Page 410 of Power Play

“There’s nothing here for me.”

“You were going to leave without telling me?”

“We aren’t together. I don’t tell you where I’m going anymore.”

A sob tore out of her, and she shoved me with both hands. “Stop saying that.”

“It’s over.”

“No.”

“It’s over, Charm.”

“No!” She beat her fists against my chest, frantic now, every strike landing over the heart she’d already shattered. “You’re angry. You’re hurt. You’re holding a fucking grudge, and you’re going to destroy both of us because you don’t know how to let it go.”

“I am holding a grudge.” I nodded as tears filled my eyes. “Nothing you say tonight will make me forget. Nothing you do will erase it.”

“That is so fucked-up.”

“I know.”

“You can forgive me.”

“I can’t.”

“You won’t!”

“I fucking can’t!” My voice broke again. “I want to be that guy. I want to believe I can wake up one day and stop seeing it, stop feeling it, and stop wondering whether fear will matter more than I do the next time I need you. I want to be the man who can love you enough to get past this, but I know myself better than you do. I’m built to cut and run before anybody gets another chance to finish me.”

“You can.” Her fists kept striking me. “You can trust me. I’ll prove it. I’ll tell my father. I’ll walk away from all of it. I’ll get help for my anxiety and eating, and I’ll fix this. I swear I’ll fix this.”

“It’s over.”

“No.”

“It’s over.”

“Stop saying that!”

She hit me harder. I closed my eyes and let her.

I couldn’t stomach watching her fight after she’d already lost me. I couldn’t look at the terror in her face or the desperation dragging each breath from her body. Every blow gave her somewhere to put the pain, so I let her fists fall against my chest until they weakened.

“Please,” she sobbed. “Please, Ryan. Please don’t do this to me.”

I caught her wrists before she could hit me again. Her hands fought inside mine.

“Let go.”

“I can’t let you keep doing this.”

“Then don’t leave me!”

“Charm.”

“I love you so much.” Her voice collapsed. “Please don’t do this. Please. I’ll do anything.”

Tears slipped down my face. I pulled her closer by the wrists before releasing them and taking her face between my hands.