Page 84 of Wild Desire

Killian scrubbed a hand over his face. "He scheduled interviews in the morning. I have to be there."

"Can't you do it remotely?" I asked, not liking the vulnerability in my voice.

"These are in person. I'm meeting with all the radio show hosts in one place."

"I didn't realize," I said, my voice trailing off.

Then Killian was enveloped in his family's embrace. I moved off to the side. I was merely his chauffeur. I'd get him where he needed to go, and when I was home alone in his place, I'd be able to let go. I'd cry all the tears that were building up behind my eyes.

Before I knew it, we were in his truck, and I was driving us to the lodge. Killian was quiet, and I didn't have anything to say.

His mind was probably on all that he had to do to get packed and ready to go a day early.

Inside the condo, he disappeared into his room. I hovered at the doorway. "Do you need help with anything?"

"You can start throwing everything into a suitcase. I don't care if they're folded or not. Riley will get it when I'm there."

Riley would be spending a lot of time with him from now on. She'd be the one who'd unpack him, folding his clothes and organizing his briefs. I hated it, but I forced myself to open a suitcase on the bed and take his clothes in the closet and throw them inside.

It didn't take much time to put all his belongings into three suitcases. Just like that, the condo was devoid of Killian. There was nothing left to remind me of him. I didn't even have a shirt I could sleep in. I thought we'd have more time.

I'd even worked up the courage to talk about us tonight. But that time had passed. He needed to go, and I had to get out of his way.

We rolled the suitcases to the front door.

"I'll drive you to the airport."

"It's a private runway. I'll put the address in the GPS." Outside, he threw the bags in the bed of the truck, and we climbed into the cab. I was happy that I was driving and had something to keep my hands busy.

"I'm sorry," he finally said, his voice filled with regret.

Was he sorry for leaving? For not giving me anything more than a good memory? Or was it something more? "This was always the plan."

Killian let out a breath. "Not like this."

"It's a few hours earlier than we expected?—"

He sighed. "It feels sudden. I wasn't prepared for it to happen this way."

I wasn't sure what that was supposed to mean. Did he have different plans?

"We were going to snowboard tonight. I was looking forward to it."

I shrugged as if it wasn't an acute loss. "There will be plenty of opportunities for that." But there wouldn't be. Not for us. He'd be competing, and I'd be consumed with work and family. It was what I'd always wanted, but for the last few weeks, we'd had something else. I had someone to come home to at the end of the night. Someone to share my life with. It had been nice. Really nice.

I wasn't ready for it to come to an end. I knew I wouldn't find anyone else who could fill that role except for Killian. He was the only one who bothered to get to know me, and now he was leaving.

"I don't like leaving."

"As soon as you get back, you'll be busy." I'd seen his schedule for the next week. He wouldn't have any downtime. I'd steeled myself for a lack of contact. It's what I expected so I wouldn't be disappointed.

Killian grunted.

"I thought you'd be thrilled to get back out there. Prove to everyone that nothing has changed."

"I want that."

And I wouldn't get in the way of his dreams. He needed to do this. Otherwise, he'd always resent me. I had serious doubts we could withstand a long-distance relationship. Along with the races, there were afterparties and events where there were plenty of beautiful women clamoring for his attention.

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