“I’m not taking the job,” Ryot says.

“Ryot, stop,” I say. “Of course you’re taking the job. This is a huge opportunity that everyone is counting on. You don’t have a choice in the matter. You’re taking the job.”

“I’m not,” he says. “I already told Banner.” He takes a step toward me. “I told him there was no way I could take it because things were up in the air with you, and I will do anything, and I mean fucking anything, to keep you in my life, Myla.” Another step forward as the air ceases to filter into my lungs. “I’m resigning from The Jock Report and setting that part of my life to the side because what we have, Myla, it’s way more important than anything else in my life. I’ll be damned if I let it slip through my fingers again.”

My jaw shivers as tears descend my cheeks. “You . . . you can’t do that. You worked too hard.”

“At the expense of losing you,” he says, now only a foot away from me. “Do you know how fucking ashamed I am for being so blind to how I was treating you? Treating our marriage? It eats me alive at night, Myla.” He closes the rest of the space between us and moves his hand to the back of my neck, right at the nape. “You are what I care about. You are my goals. You are my dreams. You are my future.”

I shake my head. “No, you . . . you can’t.”

“Can’t what? Put you first? Because I am. I’m putting you first, I’m putting us first, and if you think I’m going to let you just slink away, drive a wedge between us because you’re scared, then you’re absolutely fucked. That’s not going to happen. I didn’t let it happen when your dad passed away and I won’t let it happen now.” His thumb rubs over my cheek, wiping away my tears. “I know I have a lot to make up to you, and I know that getting back to a new normal will take some time, but it’s time worth spending because you are my life.”

My lip trembles, and before I can stop it, a sob escapes, and my legs give out on me. Ryot pulls me into his chest, wrapping his strong arms around me and holding me tight. He scoops me up and carries me over to a chair where I sit on his lap and cry into his shoulder. He clutches me tightly, his hand soothing my back as he whispers to me.

“I’m here for you, baby, and I’m not leaving you. As much as you want to push, I’m not leaving.” He kisses the side of my head. “I’m loving you for the rest of my goddamn life. There will never be another woman, another human as important to me as you.” I break out into another sob as I clutch his shirt, holding on for dear life so I don’t feel like I’m drowning.