Page 78 of The Girlfriend Goal
"It's not that simple."
"It is, though." I turned to face her fully. "Look, I know we said slow, but here's the thing—I'm already all in. So if you need me to be your bodyguard or just the guy who remindsyou every day that Brad is a manipulative asshole who never deserved you, I'm here. Whatever you need."
She stared at me for a long moment, then laughed wetly. "You can't just declare yourself all in during a crisis. That's emotional manipulation."
"It's emotional honesty," I corrected. "And the crisis just made me realize I was tired of pretending I wasn't crazy about you. I know you have your plan. I know your career comes first. I'm not asking you to change any of that." I took her hands. "I'm just saying you don't have to face him alone. Or anything else, for that matter."
She was quiet for so long I started to worry I'd overplayed my hand. Then she squeezed my fingers.
"I really like you," she said softly. "More than I planned to. More than is probably smart. But I need to handle Brad my way. I can't have you going all protective caveman every time he shows up."
"Define protective caveman."
"No fighting. No threatening. No using your hockey team to intimidate him."
"What if they volunteer to intimidate him?"
"Lance."
"Fine," I sighed. "But I reserve the right to glare menacingly from a distance."
I kissed her there on the bench, not caring who might see. She melted into me, and for a moment, everything else—Brad, the distance that would come with Seattle, all of it—faded away.
We walked back to her apartment hand in hand, a public declaration that felt bigger than it should. At her door, she turned to me.
"Want to come up? We could study."
"Actual studying or 'studying'?" I asked.
"Maybe both," she admitted.
But when we got to her room, studying was the last thing on either of our minds. The stress of seeing Brad, the emotion of our conversation, the relief of finally being honest—it all translated into desperate kisses and wandering hands.
"Wait," I said, pulling back. "Is this a bad idea after tonight?"
"Tonight is exactly why it's a good idea," she interrupted. "I need to remember what it feels like to choose. To want someone who actually wants me back, not some version of me they're trying to create."
"I want you," I said simply. "Exactly as you are. Driven and complicated and terrible at accepting help."
"I'm working on that last one," she said, then pulled me back down. "Now stop talking and kiss me."
Later, tangled in her sheets while she traced patterns on my chest, the real world crept back in.
"He's not going to make this easy," she said quietly.
"I know."
"He'll probably try to turn your team against me. Make it seem like I'm causing drama."
"Let him try," I said. "My team knows me better than that. And Matt will set anyone straight who needs it."
Chapter 31: Rachel
Brad stood outside the athletic complex like he'd been waiting for me, that familiar cocky smile spreading across his face as if the past year hadn't happened. As if he hadn't systematically destroyed my confidence and nearly derailed my entire future.My entire body went into fight-or-flight mode.
"Rachel." His voice carried that same entitled tone that used to make me feel small. "You look good."
I clutched my soccer bag tighter, using it as a shield between us. "Brad."
