Page 11 of The Sweetest Return

“Priorities.”

“I have them.”

His smile disappeared slowly.

“So you been picturing yourself there.”

“Yes.”

That hurt him.

I saw it.

I crossed the space between us and rested my hand against his chest.

“What if I go and we try?”

Dre covered my hand with his.

“Then we try.”

“We call. We visit. We figure out what we can.”

“Yeah.”

“And if you get drafted somewhere else, we figure that out too.”

“Yeah.”

I searched his face. “You don’t think we can?”

Dre took too long.

“I think I love you enough to want to.”

That wasn’t an answer, and we both knew it.

His thumb moved over the back of my hand.

“I just don’t know if wanting it is enough.”

My eyes filled again, but I let the tears fall this time.

Dre pulled me against him.

I buried my face in his chest while his arms closed around me, and for one reckless second, I understood exactly why everyone assumed I would follow him.

Because in his arms, I wanted to.

For Dre, I could make myself fit almost anywhere.

That was precisely why I couldn’t let love make the decision for me.

“I have to take it,” I whispered.

His arms tightened.

“I know.”