Page 44 of Triton

Until one man, a tall, skinny guy with black hair, fell. He picked himself up and tried again. And again. And again.

After a few more tries, an instructor walked over to him. The instructor placed his arm around the man’s shoulders and walked him off the course.

And over to thebell.

That man wasout.

My heart dropped. That man hadn’t wanted to quit. I just knew it. He couldn’t master one obstacle, a required obstacle during hell week. So he had been forced to ring thebell.

I didn’t want to watch anymore.

I grabbed Flounder’s leash and ran back toward my place.

What if I couldn’t master Dirty Name? I needed every advantage I couldget.

I had actually liked Erik. Up until tonight, I honestly thought we could have a future together if he accepted my career path. Initially, I had been so against dating him because I didn’t want it to appear like I was usinghim.

But now, that had all changed.

He had charmed me with dinner and a girl power movie. I had slept with him. He had given me the opportunity to try Dirty Name. He had forced me to overcome my fear of riding a bike. I had fallen forhim.

I had to turn off my feelings for him. Stop aching for him, making him my first thought in the morning and my last thought of the night. No more dreaming of a future together.

My worst fear had been realized. He liked me for what I had accomplished, not who Iwas.

I would never be good enough for a man likehim.

I choked back a sob, realizing that he had been usingme.

Well, two could play thatgame.

If he was going to use me, then I was going to usehim.

I had one week left in San Diego. I’d go to dinner with his client. I’d pump Erik for information about BUD/S. And then I would demand to try the “O” course again.

After that. I was done with men. If I wanted to have sex, I’d havesex.

But I would never, ever listen to my heart again.