Page 41 of Forgot to Tell You Something

“Everything has changed.”

“That’s just it. Nothing has to change, unless you want it to.”

“You lied to me.”

“About my job! Tally, I never lied about how I feel about you. Did you forget what we discussed last night? Living together? Getting married? Having a family? I meant every word. I’ve never discussed those things with anyone before. I’ve never wanted them with anyone before. I want them all...with you.”

She still won’t look at me, but I see her jaw wobble. Maybe I’m getting through. “It’s so stupid, really. Who knows they want to marry someone after a couple of weeks?”

“You’re right.”

“See? At least on that, we’re on the same page. Something in common.”

“I knew I wanted you after the first night. It didn’t take two weeks to feel it. It only took two weeks to gather the courage to speak the words.”

“I need you to leave. Please.” The words are harsh, but her tone is uneven.

I’m not going anywhere. Tally is about to break, and I’m going to catch her when she does. “If you want me to go, look me in the eye and tell me that the last two weeks meant nothing to you. Tell me you lied when you said you loved me, when you claimed to want the same things I did. Do that, and I’ll walk out that door. I won’t bother you again.”

Those large, dark eyes meet mine, but I see the tears brimming. “The last two weeks...the last two weeks—” Tally’s voice cracks, and she buries her head in her hands. “Why did you do this to me? Why did you have to break my heart?”

That does it. I’m at her side, kneeling by the chair and forcing her to look at me. “Why are you breaking mine? I want to love you. Let me love you, Tally.”

“I can’t.”

“Why?”

She doesn’t reply. Instead, she slides a new piece of emotional armor into place. With a sniffle, she wipes her eyes. “I can’t have this conversation, Dr. Stevens. You may think what you did is acceptable, but it’s not. You asked for my rules, then you played them against me.”

“I had to prove I wasn’t like the rest of them.”

“Instead, you proved that you areexactlylike them. Please, leave me alone.”

“I won’t leave you alone, Tally.” The desperation is kicking into high gear. I can’t let her shut me out. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted. “You told me you wouldn’t date a doctor or someone you worked with—and I was both. I wanted to get to know you, Tally, and have you know me. So, it wouldn’t matter when you found out.”

“It wouldn’t? The fact that our time together was based on lies?”

“I lied because I was terrified you would push me away when you found out.”

“What did you think would happen?”

“I thought when I told you I loved you and you said it back, that our love would carry us through this.”

“Do you even know what love is, Dr. Stevens?”

I wipe her tears with my thumb. Her sadness rips at my soul, especially when I know I’m the cause. “I didn’t until I met you.”

Tally pushes my hand away, pulling a tissue from the drawer. “I asked you so many times. I gave you so many chances to come clean. But you never did.”

“I was scared shitless.”

“Of me,” Tally barks out a laugh. “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Well, right up there with all the crap you spouted last night.”

“I meant every word.” I’ll stay crouched next to her, repeating myself for the next year, until she believes me. “I planned on telling you this morning, but you were gone when I woke up.”

“So, it’s my fault.”

“No, Darlin, none of this is your fault. It’s my fault. I—”

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