After a couple of days, everything went back to normal. The gossip of what had happened and the concerned people asking if I was okay had lessened. I’d found out from Kendy that Jamie was going to testify against Jesse and that she’d only found out of his plan to rob the bank when she was actually in front of the building. Jamie was supposed to be the getaway driver, but she’d left the car as soon as he stepped into the bank. The prosecution was going to try to charge her with aiding and abetting until Jamie agreed to testify against Jesse.

Jamie had called Aunt Diane to check on me, but I didn’t want to talk to her. I was glad she wasn’t with the loser, but she had never been a part of my life. Just when I was getting my life together, I didn’t want her to ruin it.

My days with Kent had turned into a routine. I would wake up for work, and when I walked out of my bedroom, Kent would already be up with a cooked breakfast on the counter. He would walk me to the elevator, seeing me off to work. Everything would have been fine if his hand didn’t linger on mine when he would pass me the orange juice, if his knee didn’t brush against mine when we would sit at the counter, if his embrace before I would step into the elevator was less intimate and shorter, and if his eyes didn’t darken when they would meet mine.

It was driving me insane—absolutely insane.

It was fun living together because our laughter never ended, but it was torture at the same time. The near misses were escalating to a point of almost combustion, and each and every time, I’d wanted him to give in. I just wanted him to give in to temptation and cross that line because I would respond without restraint. I wanted him to say he’d change his ways for me and that he wanted me, and only me, to be his.

It was only two more weeks until our deadline. The closer that date approached, the heavier my heart felt. I didn’t want it to end, but it was torture to feel this way toward him, knowing he couldn’t give me the kind of commitment I needed.

Every night, Kent would cook me dinner. Where I was a good cook, Kent was exceptional as he was a perfectionist in the kitchen. His sauces were always flavorful, and he had to have the right amount of spices.

During the routine preparation of dinner, I would watch his muscles move under his T-shirt as he reached for bowls in his cabinets. I was his assistant, and although I enjoyed learning about the art of cooking, I enjoyed watching the art of Kent cooking more and found it harder and harder to concentrate.

“Can you stir the sauce?” he asked, putting the bowls on the counter.

I moved toward the stove, picked up the wooden spoon, and began to stir the sauce in the pan. The scent of tomatoes and garlic filled the air, and my stomach grumbled in response.

I felt him move closer behind me.

“Continue stirring,” he said, placing his hand on mine stirring with the wooden spoon. “You don’t want the bottom to burn.”

He was so close that I could feel his breath against my neck. I could barely handle the heat, and it wasn’t from the nearness of the stove. I leaned back into him because—well, I wanted to be near him. I bit my lip and rested against him as I felt a hypersensitivity wherever our bodies touched, his chest to my back. Right before I was about to turn around, he released my hand and backed away. “Keep stirring,” he said, his voice deeper.

I closed my eyes to compose myself, to calm my raging pulse and yelped when my pinkie finger touched the edge of the pan. “Ow.” I dropped the wooden spoon, and tomato sauce spilled on the floor.

He grabbed my hand and inspected it. “Let me see.”

I forgot about the pain when he quickly placed my pinkie in his mouth, sucking it lightly. Our eyes locked as I watched him pull at my pinkie with his tongue. The warmth of his tongue on my flesh heated my insides to immeasurable temperatures, and I felt that yearning hunger in the pit of my stomach. That electricity between us was there, thick and palpable. The need and want in his eyes mirrored mine. I leaned into him ever so slightly. I wanted to kiss him. I wanted him to kiss me. I waited for it.

But he closed his eyes, and at once, he released me. “There. Better.” He dropped my hand and picked up the wooden spoon off the floor. “You have to be more careful. Do you need a Band-Aid?” he asked, not meeting my eyes.

“I’ll get one.” I staggered back before almost running to the bathroom.

I closed the door and leaned against it, using it as support. I took deep breaths to calm my stammering heart in my chest. I didn’t know how to make it more obvious without stripping naked and yelling for him to take me. I wanted him but not only on a physical level. I wanted him to be solely mine, and only he could decide that, so he had to be the one to make the first move.

When I walked back to the kitchen, I caught Kent pinching the bridge of his nose. His eyes were closed as he furrowed his brow in concentration.

I didn’t know how much I could take. Given all the tension rising between us and the feelings rising within me, I wondered if we could go back to our friendship as it had been before. More than that, I wondered if he felt the same and had feelings for me too.

Kent was sitting on the couch in front of the TV when I walked into the condo after work.

“How was your customer call?” he asked, flipping through the channels with the remote in his hand.

“Long and boring.” I dropped my laptop bag on the floor. “I could never be a banker. They wine and dine every day and have so many night functions. When I’m done with work, I’m glad I’m done for the day.”

I walked over and plopped myself next to him on the couch. Closing my eyes, I rolled my neck from side to side to ease the tension from the long day. Working from eight to five in front of a computer and then logging off to attend a customer dinner had just been too much to handle. I was glad I didn’t have to do it on a daily basis.

“Come here,” he said, “I give the best massages. You look stressed.”

He parted his knees and dropped the remote, as I moved to sit in front of him. He began to knead my shoulders with his thumbs, and I eased into his touch.

“Mmm…you’re pretty good at this,” I said with my eyes closed.

“When will you figure out that there’s nothing I’m not good at?” He chuckled.

I opened my eyes to watch the news as Kent continued to work my shoulders.

“Did you do anything today? Did you go to the gym?” I relaxed my shoulders, feeling the tension slowly ooze out of me.

His hands moved to my shoulder blades as he began retelling his day’s events. His fingers were magic, and I began to feel each muscle relax with his touch. Moving his hands to the middle of my back, he used his palms to work the tension out and undo each and every knot. After a while, a slow sigh of relaxation escaped me. The tension of the day’s hard work slowly disappeared as his fingers kneaded my flesh, and I found myself sinking into the couch. Moving further down, his hands massaged my lower back, and eventually, they shifted to my hipbones. I felt the pressure of his fingertips deepen against my skin and the sudden sensation of warmth flooded my body.

His touches moved slowly and intensified as feelings of relaxation transformed into something else. It was something deep and dark—and something a paid masseuse shouldn’t be doing. I didn’t even notice when he’d stopped talking. His hands continued from my hip bones to my thighs, massaging and kneading and touching. I didn’t know what came over me, but I leaned back against him, wanting to be closer. His breathing changed, and I could feel his labored deep breaths coming through his nose and onto my neck. His hands shifted to my inner thighs where he continued to rub slower, deeper, and with heightened pressure.

Leaning my head back, I felt his tongue on my neck. Heat spread throughout my body. I felt tingly from where his tongue met my flesh. The sensation spread from the deepest part of my belly to the tip of my toes. He pulled me against him, gripping me closer, as his hands continued to massage my inner thighs. I felt him erect against my back, and I moved against him, fully turned-on, as my breathing accelerated, giving away my arousal.

It was all too much to take. All at once, he grabbed the side of my neck, turned my face toward him, and slammed his lips down on mine, his tongue invading my mouth. I gave it right back and opened my mouth to let him find passage, welcoming him, meeting him. He tasted of mint as I bit hard on his lower lip, and I was rewarded when a moan slipped from his mouth. His soft touches were gone, and he kissed me hard and rough, his tongue tasting mine.

Framing my face with both of his hands, he attacked my lips and moved my legs to straddle him in one swift movement. He grabbed my bottom and pushed me closer to him. I moved against his hardness and felt my wetness soak my panties. He lifted me, and I wrapped my legs around him as he carried me to his bedroom. His lips never left mine as he dropped me onto the bed and rested between my knees. I kissed him back, meeting his tongue, tasting and feeling him. He groped me through my clothes, every part he could get a hold of.

Spreading my knees apart, I felt his hand travel under my skirt, up my thigh, and to my center where he rubbed his hand against my sweet spot. When he moved my panties out of the way and his finger pierced me, I let out a small moan of pleasure.

“Oh, Kent,” I exhaled, moving against him.

He pulled back slightly and as he peered down at me, lust filled his eyes. As if saying his name, released his sexual beast inside, he continued to create this sensual friction inside me with his fingers. His breathing accelerated, and when his mouth moved to my neck I turned to give him better access. He licked and sucked my neck, and there was no doubt I would have a hickey in the morning, but I didn’t care. I ran my hands through his hair and tugged at the ends, hard.

He was flush against me, but it wasn’t close enough. I arched my back toward him, rubbing myself against his chest, as I wanted to be even closer. My silk shirt was now an itchy barrier between us. Reading my mind, he withdrew his hand and loomed over me. I sat up a little as he lifted my shirt over my head and tossed it to the side. I tugged on the bottom hem of his T-shirt, and he complied, lifting the shirt above his head before throwing it on the floor. Slipping my skirt down and off, I was now only in a bra and panties.

Kent pressed himself on top of me, and his lips were on mine again. His hand moved to my back to undo my bra, and in a flash, it was off. As he moved on top of me, I was on fire and soaking wet. I ran my nails roughly over the muscles of his back and down into the back of his pajama pants. I squeezed his backside to press him down onto me as I lifted my hips to grind against him.

“Shit,” he said, breathing harder, giving me a thrill.

His lips moved to my breast, sucking and teasing with his tongue. I was sensitive all over, and at that moment, I wanted to feel him in me. I moved my hands to his hip bones to slip off his pants, but he inched even lower, placing his lips on my belly, his tongue dipping into my navel.

“God, you’re sexy,” he breathed.

I started to get nervous as he trailed his tongue from my belly button down over my hip bone until he came to the elastic of my panties. He distracted me with soft nibbles as he slipped the wet fabric down my legs. When I felt his tongue touch my center, my body convulsed. Automatically, I tried to close my thighs, but his grip tightened. He lifted his head up, and his eyes bore into mine.

His lips returned to my core, and I tried to relax and enjoy the feelings he was sending throughout my body. My breathing intensified, and I realized sounds I’d never made before were escaping my lips. I fisted the bed sheets, not knowing what else to do with my hands, as his tongue flicked against my sensitive nub.

I felt a tightening in my belly and tingling in my legs as my body rocked into him. As he moved his tongue deeper into me, my thighs closed instinctively due to the unfamiliar sensations of my body building toward release.

He lifted his head and pulled me closer, tightening his grip on my thighs. “Baby, let me do this. I want to be the first to give this to you.” His grip would not relent, and his mouth attacked my core, flicking his tongue directly over that perfect spot.

My brain was mush, and I was lost in feeling. The deep sensations in my belly began to rise again, and my legs began to tremble as the buildup started to intensify. Kent gripped my thigh with one hand and placed the other on my lower belly to hold me still. Loud moans escaped my mouth. I wanted more, yet at the same time, I was scared of the unfamiliar feeling building in my body.

“Let go, baby,” he grunted before torturing me with his tongue. “Come on,” he mumbled against me.

At that, I exploded. I let out a loud scream. Everything went into sensory overload, and my body rocked in ecstasy. Tingling intensified all over my body over and over and over again. Kent withdrew himself and pressed his lips to mine while I rode my first orgasm down, moaning in his mouth.

I laid on the bed, utterly spent and exhausted.

After a minute, I opened my eyes. He had flipped me over to lie on his chest, his hands running lightly through my hair. I listened to his heart beating as I felt the rise and fall of his chest against my cheek. I was satiated from the experience, but more than that, I felt so whole in his arms. I felt safe. It felt right to be there.

I thought of all that we’d been through. He had been my rock through all my struggles in a new town. He was my best friend. After everything we’d been through, I was glad that we’d ended up like this—me in his arms.

It was then I realized that it never would have worked with Brian. Although I’d tried to deny it for such a long time, I had always been in love with Kent. I’d been in love once, but this time it felt different. I’d never felt such a physical and emotional attachment with such heightened intensity, such magnitude to another person before.

It slipped out before I could stop it. “I love you,” I whispered into his chest, nestling in even closer.

For a brief moment, my cheek lay flat on his chest as he held his breath.

I realized he was still aroused. As I reached in his pants to give him some release, to finally feel him in me, he grabbed my hand and rested it on his chest.

“I just want to lie like this,” he said.

After a heartbeat, the rhythm of his hand moving slowly up and down my back contributed to my drowsiness, and before I knew it, I was asleep.

The warmth overwhelmed me. I lifted my head to find that Kent had me in a death grip. His arms and legs were wrapped around me as if I was his body pillow—not that I minded at all. Not only did I not mind being in our own little cocoon of heat, but I also basked and reveled in it. If I could stay here forever, just the two of us, I would.

I kissed his forearm and turned to align my face with his. We were a breath apart, and I slowly took in his every feature. With the tip of my finger, I touched his perfectly shaped brow and his unbelievably and unfair long dark lashes that hit just above his cheekbones. I dragged my finger from the bridge of his nose to his lips, which were parted slightly in his deep state of sleep. I traced his plump bottom lip and inched closer to kiss him, to press my lips against his—because this time, I could.

He was truly the most beautiful man I’d ever laid my eyes on. And not even his hotness, his crazy good looks could measure up to how truly beautiful he was inside, how big his heart was, how he cared for his family, and more, how he cared for me. I loved him. And finally, he was mine for keeps.

The red digits from Kent’s alarm clock on his side table flashed in my eyes. Painfully, I moved his arm to extract myself from his embrace, so I could get ready for work. I rewarded myself one last glance as I gazed at the handsome man lying on his stomach next to me and sighed. With my finger, I traced the defined lines from the muscles on his back. He didn’t flinch and was still sleeping soundly.

I stopped to think about what had gotten us here today. I wondered if I’d avoided the inevitable by trying to deny my feelings for so long and if we would have made it here anyway. I never believed in fate. I’d always been the one who believed that everyone could shape their own future by the actions they took. But now, lying next to Kent, I believed.

I kissed his shoulder before jumping into the shower to get ready for work.

Work was crazy busy. It was nonstop meeting after meeting in the boardroom about current clients. My butt was either stuck in a boardroom chair or stuck in my desk chair with my head in front of a computer, analyzing company financials. Preoccupied with work, I only had time to eat lunch at my desk. Because of the hectic day I was having, I would have thought the workday would fly by, but five o’clock could not get here fast enough, especially when I was anxious to see Kent.

After work, I shut down my computer, said good-bye to my bankers, and headed out the door. I was smiling, almost skipping back to Kent’s condo when I stopped dead in my tracks.

And then I saw them.

Kent was with some girl.

Her arms were wrapped around him.

They stood right in front of the doors to Trump Tower, right there for everyone to see.

Right there for me to see.

I felt sick as I took in the scene.

She had her arms wrapped around his neck, and he was laughing at something she’d said.

Heat flashed to my face, and I could feel my eyes getting warmer and warmer by the second. I wanted to scream and cry, hit him or her, hit something. I gritted my teeth. I didn’t understand what was happening. Did last night happen?

Something inside of me believed that he’d wanted me to see this. I couldn’t control the slight tremor in my hands. I didn’t know what was going on, but all I knew was I needed to leave. And I needed to leave now.

I was a few feet away from him when he saw me. I made my way over to pass him. I didn’t even want to acknowledge or talk to him because I knew I would cry.

“Hey, Beth.” The remnants of his smile were still on his face as he stood there, entangled in the girl’s arms.

At the look I gave him, his demeanor changed, and he stepped away from the woman. I stormed past him through the revolving door and felt him following behind me. A couple came out of the elevators, and I immediately stepped in and pressed the button to shut the door in his face. I pressed 55 and tapped my foot against the tiled floor, not reaching my destination fast enough. As I stepped out of the elevator, I rushed toward the condo and keyed in the door. The elevator pinged behind me, and I heard him call out my name, but I didn’t turn around. I let the door shut behind me, but he caught it.

“Beth, wait. Are you upset?”

I wheeled around to face him, my hands fisted by my sides.

The fact that he’d asked me that question made me livid. “Upset? Why would I be upset?” I said in the softest voice possible.

He studied my face for a second before running both of his hands through his hair. “About last night. I know we haven’t talked about what happened, but…I just don’t want anything to change between us.”

At this, I lunged toward him. All restraint was gone at this point. “You bastard. You don’t want anything to change? Well, you should have thought of that before you touched me last night!” I yelled, pushing both fists at his chest.

He tried to block my hits as I kept pushing him. I was yelling and spitting, and my face was red from frustration. I knew I was not a pretty sight.

“I’m not one of your whores. Why are you treating me this way? How could you do this? How could you do this to me? To me!” I said, putting both hands on my chest.

I reeled away as the fight left me. Tears flowed down my face, and I looked directly in his eyes. “I’m not one of your girls.” I shook my head. “Just because they can disconnect their emotions from any physical contact doesn’t mean that I’m built that way because I’m not.”

I wiped away the tears falling on my cheek with my sleeve. “After knowing me like you do, how could you not know that once you crossed that line, I’d think you’d want something more?” I asked, my voice breaking.

I tried to rein in my emotions, but the more I tried, the more tears fell. “I can’t believe you. I…I trusted you,” I said, stifling a cry. “I can’t do this anymore. It’s taking too much out of me. I’m done,” I said, backing away from him.

“Beth…I”

“No, I don’t want to hear it. Your actions speak louder than anything you have to say.” I turned and stomped toward the guest bedroom. I scanned the room that I’d spent the last week in. I couldn’t believe it was ending like this. My belongings were scattered everywhere. I would just send Caroline to pick up the rest of my stuff.

My hands shook as I scooped up my necessities, toiletries and a couple of suits. I pulled out my suitcase from the closet and felt Kent’s presence behind me, standing by the door, but I didn’t look at him.

“You’re leaving?” he whispered.

I didn’t turn around. I kept myself busy as I continued to pack my stuff, trying to keep my emotions under control, trying not to fall apart in front of the only person in Chicago I thought I could count on. I was tired, but most of all, I didn’t want to cry anymore. I just wanted to leave.

“What about the deal? You can’t leave,” he said softly.

“You have access to your trust fund money. I’ve held up my part of the deal.” I pulled the zipper to close my suitcase, and I plowed my way toward the bedroom door.

He blocked my path, ran both hands through his hair, and tugged it in frustration. “I’m confused. These past few months have confused me, and I don’t know which way is up anymore. I just don’t know what I want. All I know is that I don’t want you to leave. Don’t go.”

I clenched my jaw, fighting the tears. “I’m sorry you don’t know what you want. Sometimes, we don’t get what we want. Welcome to the real world, Kent.”

I made my way around him, stalked toward the kitchen, and grabbed my laptop bag.

He followed and paced back and forth, with both hands running through his hair. I glanced at him as his eyes went wild. “You can’t go,” he said.

I ignored him and stepped my way to the foyer where he followed. I grabbed my jacket from the closet, and he stopped directly in my path, blocking the door to the outside.

“Listen, okay? Just listen,” he said with a desperation in his tone. Kent looked down to the floor as if he was thinking of what to say. He paused and stared directly at me. His eyes changed from scared to now determined. It was as if he had stopped breathing. “Beth, please just listen. I don’t know what to say. Just don’t. Please listen. Just don’t do it. Don’t go.”

“Move,” I said, firmly meeting his eyes.

His face was resolute, but his eyes gave him away. He was shattered. “I don’t beg, okay? I’ve always gotten whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I manipulate everyone I know—my parents and my friends. I don’t want to do it, but if you walk out that door, I won’t give you a dime. You won’t get your money.”

I took a sharp intake of breath. At that moment, I was at a loss for words. I wanted to cry again, but I was so mad that I couldn’t. I knew the money could lead to my freedom from my past, the debt, and my mom. But it wasn’t about the money. I wasn’t mad that he wasn’t giving it to me. I was mad at the fact that he was using it as leverage. Kent used money to manipulate people. He had even said so. The difference was that he was using it on me to get what he wanted. He was using it as leverage for me to stay.

I didn’t even waste the effort to speak. I wheeled around and stepped out the door.

I went straight back to my apartment after I’d left Kent’s place. I’d known I would end up here after the divorce, but I couldn’t have predicted that it would hurt this much when I did.

I was tired of crying, especially when I’d spent all my life living by the book and doing everything right. I refused to cry over things I couldn’t control.

So, I didn’t.

I turned off my phone and tried to sleep.

When sleep still hadn’t come as dawn approached, I did what I did best. I got up for work and pretended that nothing had ever happened.

Twenty-nine missed calls greeted me in the morning. They were all from Kent. I pressed delete through all the messages, not listening to one word. I was tired of being used. There was nothing he could say to make things right. To me, actions always spoke louder than words. I’d learned that from past experiences. I’d learned that from my mom.

I busied myself at work, facing my computer. I didn’t want to talk to anyone nor did I want anyone asking me about married life again.

On my way home, I saw Kent standing outside my building. I stopped and took the deepest breath of my life and stepped forward. His hair was in disarray, and his clothes were disheveled. It was one of the few times I’d seen Kent not put together. When he saw me, his eyes lit up. I glared at him and clenched my jaw.

“What do you want, Kent?” I said, as I tried to steady my voice.

I tried to walk past him, but he blocked my path on the sidewalk.

“I’ve been trying to call you.” Bloodshot eyes bore into mine. It didn’t look like he had slept. “I want you to come home.”

I crossed my arms in front of me. “That’s not my home. That was the set of some theatrical play—a play that turned awfully bad. Please move.”

“I’ve paid off all your debt,” he said softly, blocking my way. He stood taller, gauging my reaction.

I didn’t know what to say, but I was definitely not going to thank him. His eyes fell, and his shoulders slumped at the look I gave him.

“Good. Thanks for consolidating my debt. Now, I can mail one check instead of twenty.”

When I moved around him, he grabbed my wrist.

“Please,” he whispered, his eyes pleading. “I-I can’t take this.”

I hated how I softened at his touch. I hated how I missed his scent, his presence, his very being.

I looked into his chestnut eyes, and all my feelings for him rushed to the surface. I thought I was about to lose it. I turned around and bolted in the other direction, hearing him call my name. I didn’t know where I was going. I just knew I had to distance myself away from him, from the sight of him, from his very presence. I curved around a corner and realized I’d walked into a dead-end alley. I pivoted around, and Kent was right there, facing me.

“What do you want?” I yelled, tears falling from my face. “You think you own me? You think that just because you paid off my debt, I owe you something? I’m tired of people thinking that they own me.” I staggered back. “Just because Jamie gave me life, she thinks she can use me and destroy me. Just because you paid off my debt, I now owe you something? I’ve never done anything to you. I’ve never hurt people deliberately, so why does this keep happening to me? Why do people keep hurting me when I’ve never done anything wrong?” I couldn’t see. I was crying so much that his figure was a blur.

Kent reached for me, but I stepped back. I couldn’t risk him touching me. My resolve would weaken, I know.

“Don’t hate me,” he said, his voice quivering. “Please.”

He moved forward, but I retreated, taking another step back. I held up both hands to stop him from inching toward me.

“I know I don’t own you,” he whispered. “If you were mine, I could hold you while you cry.” His voice broke. “If you were mine, I could take you home.”

“I did it because I want you to be happy.” He clenched his jaw. “I never meant to hurt you. Nothing happened between that girl and me. You have to believe me. I don’t even know why I let her come that close to me.” His eyes bore into mine. “It’s just…these feelings…I’ve never felt these feelings before, and…I was scared.”

His eyes filled with such emotion that I had to stifle a sob from escaping my mouth.

“I wasn’t sure what I wanted. Being with someone was not what I had planned for myself, but as soon as you left, I haven’t been able to function. I miss you, Beth. I miss you so much.”

He ran his hand through his hair, and I clenched my jaw to prevent my face from showing any reaction.

“You know, I’ve always been content in my life. I’ve never been miserable, and I’m so miserable, Beth. And I know it’s because you’re not there. You don’t understand. I miss talking to you, Beth. I miss your face and your smile. I just miss you.”

His face showed such anguish that I couldn’t bear to look at him.

“I didn’t know what I wanted before, but I do now. I know I want you. Without you, I’m not complete. I’m not whole. There’s this void. It wasn’t there before I met you, but now, it is.” He took a step forward. “I know I can make you happy. I’d live my life making you happy, I swear it,” he said, his voice breaking.

“If you want me to be happy, you’ll let me be. You’ll leave me alone,” I snapped, trying to show no emotion.

I was done being hurt over and over again, especially by the people I loved the most. I’d been down this road before, and I didn’t know how much more my heart could take. It was as if my heart was physically breaking, and my insides were being torn apart. I just had no more to give without losing myself completely. I was done with giving second chances.

His face fell at my words.

“I just want to be left alone, Kent,” I whispered, my heart breaking into a million pieces. I had to save myself, protect myself, because I couldn’t rely on anyone else to do it for me.

He staggered back and closed his eyes.

I stared at the man in front of me. He was the man who had hurt me, but he was also the same man who had been my best friend in a new city. And he was the man I’d fallen in love with, the man I was still very much in love with. With the fight all gone, I knew I didn’t want to leave the tension between us like this.

When I touched his shoulder, his eyes opened to meet mine.

“You’re a good man, Kent. You’re selfish and spoiled, but you also have a good heart. You need to let the world see that side of you that your family and I have always known.”

His eyes glossed over as I spoke. When he moved to reach for me, I stepped back. I knew I’d weaken if he touched me.

On the verge of losing it again, I walked past him. “Please…please, don’t follow me. Good-bye, Kent.”

Walking away, I stole one quick glance behind me. Kent was leaning against the brick wall, his head hanging in between his hands. He looked so defeated. My tears began to fall again as I continued to walk home.