Page 119 of Breaking Away

There’s an audible inhale. Slowly, she nods, closing her eyes, as if finally ready to face whatever is going on. Kavi won’t meet my eyes, but speaks softly. I learn Smith guessed she’s staying with me and told her parents. My fingers curl, the more she tells me.

Hughes approaches from behind, meets my eyes, and retreats, heading towards the gym. He’s giving us privacy.

I ask Kavi if her parents have reached out. They have. Her dad sent her an email. It reminds her she didn’t go to college.

“Why the fuck does that matter?” I snarl, unable to help myself. I swear and scrub my hand over my face. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. Go on.”

She cuddles Mayo again, but her eyes are bigger. “He never thought I would become something, and that wasfinebecause I had Tyler.”

I absolutely don’t get it. “Does your dad not realize how great you are?”

“He thinks I’m staying with you to play mind games on Tyler to get back at him.” She glances down at her lap. “Or if it’s not that, it’s because you’re rich like Tyler, so I moved in with you because you’ll support me, especially if I don’t plan on taking Tyler back.” The corners of her mouth tighten. “He said he’s hurt, because theobvioussolution is to move back in with my parents instead. That I don’t understand the position I’m putting him in.”

“What position?” I’m being blunt. I need to temper my voice. “How is the fact that Smith cheated on you and then your landlord kicked you out about your dad?”

“He’s under a lot of pressure to succeed as the first South Asian head coach. He’s sacrificed a lot to get there.”

“And you?” I demand to know. “Doesn’t he want to know what you’re going through?”

She laughs, a watery sound. “How would I answer? I moved here to figure out my life—Shouldn’t I have figured something out?”

“You are.”

“I have no real savings. If you kicked me out tomorrow–”

“I would never do that.”

“It’s not about trusting you,” she croaks. “It’s about me. My photography doesn’t pay the bills?—”

“Message Tim.”Stay.

Her brows pull down. “I will, but there’s also another job. I got an email from them last night. It’s… in Seattle.”

My heart crawls into my throat. I have to go back to the punching bag.

“I’ve been fixing up my resume and applying for jobs,” she admits. “Because that was the original plan. I didn’t want to move back in with my parents, and I had to afford rent that wasn’t subsidized and—well—” She glances at me.

“I’m not kicking you out.”Ever.

“I know.” Kavi’s eyes soften on me.

“But?”

“Shouldn’t I be jumping at this chance? The job in Seattle is full-time and permanent. It has benefits and pays well. Turns out all those times I’ve helped my dad and Tyler taught me a bunch of marketable skills as an admin assistant. I’ve gotten really good at it. The Seattle firm wants to interview me.”

She strokes Mayo, lip quivering. “And if I get it, I won’t need rescuing anymore. I’ll become my own first responder. And sure, photography could work someday. But this job proves I can make it now. Because my dad is wrong.” Her lip curls. “I didn’t move in so you could support me. I want to make it on my own.”

Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.

How can I argue with her growing confidence? How can I put myself in the middle of that? If I try to influence this decision, doesn’t that make me as bad as Smith? As her parents?

Her hand reaches for mine. “Please don’t tell me I’m wrong for thinking this way. I’ve been told that a lot. That I don’t know what’s best for me. I don’t think I could handle it if you told me that.”

“I won’t. I could never. You’re brilliant. Incredible. Absolutely amazing.” And I’m losing it, imagining her living back in Seattle.

My words were scarcely proper sentences, but her eyes fill.

I’m about to pull her against me when Hughes returns.

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