Page 384 of One More Kiss

“If this is all it’s ever going to be, then yes. I think it’s time.”

Her words slam into me, their force that of a freight train. My elbows drop to my parted thighs, my head in my hands, utterly despondent. “It’s not how I wanted this to be between us.”

“I know. But what other option do we have? We always knew this would end. We said it from the start. We’d screw each other out of our systems. I think we’re at that point.”

Only I never said that. She did.

And she’ll never be out of my system. Ever.

A hand on the back of my head forces me to look at her. Her smile is sad, but she doesn’t appear nearly as wrecked as I feel. “Take care of yourself, Silas. And Knox. And Liam.” Her voice catches on his name. “I hope one day you can have it all.”

I did. With you. And now you’re walking away.

She leans in and places a soft kiss to the corner of my lips. And when I turn to deepen it, to grab her and never let her go, she stands, holding my eyes for one last minute, and then walks away. Leaving me here alone, lost and ruined.

I sit here far longer than I should, staring out at the choppy blue water. The white sailboats that zip up and down the river.

Did we even talk just now? I let her walk away and I did nothing to stop her. Is that what she wants? Is that truly what she wants? For this to be over? Or did I misread everything?

I don’t know. I honestly don’t know. That all happened so fast and now she’s gone and this thing between us is done. Over.

Can I live with that? Is there any alternative?

There has to be.

Only I let her go. Shit, I let her go. The love of my life.

What do I do now? What the absolute fuck do I do now?

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