Page 4 of Always

I shake my head. Emotion coils inside me, and that’s part of the problem. This woman brings out so much anger in me. More than anyone ever has, and I’ve had a lot to be angry about in my life.

“For fuck’s sake. Of course not. But I’m very aware that women will let me do what I want to do in exchange for the privilege of being with me.”

“Privilege? Are you kidding me? You really think I let you tie me up just to be your arm candy?”

“No. I said I didn’t. But it’s happened in the past.”

“With Addie?”

And more anger. It crawls up the back of my neck like a hornet’s sting. “Christ! This is serious, Skye. We’re having a significant conversation, and you bring up Addie and me again?”

“You brought it up. You said it’s happened in the past.”

“I wasn’t talking about Addie.”

What happened between Addie and me happened before I started my own company. I was working for my father in construction. Skye knows this. I was talking about the myriad other women who’ve come after me for my money. They’ll let me do anything to them. Which is exactly why I won’t.

“I’m not like anyone else,” she says.

She’s right about that. I’ve never opened myself up to anyone else like I have to Skye. Never let myself truly feel.

And now I’m paying for it.

Still, I’d do it all again. I’d do it again because this woman means more to me than I ever thought possible. And though I know I’m doing the right thing, it’s fucking killing me.

“I don’t regret my time with you,” I say.

She scoffs softly. “Great. I don’t regret my time with you, either.”

“I’m glad.”

Silence for a few moments.

My heart twists as I look at her. She’s so beautiful. So alluring. So challenging. This isn’t what I ultimately want. It’s what has to be. “Skye…”

“What?”

“I don’t want to end things. Please understand that.”

“If you don’t want to end things, don’t end things,” she says adamantly.

“It’s not that simple.” God, she has no idea.

“Seems to me it is. You end things or you don’t. Simple choice, Braden, and you’re the one making it.”

“There are things you don’t know.” I hold my chin high.

“Only because you won’t tell me!”

“Some things I don’t talk about,” I say, “with anyone.”

I can’t tell her. Will never be able to tell her.

“Then this relationship was doomed from the start, Braden. We never really had a chance, did we?”

I sigh and rub at my temples. “Maybe we didn’t.”

A tear falls down her cheek. One. Two. Three. Then several more, until sobs erupt from her throat and the tears become gushers. “You’re wrong! We always had a chance. Yes, I made some mistakes, but so did you. You should have been honest with me. About Addie. About your mother. About everything!”

---