Page 55 of The Truths We Find

“But… what about Sam?” My voice sounds foreign.

“We broke up tonight.”

I blink. My brain is still lagging behind the words, trying to process. “Wait… what? When?”

“Right before the ceremony started. When he called, something just… clicked. I finally realized he didn’t actually care about me. He only cared about having me. I think I’ve known that for a while and didn’t want to admit it. I was happy with the idea of being comfortable, but it stopped me from seeing that what we had wasn’t really love. At least not the kind of love I deserve.”

Holy shit.

Fire races through my veins at her words. I want to pull her into my arms, kiss her, tell her without a single doubt she’s mine.

Then reality crashes back in. None of this changes the fact we still can’t be together—not yet. I still have to protect her. Make sure Sam doesn’t act on his threat. I don’t trust him not to lash out. He showed his true colors tonight and paid the price.

I step back, forcing some distance, and offer her a small, careful smile. “We should head back to the hotel. Early flight in the morning.”

“Gavin…”

I turn before she can finish, moving to find Alexa. This is the second hardest thing I’ve ever done. If I don’t keep walking, I don’t know if I’ll have the willpower to hold myself together.

We spot Alexa making her way back to the booth at the same time as us.

“You ready to head back?” I ask. “We’re exhausted.”

She yawns with a nod, and I guide the girls towards the exit. I steal a glance at Dani, but her expression is cold as ice.

Yeah. I was expecting that.

The three of us slip outside and into the waiting limo. Alexa is half conscious, her head resting in Dani’s lap. After a few minutes of awkward silence, she starts humming a random song. The alcohol has clearly hit her, but somehow it eases the tension in the car just enough to make it bearable.

“Hey, Dani,” Alexa slurs.

“Yes, Alexa,” Dani giggles.

“Am I just really drunk, or did I see you and Gavin kissing on the dance floor?”

“Shit,” I mutter under my breath, heat crawling up my neck.

“I think you’re imagining things,” Dani says, calm and collected. “Close your eyes and go to sleep. I’ll wake you when we get to the hotel.”

Once we arrive, Dani helps a half-conscious Alexa into the elevator.

“You girls go on ahead,” I say. “I’ve got a few things I need to handle.”

Dani opens her mouth like she’s about to argue, but the doors slide shut before she has the chance.

I don’t actually need to be down here, but it feels safer to take a different elevator and sneak into my room after they’ve settled in theirs. I wait a few minutes, just to be sure, then hit the call button.

The doors close, and I take a deep breath. Everything I’ve wanted for the last ten years could have been mine tonight—and I let it slip, again.

I need to get this thing with Sam handled once and for all. Once he’s back, we settle this, and all move on with our lives.

The elevator doors slide open on my floor, and I step out, tux jacket slung over my shoulder. Rounding the corner, I find Dani still in her gown, an ice bucket in her hand. I literally just saw her a few minutes ago, and yet… she’s still as breathtaking as ever.

“Dani—”

“Gavin. It’s fine.” Her dejected words cut me off. “I get it.”

“Get what?”