Page 122 of The Mating Game
And in all the times I imagined this—getting everything I ever wanted—I never imagined that there might be something I would want just as much.
I find himin the dining room, sitting at the massive wooden table with his fingers laced and his chin resting on his hands. He looks out at the snow through the big bay window, seeming lost in thought. I take the seat beside him tentatively.
“So I guess you caught the gist of that,” I say quietly.
He nods. “Pretty much.”
“Are you…mad?”
He heaves a sigh. “Of course not, Tess. This is what you’ve been working for.”
“But your interview…”
He shakes his head. “I wouldn’t even have the interview if it weren’t for you. I couldn’t possibly be angry with you over it.”
“I told you I would be here,” I point out.
He places his hand over mine on top of the table, glancing at me from the side. “Seriously, Tess. You’ve done enough. I promise.”
“But what happens if they need me to start right away?”
His grip slackens, his mouth turning down at the corners so infinitesimally that I almost miss it.
“Then we’ll figure something out,” he says quietly. “Worse comes to worst…You’re not the only contractor out there. I’m sure we can find someone to finish up for you.”
His casual tone makes my gut clench; how can he be so cavalier about me leaving after everything? Doesn’t he care?
“So, you’re just…fine,” I say. “With my leaving.”
Hunter looks down at his hand resting over mine, his features still neutral, but his eyes…Sad, I think. They look sad. Or maybe that’s simply me projecting.
“No,” he admits. “I’m not fine. The thought of you leaving makes me feel like I’m being turned inside out, if I’m honest.”
“Then maybe I can—”
“But,” he cuts in, not letting me finish. “This is something you’ve wanted for a long time, from what I’ve gathered. You’ve worked so hard for this. Youdeservethis, Tess—and I won’t be the one to stand in your way. Plus, think of your dad. He needs you too.”
“But what about—” I swallow around the growing lump in my throat, feeling my eyes sting. “What about everything that’s happened?”
He smiles at me gently, reaching to cup my cheek. “Sweetheart…We shared a heat together. It was intense. I’m sure that even now you’re feeling the effects of it. But you won’talwaysfeel this way. In a few days…a week, maybe…you’ll feel normal again. You won’t feel like you need to be right here beside me at alltimes. And I can’t let you even consider throwing away such an amazing opportunity for someone you barely know.”
“But…”
“It’s not the end of the world,” he says, nodding his head as if to assure himself. “Maybe…maybe when you find the time you can call me.”
I choke out a watery laugh. “On that ancient thing you carry around?”
“It gets the job done,” he chuckles.
“So…that’s it then,” I say. “I just…call you when I can?”
It feels too paltry for what we’ve shared, not nearly meaningful enough to encapsulate the bliss of this last week. Or all the weeks since I’ve met him, really. Because if I’m being honest with myself, I think a part of me has been drawn to him from the start. And maybe that’s biology or hormones or whatever else you want to call it—but Ifeelit, whatever it is. This connection between us.
Doesn’t he feel it too?
“Tess…” He sighs. “You cannot let these past few days with me uproot everything you’ve worked for, do you understand?” His jaw tenses. “I won’t let you. Not for this place. Certainly not for me.”
There’s a large part of me that wants to argue, that wants to scream at him for so easily tossing me aside, but deep down…I know he’s right. I can’t throw everything away just because of one amazing week. I can’t do that to my brothers. Hell, I can’t do that to myself.
