Page 82 of You're the Reason

“True.” He shrugged and turned to start walking forward again. “But you can always teach when you’re done. Live the dream now.”

She hurried to catch up and tugged him until he finally stopped and looked at her. “What about us?”

He shoved his hands in his pockets, only emphasizing the width of his shoulders as his head tilted to one side. “After that little encounter earlier, do you really think that’s a good idea? Do you want to always be at odds with your parents? Do you want that for your kids?”

No. Not at all. But that was on her parents, not him. Why did that mean she had to sacrifice him? She’d been forced to sacrifice her whole life. Sugar. Proms. Homecomings. Living at home.

When she did have an answer, he nodded just as Susie ran up, tagged him, then ran off. Seth didn’t miss a beat running after her, always staying just a few feet out of reach.

He might think this conversation was over, but he was wrong. She finally found something she wanted to fight for, and she wasn’t giving up that easily.

“What about us?” Seth tried to shove Grace’s words from last night from his head. He locked the rec center door and walked back to the desk. They’d had a steady flow of future ninja warriors all day. They could have stayed open longer, but Nate had to be somewhere, and Seth had ink on his record that he’d always be under the shadow of.

He dropped into his chair and dopped his head in his hands. He had hoped that keeping busy today would distract him. It hadn’t.

Every time he’d closed his eyes. Every time he wasn’t helping someone, all he saw were Grace’s eyes begging him to love her. He did. That was no question. But he couldn’t tie her to a life in conflict with her parents. He had a life of conflict with his mother, and it was so much harder than she knew.

His phone chimed with an incoming text.

GRACE

I need to pick up my money.

Right. He’d forgotten about that. He flipped open the cash box. It was still there. Between what he’d raked in for the festival and her cash, he had to have close to four thousand dollars in there.

SETH

Leaving soon, I’ll drop it off.

GRACE

Can you stay and practice the lift again.

Every cell of his body shouted one thing, but his brain didn’t agree. His brain won out.

SETH

Pretty busy. But I think we got it.

He slid the phone in his pocket, but it chimed almost immediately. He pulled it out, but it wasn’t Grace.

MOM

Out of food. I need money.

SETH

I’ll bring food by tomorrow.

MOM

I also need rent money.

SETH

Already paid your rent.

MOM

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