Page 321 of Power Play

“Then you knew she might freeze.”

My head turned sharply.

Briggs didn’t retreat from the anger in my face. “That doesn’t mean you should forgive it. It means you didn’t imagine the good parts because she failed you tonight.”

“I don’t want the good parts.”

“I know.”

“I don’t want to remember her loving me.”

“I know.”

“Stop saying that like you fucking understand.”

Briggs looked across the ice. “I understand wanting the memories to die before you do.”

The words settled somewhere I didn’t touch. He offered no explanation, and I didn’t ask because I already knew.

“I can’t go to the cabins.”

“Then don’t.”

“Everybody is supposed to arrive tomorrow.”

“They can go without you.”

“I paid for them.”

“They can still go without you.”

“Charm will come.”

“Probably.”

“She’ll think if she gets close enough, I’ll listen.”

“Will you?”

“No.”

Briggs nodded. “Then you won’t.”

He offered no warning that I might regret it and gave me no speech about closure or hearing her side. Briggs accepted the answer exactly as I gave it.

“She’s going to cry.”

“Probably.”

“She’ll tell me she loves me.”

“She already has.”

“It won’t change anything.”

“No.”

The certainty in his voice allowed me to breathe more deeply than I had all night.