Page 182 of Play Along

Dropping the manila envelope I brought with me onto her entryway table, I attempt to step into her space again. “Ken—”

She flinches. “Don’t touch me.”

My stomach dips with those words, with the way she reacted. It cements me in place.

This is going to be so much harder than I pictured. She’s the one who lied about the job offer and now suddenly, she thinks she can’t trust me. “I wanted to be the one to tell you, to explain it to you.”

“Are you breaking up with me?”

What the actual fuck?

“What did you just say?”

“Are you wanting to leave Chicago because of me? I know this was only supposed to be temporary and I was the one who was supposed to leave, so if you’re doing this because you don’t want to be with me—”

“There’s no way in hell you’re questioning whether I want to be with you. No fucking way.”

“I just—”

“Don’t even think about trying to justify some ludicrous situation about me running away from you. I don’t want to hear it. I love you. You know I love you. I will continue to love you whether you’re in San Francisco or some other city. That’s not going to change, but you’re sure as hell not staying in Chicago, Kennedy.”

She stands there, stunned speechless. Kissable lips parted in confusion.

“I’m not going to San Francisco. I didn’t get... What are you talking about?”

“Yes, you did!” I toss my hands up. “I know when they called you, they offered you the job, and you turned them down. But you’re going. I can’t let you stay here because of me.”

Nervous eyes bounce over me. “How... how did you find out?”

My shoulders slump at her admission, my breath leaving me in a whoosh.

So it is true.

“Dean.”

“Goddammit, Dean.” Eyes closing in frustration, she begins to pace the room. “I thought his conversation with you would last two minutes. I thought he’d be completely disingenuous, and you two would go back to hating each other soon after. I never would’ve told him if I knew he was going to tell you.”

“And thank God he did! What are you thinking, Kennedy?”

“I’m thinking that I don’t want to go! Okay? I didn’t tell you because I knew you’d react like this.”

“You’re damn straight I’m going to react like this! I’m not going to let you throw away everything you’ve worked for without even thinking it over.” Stepping into her, I take her face in both my hands, not allowing her to be hesitant of my touch. “Kenny, since the day I met you, this is the one thing you’ve wanted. That first conversation we had, you asked for my advice on whether you should take the job in Chicago. Well, I’m giving you that same advice now. Take the goddamn job.”

Her expression softens, as if my words are finally sinking in and reminding her of who she is and what she’s worked for.

I run a thumb over her cheekbone. “You can’t stay here, baby.”

“And why not?”

“Because you’re worth more than how you’ve been treated the last three years, and I love you enough to make sure you know that. I love you enough to make sure you start living up to your potential.”

I watch the way her eyes bounce between mine, cataloging every shitty thing that Dr. Fredrick has done or said to her over the years.

I watch the realization dawn.

Watch the acceptance take over.

It’s both relieving and devastating to see.

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