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Her face folds.

I keep going. “I would've fought your dad. The team. The media. Whatever the fuck came next. If LA traded me tomorrow, I'd still rather know I fought for this than walk away because it got hard.”

A tear slips down her cheek. She wipes it away. “I know.”

That hurts almost as much as everything else. “Yeah.”

I put my hand on the handle, looking back at her one last time.

“I would've fought for you, Quinn. I thought you were going to fight for me too.”

Her lips part, but I don't wait to hear whatever comes next.

I open the door and walk out.

29

QUINN

Bad Bet

Don’t go, I want to shout after him.

But I don’t.

He needs to believe he was just a means to an end.

It’s better if he believes I never cared that much.

But still, I feel like shit. I’m a despicable human being.

My legs finally give out, and I sink onto the edge of the couch.

I did this because I love him.

He stood right here and told me he’d rather risk everything he’s worked for than lose me. He said it like it was romantic, and maybe some part of me wanted to hear it that way.

A very large, very stupid part of me.

But I can’t allow that to happen.

This is his career. His entire life.

And one of us has to remember that.

I grab my phone from the coffee table and open Nadia’s contact.

Me:

Can you come over?

Three dots appear almost immediately.

Nadia:

Yes. What happened?

I stare at the question.