Page 97 of The Road Less Traveled By

“Don't pull away from me, angel. Don’t do this. Not now. Not after all we’ve been through.” I move my hand to cup her face, and she leans into my touch. All hope might not be lost because of that tiny movement. “I’ve had this insane urge to protect you ever since I’ve met you. You remember that day, don't you?”

“Yeah, I do. You let me write notes to you so I could protect my voice.”

“Even through those notes, I could tell you were a spitfire.”

That earns me a small laugh. “I don't recognize that version of myself anymore.”

“I don't either. But do you remember the day I left?” I ask her, because every single second of that day is ingrained in my head.

“Every moment,” she tells me.

“I wanted to turn back so many times. I fought with myself on the drive because I knew I couldn't go back to you. I knew there was no reason for me to go back, but I wanted to anyway. I feel pulled in your direction, even when we were apart, Bree.”

“I wanted to ask you to stay, but I didn't. There were a lot of things I wanted to say to you that day, but I didn't, because I figured you wouldn't have stayed.”

“Since the day I met you, I’ve wanted to shield you from anything bad that could hit you. It’s the strangest thing. With all my other clients, it was normal. I would take a case, complete it, and that was that. But with you, my mind was constantly going. I was taking more precautions than necessary, and I couldn't tell why. When I came back, the urge was ten times stronger.”

“But when you’re around me, all you are is in danger, and if you didn't wake up from this, I would’ve blamed myself for the rest of my life.” She sniffles, and I reach over to the tissue box to hand one to her. “Thanks.”

“I know the risksof being around you, Bree. I don't give a fuck if I’m in danger, because as long as I’m around you, I have all I need.”

“Vince, don't. I’ve told you before that my life isn't peaceful. It’s not calm. It’s…crazy and insane, and we’ll always be under a lens, and—”

I cut her off, because nothing she could say could change my mind. It was always meant to be me and her, and I’ll spend however long I need showing her that I’m not going anywhere. “I’m not going to regret choosing you, Bree. I don't know why you think you’re not worth it, that being with you isn't worth it, because the feelings I have for you are real, and they’re strong as fuck. That might scare the fucking shit out of me, but when I think about choosing you and having a life together, all those scary feelings diminish, and all that’s left is peace. That’s what you do for me, and all I want is for you to choose me back so I can prove to you that you’re easy to love.”

She just shakes her head at me. “What if it’s not enough? What if choosing one another isn't enough? I can’t ask you to throw yourself in the deep end because you can’t predict what will happen.”

“Baby, none of us can. But you deserve to be loved and chosen, not almost. Let me prove to you that I’m choosing this—us. You can’t push me away before we even have a chance to try.”

Her head tilts down, and her face looks puzzled as she stares back at me.

“Where have I heard that before?” She touches her bracelet, and the memory must come back, because a few seconds later, her eyes pierce mine, shock lacing her features.

“What’s going on, Bree?”

Chapter thirty

Five Years Ago

— INVISIBLE STRING BY TAYLOR SWIFT

“Can I get somewater, please?” I ask the bartender as he grabs a glass for me. As soon as he puts it down, I drink it all in one go.

“Refill?”

“Yeah, thanks.” I didn't realize I felt that dehydrated. That tends to happen when I’m at these events, but this one having a dance floor was something Ellie and I didn't expect. She loves to pull me out of my comfort zone, and that includes dancing.

I’m not one for it, but with the right song and energy, I can be.

Ellie is way more extroverted than I am, and I always enjoy being around her at these events. Don’t get me wrong, I love being a part of this world, but it gets exhausting sometimes.

And most of the time, I can’t tell if someone wants to talk to get to know me or if they know who I am and just want to use me for their own gain.

Somedays, I feel like this path wasn't meant for me, that maybe one day, my entire fanbase will fizzle out, and I’ll be alone again. Social media is not a set job, especially in the future. Sure, it works now, but what happens if it all goes to shit? What am I going to do then? I have no education in anything, no college degree, nothing.

Notto mention, my love life doesn't exist, and the only other person I have in the world is Liv.

What do I do if my life falls apart? What do I do if the people around me end up leaving? What do I do when it all becomes too much to handle?

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