Page 98 of The Echo of Regret

“Because you giving up on your dream is no different than when you gave up on me.” I don’t plan to say it so harshly, but it still comes out that way.

He recoils, as if I’ve hit him in the chest. And maybe I did.

“We talked through this. I know we did. I know I played my part, but you have to see it, right? You have to see the similarities. The truth that you can’t just…give up on something you love. Any more than you can give up on someone you love.”

Bishop’s mouth opens, like he’s going to respond. But then it shuts. He glances around the room for a moment, surely collecting his thoughts, before he speaks again.

“I will never give up on you, Gabi. Ever.”

“So prove it. Show me you’re the man I know you are. The one who has more commitment and dedication in his little finger than anyone else I know.”

“I thought you’d be happy about this,” he finally says. “Happy I’d still be here, with you.”

“Well I’m not.” I cross my arms. “And the fact that you think I would be is actually infuriating.”

Bishop grits his teeth, his hands fisting at his sides. “Why? Why doesn’t this make you happy?”

“Because if I were happy that you were giving up your dream to stay here with me, I think that would be a pretty clear indicator that I don’t love you as much as I fucking do.”

I don’t realize I’m going to say the words until I say them, don’t realize exactly how much I mean them until they’re out.

There may have been a day back when we were younger when the idea of Bishop staying in town would have been exactly what I wanted, would have been something that would make me happy because being together would have been the only thing that mattered.

But now, with some more age and wisdom, I can see that’s not true.

As important as it is that we love each other, as important as it is that we prioritize each other, that can’t be it.

We can’t be it.

There has to be freedom to pursue our passions and our dreams and the things that make us happy. Even if that takes us away from each other, even if it means we have to put in all the extra effort to keep our relationship strong.

When we were younger, we didn’t understand that. We didn’t fully grasp what would be required of us, so when it became too hard, we gave up, pulled away, shut down. We made assumptions, threw in the towel.

Now though? Now we should know better.

It seems like maybe, for the first time, I can be the one who reminds Bishop of the bigger picture. Maybe, instead of him being the one to chase after me and fix things, I can be the one who helps us figure out what comes next.

“You are the most important person on this earth to me, Bishop Mitchell,” I tell him, stepping over to where he’s still watching me with an unreadable expression. “I love you. I’ve always loved you. And I don’t think I’ve ever stopped.”

Licking my lips, I take his hands in mine.

“But this is not the solution to your problem. This dream of yours is a part of what makes you so special. Your dedication and commitment, how you push yourself and never give up—those are part of what make you, you.” I shake my head and take his face in my hands. “I believe in you. Don’t give up because of whatever this setback is. Please. You have worked too hard and sacrificed too much to let it all go now.”

He blinks, watching me for a long moment. For a few beats, I don’t know how he’ll respond. I wonder if he’ll shut down and leave, something I used to do all the time.

But then his shoulders fall, and he draws me in for a kiss. His strong hands brace against my back and hold me close as his lips fuse with mine.

I breathe him in, this man I’ve loved since I was barely old enough to understand what it meant, and I know without a doubt he will never let me go again.

After a few moments—and a kiss that gets a little more heated than is entirely appropriate on school grounds—we pull back.

Bishop’s eyes search mine, his lips tilting up at the sides. “You love me, huh?”

I smirk then shake my head. “Yeah. So?”

“Well, I love you, too,” he tells me, his voice gruff, thick with emotion. “I love you more than I knew it was possible to love someone. I hope you know that.”

I nod. “I do know that. I can feel it. In everything you do.”

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