.

“That’s really great. For Gigi’s sake. But don’t do anything with me in mind, Zeus. Because we’re not happening. I don’t trust you anymore.”

“I’ll earn it back,” he counters.

I shake my head. “It’s too late.”

“No, it’s not.”

“Don’t fool yourself into believing that.”

“I’m not giving up on you…on us.”

“Well then, you’ll be wasting your time. Put your focus on our daughter, Zeus. And forget about me.”

“I haven’t been able to forget about you in the last five years, so I can’t see it ever happening.”

I walk away from him, heading for the porch, so done with this conversation. “Go home, Zeus.”

I hear him sigh behind me.

“Before I do…in the bar, you said you wanted to talk to me in the morning. What’s it about?”

I turn to face him, standing on the porch steps. “I think we should tell Gigi who you really are. Tomorrow, after her ballet class.”

A multitude of emotions crosses over his face. All of them good. “You’re sure?” he checks.

I nod.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. Let’s see how tomorrow goes first.” I walk to the door, rubbing my hands over my arms, warding off the chills I feel at the thought of the day to come and the night I’ve just had. The night I’m still having.