Page 143 of The Fine Line
“What if I want it to happen again? What if I want…” I pause, breath catching. “What if I want you?”
She stares at me like I’ve spoken a different language. “Want… me?”
“You’ve never been a game to me, Caroline. No matter how many times you try to convince yourself otherwise.” I shake my head. “After years of pining after you, I’d think that would be obvious. But in case it’s not—let me be clear.”
I step in, lower my voice.
“I am never not interested in you. There is no shelf I’d dare put you on and forget. This isn’t about blowing off steam. It’s not about some conquest. It’s not about screwing my coach’s daughter. It’s you. It’s always been you. And I care about you—morethan I know how to say. What’s happening between us? It matters. At least to me.”
She breathes out slowly. Her voice is quieter now. “We don’t have a relationship.”
“You’re my wife.”
“Don’t say that.”
“I can stop saying it. Doesn’t make it any less true.”
“You don’t want me,” she mutters. “You might think you do. But you won’t. Not after long. Not once you have me.”
I take a step closer, jaw tight. “Why do you get to decide that for me?”
Her gaze drops.
“You told me before you’d give me anything I wanted,” she says. “Anything I asked for. Was that true?”
Even now… Even after all this…
“Yes.”
She meets my eyes.
“Then stop,” she whispers.
“Stop what?”
“Caring about me.”
Silence stretches between us.
“Is that really what you want?” I finally ask.
She nods. Her voice barely makes it out. “It’s better for both of us.”
I stare at her, stunned, mouth open like there’s more I should say—but nothing comes.
“Wow,” is all I mutter, a bitter laugh behind the word. “For someone who claims to hate games… you sure know how to play.”
I turn and walk away, each step heavier than the last.
But I can’t help it. I glance back once, and she’s still standing there. Frozen in place.
I shake my head, voice barely a whisper.
“Who the hell could ever forget you?”
thirty-two
RHETT
