Page 90 of Boards & Betrayal

I watched Brooke disappear down the hallway before turning back to my team.

“You heard what she said,” I barked out. “Don’t embarrass me—or yourselves.”

The guys muttered their affirmations before dispersing to hit the showers or head home.

"Look, coach," Keaton muttered. "You should keep an eye on your plus one. I can't help it if she can't keep her hands off of me."

I smirked. "My grandmother wouldn't touch you with a six-foot pole, Douglas."

The boys laughed.

"Now," I said. "Get the fuck out and have a good day. And remember, don't fuck up at this Masquerade, assholes. I'm not afraid to bench your asses."

I remained for a moment longer, savoring the memory of Ally’s touch from that morning before shaking it off and heading towards my office.

In all honesty, I was looking forward to the event—the first time I ever felt that way. It was like an official coming out. Everyone would know she belonged to me, and nothing could get in between us.

Chapter 27

Ally

Leaving Tom behind felt like slicing off a part of myself, but there was no other choice. I told him the truth, and if he chose to walk away, then that was his decision to make. No amount of pleading or explaining would change the outcome.

I drove aimlessly, each mile stretching the distance between us. The road blurred under my tears, but I kept moving forward. Eventually, I found myself in South Haven, a town just beyond Autumn Brooke. The south beach parking lot lay nearly deserted, offering a solitary refuge.

I stepped out of the car and inhaled deeply, the crisp air filling my lungs. Ahead, the pier jutted into Lake Michigan like a defiant finger pointing toward an uncertain horizon. Its weathered wooden planks creaked underfoot as I walked toward the lighthouse at its end.

The lighthouse stood tall and stoic against the backdrop of an overcast sky. Orange paint peeled from its sides, revealing patches of red rust beneath. It had seen better days, yet there was a timeless resilience about it that resonated with me.

Lake Michigan stretched endlessly before me, a vast expanse of deep blue interspersed with silvery ripples where the wind danced on its surface. Waves lapped gently against the pier's supports, their rhythmic motion soothing yet melancholic. The water's surface mirrored the gray clouds above, creating an almost seamless blend between sky and lake.

I leaned against the railing at the end of the pier, staring out at the boundless water. The horizon seemed to blur into nothingness, a fitting metaphor for how I felt inside—lost and adrift with no clear direction. The sound of gulls crying overhead mingled with the soft splash of waves.

Here, away from everything and everyone, I could breathe again. The ache in my chest remained, but it felt muted by the vastness surrounding me. I closed my eyes and let the wind whip through my hair, imagining it could carry away some of my pain.

For now, this place would be my sanctuary—a space where I could gather the fragments of myself and try to piece them back together.

Standing on the pier, the wind tugging at my hair; I let my thoughts drift. Months without Tom had felt like an eternity. The fight between him and Nick replayed in my mind like a bad movie, each harsh word and bitter accusation echoing endlessly. It was exhausting, the constant tug-of-war between guilt and longing.

But then, the thought of my baby pulled me back to a different kind of pain, one that was quieter but more profound. I sank to my knees on the wooden planks, clutching the cold railing for support as the first tear fell. It was like experiencing the loss all over again, fresh and raw.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered into the wind, my voice barely audible over the waves. "I'm so sorry I couldn't keep you."

The words poured out of me uncontrollably. "I wish you got to stay," I continued, my tears now flowing freely. "I love youwith everything I have, okay? Even... even though you were only with me for ten days, I love you with all of my heart. I would have loved being your mother. I'm so, so sorry."

I cried until there were no tears left to shed, my body shaking with the intensity of my grief. Each sob seemed to rip through me, leaving a hollow emptiness in its wake. The wind carried away my cries, dispersing them into the vastness of Lake Michigan.

When the tears finally subsided, I sat back on my heels, feeling drained and empty. The ache in my heart was still there, a constant reminder of what I'd lost. I still didn't understand why it happened; maybe I never would. There was a fragment of me that felt forever broken, an unfinished piece that could never be replaced.

Even if I had babies in the future, this part of me would always remain undone—an eternal reminder of a love that was too brief but overwhelmingly powerful.

The lake stretched out before me, indifferent to my pain. The horizon still blurred into nothingness, but somehow it seemed less daunting now that I'd allowed myself to feel everything fully.

I wiped my face with the sleeve of my sweater, feeling the damp fabric cling to my skin. My future loomed ahead, murky and uncertain. No job, graduation in two weeks, and the tangled mess of emotions with Tom. I had no idea if he wanted anything to do with me after everything that happened.

What now?

The question echoed in my mind, relentless and unyielding. My chest ached with the weight of it all, a constant reminder of the burdens I carried. But as I stared out at the water, a voice in my head broke through the noise.

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