Page 67 of Inevitable
“I want to,” I said. “I don’t think I realized it, but I’m tired of feeling chained to the past.”
“Wanting to move on and making different choices is different from actually doing it.”
“And how’s that going for you—making different choices?”
“Honestly?” she asked. “Not so well. I thought I was making progress, but then I kind of had a setback.” I wondered if she was referring to me, but I was too afraid to ask.
“Thank you for showing me this,” she said as I put the truck in drive and pulled away from the curb, leaving the past behind.
“Why do you want to go to business school?” I turned on my signal, checking my blind spot before changing lanes as we headed back toward the office. “You have clients. You don’tneedan MBA to do what you want to do.”
I knew how hard Ian had pushed for her to go to Stanford. And I knew what it was like to make choices based on your parents’ expectations. How easy it was to go down a path without realizing the full implications of your decisions.
“True, but I think it would be beneficial. Especially if I’m counseling small business owners. And as a younger coach, I think it could lend me some credibility.”
“I can see that,” I said. “But that shouldn’t be your only—or even your main—reason for going.”
“It’s not,” she bit out.
I glanced over at her before returning my attention to the road. Her shoulders were tight, eyes straight ahead. “Have you told Ian about your coaching business?”
“No,” she said, confirming my suspicions.
“Why not?”
“Because—” She blew out a breath. “I’m afraid he’ll try to talk me out of it.”
I nodded, though I wasn’t sure I agreed. And even if he did try to convince her it was a bad idea, I wanted her to have faith in herself and her ideas. Or at least have the confidence to try something, even if it resulted in failure. Sometimes that was the best way to learn. “You’re young. You should create the life of your choosing. Not the one everyone else expects for you.”
“I wish you could follow your own advice when it comes to us.” The words were said so softly, I’d almost missed them.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her shake her head. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I knew what I was agreeing to. And I know you’re right.”
“What am I right about?” I asked, pulling into the parking garage for the Wolfe Group and putting my truck in park. This time of night, the garage was mostly empty.
“You, me, my dad. All of it. It may not seem like it, but I’d never want to come between the two of you. And…” She let out a breath. “I’ve done a lot of thinking since we returned from New York, and I’m sorry if I pushed you into something you didn’t want.”
I chuckled. “Something I didn’t want?” I placed my hand beneath her chin, guiding her gaze to mine. She was so goddamn beautiful, it stole my breath. Black hair that hung in waves, those jade eyes that captivated me. “First of all, I wanted you.”Want you.
I released her chin, placing my hands on the console. “Don’t ever think I didn’t. And push me into something?” I chuckled again. “Sumner, no one pushesmeinto anything.”
“I know and thank you. That means…a lot.” She placed her hand on mine, and I didn’t know how it was possible to feel both tenser and more relaxed at the same time. Perhaps because my body and head were at war. If it were up to my body, we’d already be undressed in the back seat.
“Fuck, you’re gorgeous,” I blurted, feeling closer to her than ever.
She sucked in a jagged breath and removed her hand. “You’re not making this easy, and I-I’m really trying to respect your wishes here.”
I was trying to remember what those were. Because at the moment, all I wished for, all Iwanted, was her in my arms.
She leaned across the console to place the softest of kisses on my cheek. “Good night, Jonathan.”
I gripped her shoulders, holding her in place. I was tired of living for my parents. I was tired of being bound by my past. By my guilt over the situation with Ian. For once, I knew what I wanted, and what I wanted was Sumner.
“I want you,” I rasped.
Her eyes searched mine, and I nodded. She pressed a hesitant kiss to my cheekbone. Another to my temple. With each kiss, she gained more confidence, and I’d never felt so worshiped or adored.
“Sumner,” I groaned when she kissed my forehead, giving me a straight shot down her blouse. “We should—”
