Page 75 of Power Pucking Play

"Make what harder?"

She takes a deep breath, squaring her shoulders like she's preparing for battle. "This. Us." She chews on her bottom lip, her gaze flickering up to meet mine. "It can't happen, Gio. It was a mistake. A beautiful, wonderful mistake, but a mistake nonetheless."

I feel like the air has been knocked out of me. My mind is reeling, trying to make sense of what she's saying. "What are you talking about?"

"I can't do this anymore," she says firmly, her voice steady now as if she's made up her mind.

"Do what? Be with me?"

She nods, tears finally spilling down her cheeks. "It's not fair to either of us. We both know why we never started anything in the first place."

"But that was years ago, Lex. We've both grown and changed."

"I know," she whispers, looking away again. "But some things never change. This could ruin both of us. Your career, my career...it's not worth the risk."

"Not worth the risk?" I repeat, anger starting to bubble up beneath the hurt. "So that's all I am to you? A risk?"

"Of course not," she says, and I can see the pain in her eyes. "You're...you're everything to me, Gio. And that's the problem. That's why this has to end now before it goes any further. I can't be objective about you anymore. I can't do my job. Can't be the journalist I need to be, if I'm with you."

I want to argue. Want to tell her that we can make it work, that what the hell we began is worth fighting for. But the words stick in my throat.

Because deep down, I know she's right.

I'm a problem for her. A thorn in the side of her burgeoning career.

Thing is...

I assumed I was a thorn worth having.

A risk worth taking.

But she doesn't see it that way. And I fucking knew it.

I knew this would happen.

But knowing that doesn't make it hurt any less.

"So that's it?" I ask, hating the way my voice sounds weak and broken. "We just...pretend none of this ever happened?"

Lexi swallows hard, and I can see she's fighting back tears. "We finish the story. Professionally. And then...then we go our separate ways."

I clench my jaw, trying to hold back the anger and hurt that's threatening to consume me. "Fine. Let's just finish this damn story."

"Okay." She nods. "I'll be back in two days to get the rest of the notes and interviews. We can meet at the cafe down the street from your office."

I nod, not trusting myself to speak without yelling or breaking something.

Lexi walks to the door, her hand hovering over the handle before she turns back to me. "I'm sorry," she says softly, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I never wanted it to end this way."

"Me neither," I say, my voice barely audible as she closes the door behind her.

I sink onto the couch, feeling numb and empty inside. This wasn't how things were supposed to go.

But I guess life doesn't always go according to plan.

I thought I had found my happily ever after with Lexi, but now I'm left alone to pick up the pieces of a shattered future.

The truth is, I'm already in too deep. I'm already fallen for Lexi Brookes.

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