Page 22 of Trust Me With Forever

And me, at the end of this.

No.I wouldn’t completely abandon her. I’d do whatever I could to help her, ensure she could have the future she wanted, and protect her for as long as she needed.

And what about the truth? Will you share that too, no matter what?

With a sigh, I rubbed my face. That would be a dangerous slope indeed. Because I couldn’t get too close to Abby. If I did, I might start wanting something I couldn’t have.

To distract myself, I went and made another cup of coffee, downed it, and got ready to visit my training center. Burying myself in work would help me forget about my wife and the future I might have with her if things were different.

As I strode into my other head trainer’s office, Mark Shelton looked up from his desk and whistled. “What the fuck happened to you? You look as if someone just kicked your dog.”

I growled, “Nothing.”

He raised his black eyebrows. “Look, I’m not going to pry as long as it doesn’t affect your work. But the second it does, you’re going to tell me.”

I plopped into the chair in front of Mark’s desk and picked at the armrest, trying to decide just how much to tell him.

As teens, we’d been close. But while we were business partners now—he’d lost his chance to play professional football because of a college injury and had become a high school coach, and I’d headhunted him to help with my training facility—we were still trying to figure out the adult versions of each other.

His voice filled the room again. “Why the hell are you wearing a wedding ring?”

Fuck.I’d put it on after Abby had left and must’ve forgotten to take it off. “No reason.”

“Some people might smile and nod and never question your famous-ass self, but I remember when we were seven and you ran screaming from Mr. Winter’s possessed goose.” He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “So tell me what happened, Rafe. Because you’d never just wear a wedding ring for no reason.”

I noticed the firmness of his jaw and the glint of determination in his dark brown eyes. That look hadn’t changed from when he was a teen, which meant Mark wasn’t going to let this go.

Well, you need to start practicing your story anyway. Test the waters with Mark before trying it on Abby’s family.“I got married, that’s why.”

He blinked and then shook his head, as if to clear it. “I need to know more than that. Start talking.”

“Why? It won’t affect my work. Well, mostly. My wife’s going to head the tutoring center.”

“Wait, what? I’m your partner, Rafe. We’re supposed to decide that kind of shit together.”

Even though I could’ve afforded to fund this place myself, Mark had insisted on investing and having a share of the business. I’d offered him a ridiculous salary just to sign on, but he’d refused. “You’re right, I’m sorry. But my wife is a qualified teacher, and I know she’ll be good at it.”

“Okay, now I’m intrigued. Who is she?”

I hesitated before deciding what the hell, and answered, “Abby Wolfe.”

Mark’s eyebrows shot up. “Abigail Wolfe, as in West’s younger sister? That one? She’s what, fifteen years younger than you?”

“Ten. And yes, that Abigail Wolfe.”

“I didn’t even think you were dating anyone.”

Well, here goes. Time to try out our story.“It was kind of unexpected. It started with a near-kiss and we ended up married in Vegas.”

“Do you love her?”

I shifted in my seat. “Since when do we fucking talk about love?”

“Because that’s the only way her family isn’t going to kick your ass. I’m sure they’ve heard about your actions over the years, while you were playing soccer in the UK. Her brothers aren’t going to like it.”

“I can handle her fucking brothers.”

“You still didn’t answer the question.”

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