Page 91 of Broken Breath
“No,” I snap. “I’m notthatdumb. She figured it out.”
“You said we didn’t need a physio.” His face twists. “Sworewe didn’t. I could’ve found someone. Someone reliable. Someone we couldtrust.”
“It just happened,” I mutter, still hugging myself. “Sheisreliable.”
“You don’t even know her! She’s a risk. If someone finds out?—”
“Ifsomeone finds out…” I cut in, voice rising, “… it’smyfuckup. My name. My face. Myheadon the chopping block. If this all blows up, that’s on me, not you. So stop acting like you’re the one about to lose everything.”
“No,” he croaks, shaking his head. “You don’t get it. It can’t end already.”
I frown. “Why? What are you even talking about?”
And why is he looking at me like that?
He coughs again, harder this time, and when he straightens, his eyes are glassy, and I don’t think it’s from coughing.
My stomach twists with dread.
“Alaina,please…” he whispers, looking at me like I’ve just broken his heart. “Ineedmore time.”
I inhale sharply. “More time forwhat?”
Is he feverish? Delirious?Do I need to call someone, after all?
“To make you want to live past this fuckingvendetta!”
I bristle, and defensiveness rises within me. “Wetalkedabout this.”
“Yeah,” he snaps, coughing so hard it folds him forward again. “We talked about itsix years ago!When I thought I hadtime.Time to show you that your life is stilllivable.”
I flinch like he slapped me.
Nothing about this is livable.
The only reason I’m still on my feet, still pretending to be upright and okay, is pure spite. I’m not standing because I’m strong. I’m standing because falling would mean lettinghimwin.
If there weren’t a finish line and this ticking clock in my head promising it’ll all be over soon, I’d be crumpled in bed, fists in the sheets, screaming into a pillow, andbeggingsomeone to make it stop.
The only reason I haven’t broken yet is because I told myself I wasn’t allowed to, not until I finish what I came here to do.
My hip throbs in pain as if in answer to my thoughts.
“You promised,” I whisper, my throat tight.
“IknowI fucking promised!” Dane chokes, and a tear cuts down his cheek, but his face is twisted in fury. “That was six years ago when I was scared out of my mind. When I thought…” he sucks in a breath, “… when I thought you’d kill yourself the second I turned my back.”
“I told you. Ipromisedto hold out until the end of this season.No matter the outcome.That’s it. That was the deal. I’ll keep my promise. But it’ll happen?—”
“No,” he cuts in. “No, it won’t.I won’t let that happen. I would never let that happen, Al.”
“Youswore.” My eyes and nose burn. “Youswore, Dane.”
All these years. Countless hours of pain, every extra dose of meds. Endless miles on that damn trainer, pushing through screaming nerves and fractured bones.
“Ilied!” he roars. “I fucking lied, okay? I will not let you quit on yourself after this. I won’t let yougive up.You never gave up, not really. You came back, you’reback, Alaina. Look at you. You’re stronger than ever, faster than…”
“Morenumbthan ever,” I roar back. “That’s the word you’re looking for.”
