Chapter 18

Rio's eyes went red. He looked at me like a kid caught doing something wrong.

"That night. Were you hurt?"

"I twisted my ankle," I said. "Nothing else."

"Do you blame me?"

I didn't answer that. "You already paid for it. We're even."

His breathing picked up, like something he'd held back too long finally broke loose.

"Nina, I regret it. I shouldn't have threatened you. I shouldn't have—"

"Leo." I cut him off. "That's enough. Stop."

"It's already happened. There's no going back. You did this to yourself. Let it go."

"I can't." He swallowed hard. "Every day I was away from you, I thought about you."

He kept his eyes on me, his eyes holding nothing but desperate obsession.

"I miss your laugh. I miss you arguing with me. I wanted you as my wife. I wanted us to grow old together."

"Nina. Tell me how to let this go. You promised you'd marry me."

I let out a long breath.

"Bad timing. That's all this was. And I'm getting married next month."

He wasn't giving up. His fists tightened.

"I don't care about that."

He asked, careful, "Will you come with me?"

I looked at the man in front of me, worn down, barely holding together. Something in me ached. But my voice stayed steady.

"Come with you where?"

A faint light flickered in his eyes.

"I'll take you somewhere no one knows us. Just you and me. Like when we were kids."

The old warmth pushed up in my chest. But it was too late for that now.

I didn't hesitate.

"No. I won't."

"Rio, I fell for Cole. I'm marrying him because I want to. I'm not leaving him. Not ever."

He stared at me, his throat working, his voice breaking apart.

"Is there really no chance left?"

"No."