Maybe it’s time for something different. Because if I’m ever going to live through these nightmares that aren’t going away without Forrest, I have to find a new way.

Nothing else is working.

My fingers move quickly over the screen as I reply.

Harper: You freak me out, woman, but okay. Do your worst. But just between us, tell me how you know something has changed?

Cherie: Because you both look like you just found out that Santa’s not real and that what you have been believing in is all a farce. Tell me I’m wrong.

Harper: You’re not. See you Tuesday.

Forrest slides onto the seat next to me and lets the driver know we are ready to head back to the apartment. Wrapping his arm around my shoulders and pulling me close has become his go-to whenever we are sitting near each other.

“You okay?” His two simple words nearly undo me, but I hold strong and lie through my teeth.

“Yes, just tired. Big weekend. But thank you. It’s a birthday I’ll never forget,” I reply softly, looking down while I lay my head on his shoulder.

He doesn’t reply, and we ride through the city in silence.

And in my head, I know the real reason I won’t ever forget this day.

It’s as simple as he broke my heart by loving me.

And stupidly, I let him.

Chapter Seventeen

FORREST

She’s about to run, and I know I’m not going to be able to stop her.

I can feel it in my bones.

The moment the word love was voiced, I could see her unraveling, and as much as I tried to stop her, that wall in her eyes reappeared. The one I’ve worked so hard to destroy, but just a simple word and it starts to return.

I tried to explain to her who we are together in the way I know she understands, with hard and heavy sex, the kind that a one-night stand gives you. I tried to hold back my emotion, but I don’t think it made any difference.

The truth is Felisha’s right.

I’ve fallen in love with Harper.

I know it, and Harper does too.

What Harper doesn’t realize is that she may think she can walk away from me and that I’ll let her go. But she’s wrong.

I haven’t waited all my life to finally feel like this only to let her slip through my fingers that easily, just because she is scared. She can put distance between us, and I’ll let her do that initially, but just like she likes to tell people when she talks about us, it’ll be temporary.