Page 35 of His Stubborn Girl

How can he say that? What we have is something rare and indescribable. Even now that the world knows and is against us, I still have no regrets. They can have their opinion, but it doesn’t change how I feel. It could never taint something so perfect.

“I’m sorry,” he says. “I’m sorry to all of you.”

“No!” I move to him. “Quit apologizing. And don’t say that. It’s not over. They don’t under…”

“Torrin, stop,” my mother interjects. “He’s doing the right thing. Let him. You’re too young to understand, but it’s not just about what we think. It’s what the world thinks. Lukas is going to be drafted into the NFL next year. He can’t have it getting out that he’s dating his sister.”

“Stepsister,” I whisper, but she’s right.

“It would destroy his career. You need to let this go. And one day, you’ll realize that this was just your teenage hormones that got led astray. You’re young. You’ve hardly experienced life. We all have first loves, but they don’t last. And with the pressure of the world against you two, it won’t work.”

She’s wrong. It’s not my hormones. It’s not some stupid crush. I love him with all my heart. These feelings aren’t going to fade.

I turn to Lukas, ignoring our parents.

“I love you more than anything, Luke, and I will do anything to make sure your career isn’t ruined. I’d change my name back to my father’s if that’s what it takes.”

I hear my mother’s gasp in the background. I’m not trying to hurt Walter—he’s been an amazing father—but if that’s what it takes to make sure no one finds out Lukas and I are related, I would do that.

“It’s your decision, Lukas. Not theirs. So, what doyouwant? Deep down, what does your heart truly want?”

Please let it be me. Please pick me. But the look in his eyes is slowly breaking down my hope. The fear starts to tremble through me. I already know what’s coming.

“Your mom is right, Torrin. I love you, but this is better for the both of us. We got carried away, but it’s never going to work. It’s over. And I’m so sorry I ever let it begin.”

The crack forms in my chest, splintering right down the center. My world crumbling right before me. I can’t breathe. I can’t see past the tears. I don’t understand. Things were so perfect. This morning, he woke me up with the sweetest kiss, telling me how much he loved me, and now… Now, it was all just some big mistake.

I rush out the door, running to my car. I never want to see any of them again.

“Torrin!” My mother’s shout knocks me down further. They did this. We were so happy. Everything was perfect. She even said it herself. How happy Luke has been, but they just stole that away from us. They’ve brainwashed him into thinking it won’t work. “Torrin!”

I get in my car, struggling to wipe the tears. I don’t care what she wants. Nothing she has to say is going to fix my broken heart. Nothing is going to change his mind.

25

Lukas

There’s a knock on my door. I should’ve turned my light off. I can’t face any more tonight. I lost the love of my fucking life. And I lost my family. All of it was ripped away in a blink. My dad and Sheryll hate me. And the look in Torrin’s eyes guts me to the core.

“Hey, man!” Travis calls through the door. “Just wanted to make sure you’re okay?”

I get up and open it.

“Yeah, I’m okay. I…um…” The awkward feeling makes it hard to look him in the eyes. I don’t want to see the judgement. I know I’m about to lose my best friend too.

“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to. I just saw you run out on the celebration, looking upset, and then Sophie told me what happened on the field.”

Yep. My epic fail. I was just so caught up in the moment, I wasn’t even thinking. It was such a high, and I was so thankful for having my girl there. And I kissed her right in front of everyone. Not even thinking. So wrapped up in the excitement I’d forgotten that our parents were there.

“Yeah. So, I guess you hate me too.” I swallow the facts down like glass. It was supposed to be one of the best nights of my life. Our biggest win. But it was the biggest loss.

“Hate you? Why would I hate you?”

“Because everybody else does. I’m a bastard for dating my sister. I shouldn’t have let things get so far with her.” And now everyone thinks I’m a predator who planned this all. Who manipulated her into falling in love with me. She’s the last person I wanted to fall for, but I couldn’t stop it.

“Dude, I’ll admit I was shocked, but it’s Torrin. She’s a little badass. And I know you. You’re a good man. I don’t think you intended to do anything wrong. And in some seriously twisted way, I think you two are perfect for each other. She’s like the yin to your yang. Whatever that means.” He smirks.

She was. She was my other half. My fucking everything. But it’s over now. I won’t let her lose her mom or my dad. Or have to face a life of shame. The media will get wind and then they’ll grill her for answers. I don’t want her sweetness tainted by the tabloids or people’s judgement. They’ll never understand what we had.

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