Page 120 of Beautiful Distraction

“That’s not true, Ava. I know you perfectly. I know enough tobe able to tell you that—” He stops abruptly, his expression darkening.

“What?”

He moistens his lips, taking his time. “I know enough totell you that I want you to stay. In my life.” He brushes a strand of hair out ofmy face, curling it around his finger. “It was hard enough to get you here. I’mnot ready to let you go.”

I stare at him in silence.

My throat closes up. Everything inside me is shaking.

“I’m not sure I can,” I whisper, the voice soft, defeated.“I have a job in the city.”

“So quit.” He sighs.

“You know I can’t.”

“If it’s about the money, I can pay you to work for me.I—”

“No.” I shake my head. “I could never accept your money. Youknow that.”

Besides, I’m pretty sure Montana has newspapers andmagazines. I could even freelance if I wanted to.

“I know,” he whispers, and we fall silent. “If you decide toleave, I want you to know that my offer still stands. You can come backanytime, no matter how long it takes for you to make that decision.”

“You would wait for me?” I ask.

He nods. “I would be doing a lot more than that.” He lifts mychin. “Can you promise that you’ll think about it, Ava?”

I love the way he says my name in that rumble of his. As ifI’m the only star in the sky.

I swallow the lump in my throat. “I can do that.”

His breath is tickling my face as he kisses me. His scent isintoxicating. The thought of being away from him is unbearable.

I wasn’t supposed to feel anything for him, and yet I’mdoing exactly that.

I don’t know how long we’re standing frozen in time, ourarms wrapped around each other. Breathing each other in, while building up thecourage to let each other go.

But I know I cannot give up my life. It would be too crazy.Too insane. All the money and time spent for my education, my future, I wouldhave to give up. For what? For a guy who rocked my world for all of six days?

And yet—

My heart is asking me to be with him. Not seeing him againwould shatter me.

Moving on…it’s what I’m supposed to do.

That’s what everyone would advise me to do.

In my mind, I can hear my parents’ voices and Mandy’s andall their warnings about not giving up my life for a guy.

Saying goodbye will be hard. Harder than before, when I wasclueless and Kellan a mystery.

But what if, for once, I break the rules, let my heart leadthe way?

What if Kellan is that one single chance at findinghappiness and love?

What if staying is the right decision?

What if building memories throughout life is more importantthan a career or being famous?

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