Page 54 of Her Athlete's Wedding Secret

“Is that what you want?”

“It’s better than getting a divorce. I saw what divorce did to my mom, and I don’t want to end up like her. I’ve tried to keep my distance from you emotionally, but with all this pretending and romantic activities, it’s been pretty much impossible.”

“Do you think that maybe what happened to your mom wasn’t because of the divorce?”

“What do you mean?”

“What if she was already sick before the divorce?”

“I always had the impression that her mental illness was triggered from the divorce.”

“You think you could have mental illness trigger in you if you go through a divorce too?”

“Exactly. I know bipolar disorder runs in families. What if I have it too, and it’s just dormant because I haven’t triggered it yet?”

“If you have bipolar laying dormant in your genetics, any number of things could trigger it. You can’t just live in fear that you’re going to experience mental illness.”

“I suppose you’re right. But I’d still prefer to avoid divorce if it can be prevented.”

“I’m not sure it can be in our case.”

“Why would you say something like that?” Tessa was starting to get frustrated with Benson.

“Because you’re not going to want to put up with me and my issues. And I wouldn’t blame you. Once you see what it’s like to be married to me, you’re going to be glad to get away from me.”

“I thought you said you were working on your recklessness.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about.”

“Then explain what you mean,” Tessa demanded.

“I can’t give you my heart.”

Tessa waved her hands around in the water. “You mean to say that everything I’m feeling has been one-sided?”

“I’m not sure what you’ve been feeling.”

“I feel like you’re evading the question,” Tessa said, swimming away from him. She needed to clear her head for a minute. This conversation was starting to wear on her.

“It hasn’t been one-sided.”

Tessa turned around in the water to see Benson facing her. “So you have feelings for me too?”

“Yes.”

“Then what’s the problem?” Tessa asked.

“It’s complicated.”

“So figure it out.”

“You can’t rescue me like you try to do with your mom. I have to figure this out on my own.”

“You’re a very frustrating person.”

“You need to be prepared to accept that it may not work out between us.”

“So that’s how it’s going to be? You admit you have feelings for me, but you don’t want to fight for what we could have together?”

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