Page 38 of Tiger's Quest
“What are you trying to say, Li?”
“I’m trying to say that the man is desperately in love with you. It’s obvious to me and to everyone else. Ifyoulovehim, you have to tell him. Your fears about him leaving you don’t fit with his personality. Like I said, he’s the type of man who makes decisions and sticks by them. There’s nothing about him that makes me think he’s anything less than sincere.”
“But—”
Li took my hands in his and looked into my eyes. “Kelsey. He only seesyou.”
I looked down at my hands.
“And as far as you not being good enough for him, it’s actually the opposite. He isn’t good enough for you.”
“You’re just saying that.”
“No. No, I’m not. You’re amazing and sweet and pretty, and he’d be lucky to have you.”
“Li, why are youdoingthis?”
“Because . . . I genuinely like the guy. I respect him. And, because I can see that your feelings for him are much stronger than your feelings for me. You’re happier with him.”
“I’m happy with you too.”
“Yes, but it’s not the same. Go home to him, Kelsey. You obviously love him. Tell him that. Give him a chance.” He sniggered quietly. “But don’t forget to tell him that I was the bigger man who walked away.” He reached over and wrapped me in a bear hug. “I’ll miss you, Kelsey.”
Something in me clicked, and my perspective suddenly changed. It was time to let Li go. It wasn’t fair to continue to put him through this. My heart would never belong to him; deep down, I’d known that for a while. I’d been using him as an emotional crutch. My whole relationship with him had become an excuse so I could postpone facing Ren. Whether I ended up with Ren or not, I knew this had to be the end for Li and me.
Emotional, I hugged him back. “I’ll miss you too. You’ve been good to me and good for me. I won’t forget you. Tell the guys thanks for teaching me to play.”
“Sure thing. Come on.” He stood and helped me up, kissing my cheek softly. “Let’s get you home. And, Kelsey?”
“Yes?”
“If he everdoesleave you, tell him I’ll come looking for him.”
I laughed forlornly. “I’m sorry I put you through this, Li.”
He shrugged. “You’re worth it. I have a sneaking suspicion that if I’d forced your hand when he showed up, you would have chosen him anyway. At least this way, I got to hang around a little bit longer.”
“It wasn’t fair to you.”
“Didn’t somebody say that all’s fair in love and war? This was a little bit of love mixed in with a little bit of war. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
I took his hand in both of mine and squeezed. “You’re going to make some woman very happy someday, Li. And I hope that someday finds you soon.”
“Well if you happen to have a twin sister somewhere, send her my way.”
I laughed, but I felt like crying.
Li drove me home. We were both silent, and I thought about what he had said. He was right. Renwasa careful, thoughtful person. He’d had centuries to think about what he wanted. For some reason, he wanted me. I knew deep down that he loved me and would never leave me. I also knew that if Ihadchosen someone else, he would’ve always been around to take care of me if I needed him.
My feelings forhimwere never in question. Li was right. I should tell him. Tell him that I’d made my choice.
I’d been deliberately trying to seduce the man for several weeks, and now that I was finally going to get what I wanted . . . I was nervous. My resolve wobbled. I felt suddenly vulnerable, fragile. My thoughts were incoherent and scattered.What should I say?
When he stopped the car, Li encouraged me one more time. “Tell him, Kelsey.” He hugged me briefly and then drove off.
I stood outside Ren’s door for too many minutes thinking about what I was going to say.
The door opened, and Ren came out to stand beside me. His feet were bare, and he was still wearing his muscle shirt and white pants from wushu. He looked earnestly at my face and sighed unhappily. “Tell me what, Kells?”
