Page 134 of Every Move You Make

The words punch him in the chest, I know they do. I hate that they do, but I’m careening into the unknown and don’t know which way to go. For the first time in my life, I’m diving head-first but the thrill is gone. I’m diving because of the pain, and I can only hope the landing will kill me.

“My mom was right,” Robyn softly cries. “I don’t know what I was thinking. None of my relationships last. I was an idiot to think this one would.”

I stand and pull her into my chest. “Baby, nooo. Don’t say that. He’s the reason why they didn’t last. It has nothing to do with you, and everything to do with Isaiah’s goddamn inability to fight for what he wants.”

“ButI amfighting for us,” he pleads. “I just have to take a back seat.”

“Until when?” she asks. “I retire? That could be seven years from now.”

“I’m not gonna give up on either of you.”

“Well, it sure as fuck feels like you are!” She digs her forehead deeper into my chest and cries while I stare daggers into him. If I could open my chest and let her crawl inside to protect her, I would.

“Get out, Isaiah,” she whispers.

What happens next might be the most hurtful thing of all. With resignation painted across his face and a heaviness to his stride, Isaiah leaves without a word.

I’m still holding Robyn when the door shuts.

“Guys?” A voice cuts through from my phone on the desk. “I’m still here.”

Chapter 50

Snap Out of It

Isaiah

It’s been five days since I walked away from my whole world. Five days puttering around my home and wallowing in my own self disgust. Each passing moment feels like a lifetime thanks to the hurt burying me alive.

I’m doing this for them,I remind myself for the millionth time. But each time that thought surfaces, less of me believes it. Less of me understands it until there’s just… less of me.

Angie tried coming by a few days ago when she couldn’t get ahold of me on my phone. The only calls and emails I’m willing to take are from the team regarding next steps. So when I got the call yesterday that the Valor’s investigation team was ready to speak to me later today, I buried myself deeper into the dark comfort of my bed.

With the blackout curtain drawn, I fall in and out of sleep. Every time I wake up, my body begs for me to stretch and walk around. I ignore it and pray that slumber, the forgiving beauty that she is, takes me again so I don’t have to war with myself any longer.

A sudden shock of cool air breezes over my skin as my comforter is ripped away from my self-sabotaging pit.

“Get up.” My eyes adjust to find Dane flinging the curtains open and coming to stand at the end of my bed with Rafael and Jonah next to him.

“Nice jammies,” Raf says, clearly amused by my boxer briefs and the Bridgerton T-shirt I stole from Robyn that’stoo large for her but fits me.

“I want my keys back,” I mutter. I turn into the pillow for more privacy, only to have Jonah take it away.I groan, “Leave me alone.” Can’t they see despondence and leave it be?

“No, bro. This is too big,” Dane says seriously, ripping my pillow away. “How long have you been here?”

“Since yesterday morning.”

Rafael, in his suit and tie, sits on the bed next to me, and I feel like human garbage laying here next to him. I glance at my alarm clock and see it’s noon. Why are they here in the middle of the day? “We were worried about you,” he says. “Angie told us the three of you broke up?”

I plant my face into the pillowless and blanketless mattress. “I broke off. They’re still together. I think.”

“Why would you do that?” Jonah asks. “You finally got your dream girl and that beefy bombshell and you break it off? What is wrong with you?”

“A LOT.”

Raf nudges me. “Turn around. I don’t wanna talk to your butt.”

He should because I’m an ass.

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