Page 108 of Secret Service

“Whether it is or not, you know the truth doesn’t matter.”

“It should matter between us. The truth should be all that matters between you and me.”

But it’s not just him and me. It’s him and me and the entire world.

I would give anything to not do this.

“The truth is, Mr. President, I made a lot of mistakes with you. It was a mistake to let you believe we could be anything more than agent and principal. It was a mistake to lead you on. Last night was a mistake, and it won’t happen again.”

He knows it’s over. He knows it’s the end. He’s staring at me with those big, beautiful eyes, and I’m shattering the heart of the best man I’ve ever known.

There’s nothing more to say.

I don’t know how I make it back to the elevator. I slap at the buttons and cling to the handrails. I can’t hear a thing, just a dull, trembling roar.

Henry is waiting when the doors open in the basement. He takes one look at me and sighs. “Jesus, Reese.”

He drags me through the basement to the garage, and my fingers dig into his arms as if he’s pulling me out of the ocean. I close my eyes so I don’t see the White House when we pull out, and when I open them again, we’re at Henry’s place.

I’m a wreck. We sit in his dark driveway as I swallow my snot. My eyes feel like I’ve taken sandpaper to them. It hurts to see. It hurts to live.

We don’t talk when we get inside. He guides me to the living room and brings me a pillow and a ratty blanket from his Marine Corps days. He disappears and returns with two highballs of straight tequila.

“I need to give you the detail,” I finally say to him. “I need to resign. Or transfer to the Arctic.”

“I’ll never forgive you if you run away and fuck me over like that.”

“You shouldn’t forgive me anyway.”

“Stop talking bullshit.”

“I’m not. I did something unforgivable.”

I’m not talking about falling for Brennan. I’m talking about breaking his heart.

If I could rewrite the world any way I wanted, I’d rewrite it with him at the center. I’d write us a happy ending that would make fairy tales green with envy. Nothing would ever come between us. He’d know that I love him, that I will always love him.

Henry stretches, shedding his jacket and kicking off his shoes before dropping his gear on the ground. He’s exhausted. He’s been doing extra duty all day thanks to me. “I don’t want your job.”

His house is quiet. Water drips in the kitchen.

“I’m sorry,” he breathes.

Henry’s kindness flays the muscles from my bones.“It’s my fault. All of it.”

“No. He’s a big boy. He made his decisions, too.”

“I thought you’d stop me.”

“I thought he’d stop himself.” He crosses his arms over his chest. Stares at the ceiling. “You surprised me, though. I didn’t think you went that way.”

I shake my head. “He’s the only man I’ve ever been with.”

Henry whistles. “How about that speech?”

“That’s why…” My voice fades. “He can do so much good, Henry. I can’t ruin that. Or him.”

He says nothing.

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