Page 73 of Enticing My Off Limits Billionaire

"I know," he replies. "But when I get back..."

I duck my head and bite my lip hard, holding back tears. I don't want to cry, not when Delia and Ryan could walk up at any moment.

"I'm trying to tell myself I'm okay on my own," I murmur.

I feel his fingertips on my chin, tilting my face up toward his. "You are," he says. "You're amazing, Madison. You're going to be just fine."

I look up at him, my heart swelling with love and pain at the same time. I can't help my feelings; I lean in and kiss him, hard and desperate, needing to feel his lips on mine one last time before he leaves. Quinn responds with equal fervor, his arms wrapping around me tightly as if he never wants to let go. We break away, both heaving in a shared breath, our foreheads resting against each other.

"I'll miss you," I whisper.

"I'll miss you more," he replies, his voice low and rough.

We stand there for a moment, holding each other, until the sound of footsteps approaching pulls us apart. It's Ryan and Delia. Ryan's eyes are wide with surprise while Delia crosses her arms and smirks.

"Uh, are we interrupting something?" Ryan asks, his eyebrow raised.

I clear my throat, trying to ignore the heat rising in my cheeks. "No, no. Just...catching up."

"Your tongues needed an update on how the other's throat was doing, huh?" Delia asks.

Quinn blows out a shocked breath and rubs his jaw. "Jesus, Delia..."

"I'm happy for you," Delia laughs. "Now...let's do this, shall we?"

We all nod in agreement and make our way to the performance space. As we walk, I can feel Quinn's gaze on me. I don't want to turn and look at him, afraid that I might cry again. I can't let him see me like this. Not when he's leaving.

When we get to the performance space, Ryan immediately starts discussing some technicalities with Quinn. I try to focus on what they're saying—I'll need to adjust the specs and work with the construction team every step of the way—but my mind keeps drifting back to Quinn and the fact that he's leaving. I don't want him to go, even though I understand the situation with Adam is getting dire, and he needs to bring his brother back to see their parents.

It doesn't feel fair.

Nothing ever does.

"Are you okay?" I feel a hand on my shoulder and turn to see Delia looking at me with concern.

"I'm fine," I lie.

"Don't lie to me, Madison," she says, her voice firm. "I can see it all over your face. You're not okay."

I take a deep breath, trying to keep my emotions in check. "I'm just...it's hard, you know? I don't want him to go."

"He'll come back," Delia says. "And Madison...I've known Quinn Young a long, long time, and I've never seen him this way with anyone.

"He's head over heels in love with you. I'm not saying it'll be easy, but remember that love is worth fighting for."

I nod, my eyes filling with tears again. "I know. It's just...hard."

"I understand," Delia says, squeezing my shoulder. "But you'll get through this. And who knows, maybe absence will make the heart grow fonder."

I manage a small smile at that. "I don't know if that's possible."

Delia winks. "I would say that's a good sign."

We spend the next hour going over the plans for the Threshold, and by the time we're finished, I'm mentally exhausted. I can feel Quinn's gaze on me the entire time, and every time I catch his eye, my heart clenches. I don't want this to be the end.

But it is.

We say our goodbyes outside the performance space, and I try to hold back tears as he pulls me into a tight hug.

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