Page 79 of The Dating Coach
"Turns out, she loved someone else too. She told me to go get my girl. Smart woman." I laughed humorlessly. "Even strangers can see what you refuse to: we belong together."
"It's not that simple—"
"It's exactly that simple!" I was close enough now to see the tears gathering in her eyes. "I love you. You love me. Everything else is just noise."
"The noise is ruining your life!"
"You leaving ruined my life!" I caught her shoulders, gentle despite my frustration. "Do you know what these weeks have been like? Playing hockey like a robot because I don't know what else to do? Waking up every morning and remembering you chose fear over us?"
"I chose your future over my selfishness," she said, but her voice shook.
"Bullshit." The word came out harsh. "You chose what you thought was best without asking what I wanted. Just like your parents. Just like my father. Deciding for others because you think you know better."
She was crying now, silent tears streaming down her face. "I was trying to protect you."
"From what?" I gentled my voice, thumbs wiping away tears. "From loving you? From choosing a life that includes you? From being happy?"
"From giving up everything for me," she whispered. "Like my mom did for my dad. She was different then—kinder. She had dreams of art school in New York. But she met him, and suddenly those dreams didn't matter anymore. Only his vision, his ministry, his needs mattered, and she changed because of him."
"So, you're punishing us for their dysfunction?" I asked. "Gemma, I'm not your father. You're not your mother. We're not doomed to repeat their mistakes."
"Aren't we?" She looked up at me, eyes devastating in their pain. "You're already sacrificing—"
"I'm not sacrificing anything," I said firmly. "I'm choosing. There's a difference."
I pulled out my phone, showing her the email I'd screenshot. “Montreal’s affiliate team—partial schedule so I can take architecture classes at McGill. It pays less than the NHL, but enough. A life where I can play hockey, pursue my dreams, and maybe come home to you. McGill also has a top oncology program. We could both study there.”
She stared at the screen. "When did you—"
"Over the past few days. While you were busy deciding I couldn't make my own choices." I pocketed the phone. "I also told my father about the trust fund. Reminded him that in two weeks, I'll have access to money he can't touch. Enough to be free."
"Liam..."
“I’m not done.” I pulled out the notebook I’d been carrying, its pages filled with plans. “I’ve mapped out every architecture program near a medical school nationwide. Hockey leagues with flexible schedules. Cities where we could build a lifetogether. Wherever you go, I’ll be there. I’ve done the research, Gemma—planned for us, even when you were planning without me.”
She took the notebook with shaking hands, flipping through pages of possibilities. "You did all this?"
"While you were protecting me from happiness? Yeah." I cupped her face, making her meet my eyes. "I'm twenty-one years old. I've been making decisions for other people my whole life. Let me make this one for myself. Choose me. Choose us. Choose the life we could build instead of the fear that keeps us apart."
"I already hurt you," she whispered. "Pushed you away. Ruined everything."
"Then fix it," I said simply. "Stop running. Stop deciding. Stop being so fucking noble. Just love me back."
"I do love you," she said, the words breaking on a sob. "I love you so much it terrifies me. Makes me want to protect you from everything, including myself."
"I don't need protection," I said. "I need you. Complicated, brilliant, fierce you. The woman who stands up to bigots and protects her sister and overthinks chemistry problems. The one who makes me want more than what's expected."
"I turned down San Diego," she admitted quietly. "Couldn't imagine being that far from you. Even though I'd ended things. How stupid is that?"
"As stupid as me turning down every European team because they were too far from someone who wouldn't talk to me," I replied. "We're quite a pair."
"The worst," she agreed, and finally smiled. Small and watery, but real. "Liam?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry. For deciding for you. For running. For being too scared to believe I was worth fighting for."
"You're worth everything," I said firmly. "And I'll spend however long it takes proving that to you."
