Page 43 of No Limits

But instead, she sits with me and comforts me. Within a few minutes, she crawls under the covers behind me and holds me while the bed rocks with my sobs.

That’s when the doorbell rings. I don’t need to look to see who it is.

“She’s here, but she doesn't want to talk to you.” Wes’s voice echoes from downstairs. Just a perfect example of how brotherlike he’s become.

“Wes. Are you fucking serious right now? You’re my best friend and you’re blocking me from seeing my fiancée?” The anger I heard at home is now tenfold and I shake even harder.

“Shay came here for a reason.”

“I fuckingknow. I need to see her.” The desperation in his voice is on a different level than it’s ever been.

Chelsea’s body is tense as she slips out from behind me. My eyes are sore and swollen, my entire body hurts, like the pain in my heart has spread throughout and poisoned the rest of my body.

I can't move; I can't turn toward the door, or sit up. If breathing wasn't an automatic body function, I’m not even sure I'd be able to do that right now.

“Lochlyn, you need to leave.” Chelsea’s voice is strong and fierce.

“Like hell I do. I need to see Shay.”

“She doesn't want to see you, Lochlyn.” While the words haven’t been uttered, she may be right. I can’t even tell right now.

“I doubt that.”

“You can doubt it all you want, but she told me. She knew you'd come here, that you'd know exactly where to find her and show up. And she said that when that happens, she wants us to send you away.” While I said no such thing, I appreciate her lying for me. Because I’m not sure Idowant to see him right now.

“I don't believe you.” I can imagine his narrowed eyes in my mind and his stiff stance.

“You don't have to, Lochlyn. Here’s the thing. You fucked up. Big time. You spent so much time putting her first, making her a priority, showing her every single day how much you love her. And now she’s lucky to see you for dinner.” Chelsea’s voice is calm as she states the facts. I wonder why she never considered being a lawyer herself.

“I have a job, Chelsea! It’s demanding of my time.” I’m sure he’s running his hands through his hair.“But it’s not what she signed up for, Loch. She loves you. So much. If she didn't, I bet she would have left, for good. Do you know she’s been crying since she walked in the door two hours ago?”

A strangled sound comes from Lochlyn, and if my heart could break anymore, it would.

“Yeah. Exactly. She’s hurt, Lochlyn. She loves you more than anything in the world. All she wants istime. I know she’s scared. It’s not going to get better. You won't make more time for her later, and it will only get worse. Can you really ask her to live like that? To sacrifice so much? You don't even have kids yet, Lochlyn. Is she supposed to do all of that herself too?”

“That’s not fair, Chelsea. I’m trying to build a career?” The same party line he’s been trying to sell me for months. But it’s not working on me anymore, and I know it won’t work on Chelsea.

“But it’s only going to get worse. Lochlyn, you’re not setting boundaries. You’re letting them walk all over you. And I get it, but you risk losing something in the process?” Me, our life, our future.

“Let me see her.Please.I won't stay. I won't ask her to come home. I just…I need to see her. Please.” He’s practically begging her, and if I didn’t know better, I’d wonder if he was on his knees.

Chelsea doesn't answer, but a few minutes later, the bedroom door opens. I don't need to turn around to know it’s Lochlyn. My body senses his.

He kneels in front of me and brushes some hair behind my ear. His eyes are full of anguish, his hair standing wildly on end. That tells me he was at least running his fingers through it, if not also tugging. Taking one of my hands between both of his, he brings it to his mouth and kisses along my knuckles, his gaze staying locked on mine.

His striking blues swim with tears. I've never seen Lochlyn cry. I’m pretty sure he never has, and I never thought he would. When it was clear we would be together for the rest of our lives, I'd started hoping he'd maybe shed a tear on our wedding day, or the day our child was born. But I never wanted something like this.

Leaning toward me, he presses his forehead to mine. In all these years, I still haven't told him it’s my favorite thing. If my heart could hold any more emotions right now, it would be tearing, but it’s already broken.

“I’m sorry, Shay. I’m so sorry. I love you. I love you so much. You are the most important thing in my life. Please don't give up on me?”

The body-rattling sobs return, and Lochlyn doesn't hesitate to climb onto the bed and wrap around me, pulling me to his chest and resting his chin on my head.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he says it on repeat as he talks into my hair and rubs big circles on my back.

It doesn’t matter that I’m crying because of him. I love him more than anything. I’ll always let him comfort me, even if it hurts at the same time.

After the tears subside, probably because I've run out of them, I steel myself to say two very hard words. “Please leave.”

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