Page 104 of Choosing Forever
She looks down, sniffing. “So, that’s it, then? You’re just going to cut us off?”
I don’t want to, baby.
A seed of fear grows roots in my stomach, sprouting leaves of panic that shoot through my veins. “Two more years, Delaney. We’re already halfway there.”
“Too much can change in that time. I can’t—I can’t lose you like this. Not . . . Not for real this time.” She sucks in a sharp breath as she shakes her head, eyes frantic. “You’ve always been there. I don’t remember what it’s like not to have you anymore.Pleasedon’t.”
I’m unable to keep my hands to myself. I take her into my arms and hold her, my lips finding her place on her temple. The shake in her body shoves at my resolve, weakening it.
“You deserve a real chance. No distractions this time. Always having me on the other end of the line won’t give you the space you need. We haven’t been fair to each other, giving only enough of ourselves to keep us hanging on by a thread. It’s all or nothing, Elle. That’s the way it’s supposed to have been. We can’t keep teasing ourselves.”
She doesn’t speak as she holds me, tears soaking into my shirt. I pull her closer, struggling not to tuck her into my car and bring her home. I’d never let her go again if I did.
“No,” she whispers.
Gently, I guide her back until our eyes can meet. “I love you, Delaney Brooks. Give me two years, and I’ll make you Delaney Huntsly.”
Disapproval is written over every inch of her face. I feel it too. It’s like a second pulse. That voice in my head is telling me that I’m making a mistake. Every word I speak tastes sour, and the nausea in my stomach has me swallowing in hopes of keeping it down.
“I love you too.” Her broken voice . . .
She knows me better than anyone in the universe. That’s how she knows I’m not going to budge. Not now, after all this. I’ve already made up my mind.
I look away, unable to watch as she lets go of me and starts pulling her ring off. The cool press of it in my palm is badenough. I curl it into my fist and force myself to stare at her when she steps away from me, needing that last look.
“If you give me an hour, I’ll be gone.”
My stomach rebels against that. I force myself to jerk my chin in a nod.
“Alright,” I choke out, ears starting to buzz.
“Goodbye, Darren.”
I can’t say anything else. As soon as she gets into her car, I turn away and leave. I pass my car, and then I’m jogging past the cluster of trees and dropping to my knees. The scent of pine needles and wet grass is the last thing I register before I’m emptying my stomach onto the ground.
It’s karma for breaking not only Delaney’s heart tonight but mine too.
34
PRESENT
DELANEY
I’mpast the point of flinching at the burn of vodka in my throat as I toss another shot back. Leaning the entirety of my body weight against Poppy, I rock to the classic country music playing in the bar and smack a kiss to her cheek.
“You’re the best, you know?”
She sighs happily. “So are you.”
“I could do without the vodka, though.”
“No, you couldn’t. Oh! I’m still waiting for the juicy deets,” she declares, an arm slumping across my shoulders.
“I don’t want to talk about him, Pops.”
“Either do I! But I wanna talk about you.”
“I’m stillmewithout Darren.”
