Page 120 of Beyond the Stroke

The thought is so loud in my head, I wonder if I’ve said it out loud.

I glance up to find Rory looking at me. Steady. Patient. Like he’d stand here all day if he had to.

And something in me cracks open.

“My ex didn’t want me. I mean, he wanted me as a girlfriend. He liked having me around, liked showing me off, liked that I fit into the life he wanted.” I pause to finish the piece of bacon. “But when it came to other things, he just wasn’t into it. Into me.

“I kept trying to fix it. I kept thinking maybe I just wasn’t enough, or maybe if I did something differently—” I shake my head, remembering all those feelings of rejection. “And by the time I figured out it wasn’t me, I didn’t want to try anymore.”

Rory’s shoulders are tense, his jaw tight.

“I want to kill him.”

“What?” I blink.

“I want to kill him,” Rory repeats. “For making you feel like you weren’t enough. For making you second-guess something that was never your fault.”

“You don’t have to?—”

“You are enough.” His voice is low and firm, like he’s desperate for me to believe it. “You always were.”

His words soothe a part of me that I’d thought was buried under the rubble of my past relationship.

He kisses me softly on the lips. It’s nothing like our kiss last night, but it’s confirmation of everything he just said.

He wants me.

On his wrist, Rory’s watch buzzes.

Slowly, he pulls back, checking his watch. “I have to go.”

“Go?” I blink, confused at the sudden change of events, and how much effort it’s taking trying to recover from such a soft kiss.

His mouth quirks up at the corner. “Coach wants to meet. I’ve got video analysis, then a nutrition check-in before weights at eleven.”

I’ve seen Rory’s schedule. I know it’s packed, but it always amazes me how much he accomplishes in a day.

He loads up a plate of eggs and bacon, then sets it at the counter for me.

“I’ve got to head to Charleston tomorrow for a couple days for a campaign shoot for Hydra-Fuel. I just got the details from Vivi.”

My eyes widen. “That’s huge. Congratulations.”

He nods. “Would you come with me? There are a lot of art galleries and other fun things to do.” He swallows. “I’d love it if you came.”

My heart pounds with his request.

He had me at art galleries…but there’s the small issue of spending more time alone with Rory.

At least here I’ve got my schedule and he’s got his. I can pretend I’m not losing my mind over him. But two days in Charleston, just us? That sounds terrifying.

“I don’t know. I’d have to check with Alice. See if someone can cover my shifts.” Or not mention anything to her and say I couldn’t get off work.

“Okay. We can talk later.”

Rory presses his lips to my temple. It shouldn’t light me on fire the way it does.

And when the door closes behind him, I breathe out a sigh of relief that I don’t have to answer any more of his challenging questions right now.

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