“Because this whole time that I’ve been falling in love with you, you’ve been keeping secrets from me.”

Ryan bites his lip. His eyes search mine for a long time.

“I… I didn’t know,” he says. “That you felt that way,” he clarifies.

I look away, cheeks burning hot. There’s a painful, stretched-out silence. I wait for him to say those words back to me. If he loves me back, he won’t take the job. He’ll make things right. But he doesn’t say a word. I feel tears threatening to well up and a painful lump building in my throat, but I know I won’t cry. It’s a skill I learned long ago, honed so Dimitri would never see me more vulnerable than I could handle. The irony of it all feels bitter. I clear my throat.

“Please don’t take the job,” I say. “That’s all I can say. That’s the only thing left to say.”

I rise from the bed. I can’t stand being close to him right now.

“Avery, I’m sorry,” he says. “I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t really believe Dimitri’s changed. He’s a legend. He’s going to make Hallie a star.”

“Do you want her to be star? Or do you want him to make you a star coach? You’ll leave me and Summit behind in the dust.”

“I’d take you with me, if you wanted to come,” he offers.

“Right, sure, because that’s ideal: working alongside an emotionally abusive asshole and the guy who doesn’t love me,” I snap. “Sounds great.”

He leaps up from the bed. “I didn’t say I didn’t love you,” he says.

I take a deep breath. “Do you?” I ask. “Do you love me?”

He wavers for a moment, like he’s going to say something. But he doesn’t.

“We’re done,” I say, walking quickly to the door so he can’t see the tears springing to my eyes for real this time. “We’re over.”

I turn the door handle hard and storm out, hurrying toward my room at the opposite end. I wait for the sound of him chasing after me, begging me to change my mind. But there’s nothing except the cool hiss of Ryan’s door as it eases shut behind me.

Chapter 22

• CHAPTER 22 •