Page 157 of Ever With Me

“He needs to be arrested, babe. If not for what he did to you and me, for Kayla and Audrey’s sake.”

“I’m already working on security measures for them. Please don’t make this harder on us both.”

“Brooks, no.” Tears flowed down her cheeks, and she reached for him as he turned away. She rushed up behind him and clung to the back of his shirt. “No, no, no. Don’t do this. Please. I love you.” She wrapped her arms around his waist, her tears soaking through his shirt. “Please.”

“It’s over with us, Maddie,” he whispered. “It has to be. I won’t risk you. Find someone who can give you everything you deserve. I can’t give you that here in Brandywood, where you can have everything you’ve ever wanted. And you deserveeverythingyou’ve ever wanted.”

But I want you.

He peeled her arms from his waist, a resolve in his face that frightened her. “Thank you for loving me.”

Tears clouded her vision.

How in the hell was this happening?

He was breaking up with her. Really, truly breaking up with her.

She couldn’t order him back to bed this time. Convince him to talk about it when they’d had some sleep. Nothing would change his mind.

“I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone or anything. But I can’t protect you. I won’t have your life and reputation put in danger because of me.”

Maddie understood that from a cerebral point of view, but what about his heart?Ourhearts? She wanted to rant and rave, to scream for him to stay, but his determination to protect those in his life was fierce—something she couldn’t fight against.

He’s leaving.

He came for his guitar.

He made up his mind before he came here.

She sank onto the floor, covering her eyes as he slipped out of the room, tears flowing down her face.

Why hadn’t he given her the chance to change his mind?

Yet . . . the last time he’d tried to leave, and she’d changed his mind, things had only gotten worse. As he’d been worried about.

A murmur of unintelligible voices from the living room sounded—he must be saying something to Naomi—and then she heard the door open.

He was gone.

Brooks.

The man she loved with all her heart.

The man she’d sworn would never hurt her.

He’s leaving.

She scrambled to her feet.

What am I doing? I can’t let him go like this.

Grabbing a sweatshirt, she yanked it over her pajama top and ran through the living room.

“Maddie!” Naomi called out as she went past her.

She ignored her. Hurrying down the back staircase, she went out the back door.

Brooks was on his way to the front of the building, heading toward Main Street, guitar case in hand.

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