Page 108 of Mad Rivals
I feel like my legs could buckle beneath me at my words to her. I can’t believe I’m really doing this.
“My father may be under investigation, and I need to make sure you’re not involved in any way,” I finally say. “I need to protect you and your family.” The last part comes out much more gently than any of my prior words.
Her hand moves to cover her mouth. “An investigation?”
“I can’t get into particulars, Kennedy. I need to catch a flight to Chicago.”
“Let me come with you,” she says, and there’s a low, begging quality to her tone.
I shake my head. “You can’t.”
“Don’t do this,” she says, and her voice is edged with desperation as tears start to fall. “You know how right we are for each other.”
“I know. And that’s why I have to end this now. It’s the only way to keep you safe.” I press my lips together as an unfamiliar heat pools behind my eyes.
I won’t break down here. Not in front of her. Not when I’m the one ending this.
I manage to hold it together for the moment. “I need to go.”
“I wish you wouldn’t.” She steps aside from where she stands by the front door.
“I wish that, too. And in another life, maybe this was meant to be. But in this life, I have to say goodbye.” I leave those words behind me as I open the front door, walk through it, and shut it behind me, the click reverberating through my whole chest as I make my way to the car.
CHAPTER 46: Kennedy Van Buren
Girl Time with Clem
I should’ve known. I should’ve felt it coming.
I crumple to the floor as grief plows into me.
He really did it. He really just broke this thing between us off.
I bet the call hehad to takethis morning was his dad beckoning him back home. I don’t know if he’s doing this because he thinks I’ll betray him or what, but telling me to keep my mouth shut was about the most hurtful thing he said to me, as if I’d ever betray him after everything we went through.
Aside, of course, from his words actuallyendingthis thing between us.
Maybe he’s right. Maybe it’s better this way. It’s too complicated working against each other, and maybe I should just swallow my pride and move back to Chicago. It was a bad idea for me to come out here, chasing some man who was never meant to be mine.
Except it’s not like I can go to Chicagoright now. For one thing, that’s where he’s headed. I don’t know how long he’ll be there, but I can’t make it look like I’m chasing him even though every instinct in my body is telling me to do exactly that—to save what we have because it’s the first time I’ve ever felt something so meaningful in my life.
It’s why it hurts so much. It felt like forever, and I know it did to him, too. I could see the way he was affected as he brushed past me to leave.
He doesn’t want this anymore than I do, but for some reason, he feels like this is what he needs to do.
I hate it. I hate him.
I don’t hate him. I could neverhatehim.
But I’m angry and disappointed. I’m mad and sad. I’m heartbroken.
I truly didn’t think this was how today was going to go, but here we are.
I call the only person I can think to call at a time like this…the one person who has always been there for me even though I haven’t been a very good friend lately.
“Kenny Van Benny!” she answers cheerfully, and a broken sob falls out of my mouth. “Oh my God, babe, what’s going on?”
“Madden ended it,” I manage to choke out.
