With a sad sigh, her dad reached out and pulled her into her arms. “I’m sorry he let you down again, sweetheart.”
Gigi felt unstable, a little light-headed, her knees weak. Well, sure, she’d been living off cookies and chocolate milk.
And, then, she felt her mom’s arms encircling her waist, fingers sifting through her hair, the same comforting gesture Gigi had grown up with. She felt like a little girl all over again.
There was nothing so familiar as her mom’s scent. The same perfume she’d worn Gigi’s whole life, mixed with her dad’s rugged, manly pine scent…it just made her feel safe and at home. “I just wish I understood why he keeps messing up. Why didn’t he see what Amie was doing? Why didn’t he kick her out of his room?”
“Because she’s on his team,” her dad said. “And the team’s his family. And if you’ve never really had one, if you’ve never fit in anywhere, then you hold on pretty tightly to the one you cobble together. It’s damn scary to be alone in the world.”
Alarmed at the pain in his voice, Gigi stepped out of their embrace.
“His parents didn’t have time for him,” her dad said. “Griffin didn’t want to share his bedroom with him, the high school team already had a quarterback. Even after he got drafted, Cassian replaced Ben Grady. He’s just…never belonged anywhere.”
Her mom reached for him, wrapping an arm around his waist.
Her dad hadn’t belonged anywhere until he’d met Joss Montalbano. And once he found her, he’d burrowed in. Deeply and irrevocably. And her mom had given him all the love and nurturing he’d craved his whole life.
“He belonged with me.” They looked at her, both of them reeking of pity. It reinforced what she’d already accepted. “I love him. I honestly don’t think there’s anyone else in the world I want to be with. But I can’t have him.” She took in a steadying breath. “When I look down the road, when I see myself making a family of my own, I see him. I can’t imagine growing old with anyone else—but what kind of chaos and drama is he going to bring into our lives? He swore he wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize us. He said he wanted to deserve me.” The footage flashed in her mind, Amie wearing nothing but his jersey, sitting in the shelter of Cassian’s arms. God. She’d never scrub that image. “I’m going back to LA.”
Yep. It was time.
“I have to meet with Dale. She needs to know I’m not with Cassian, and there won’t be any more drama from me.” She looked at her parents, her heart just absolutely broken, and she wanted them to fix her. To give her the magic words that would make everything all right and enable her to be with Cassian.
“I’m sorry, baby.” And the fact that her mom—the woman who never gave up, who always had a fresh idea and a new approach—had given up, just drove it all home.
It’s truly over.
Strong arms banded around her, and the dam broke. Tears trickled down her cheeks. She felt their love and support like a powerful force streaming through her, giving her strength.
It broke her heart, but she would not fall apart like last time. She was stronger, better.
Cassian Ellis would not sink her.
On her way into the bathroom to grab her toiletry bag, Gigi’s phone vibrated.
Her flight left in three hours, so she supposed it was time to talk to him. Setting down her towel, she went back to the nightstand. Sure enough, Cassian’s name was on the screen.
She drew in a calming breath. “Hello?”
“Gigi.” He sounded tormented.
“Yes.” Her voice wavered. She didn’t want to talk to him, because she didn’t know if she could resist him.
“Thank Christ. It’s been four days. I’ve been going out of my mind. You know I didn’t touch her, right?”
And just like that, her temper flared. “Of course you touched her. I walked in on it, remember?” No, no, no. She couldn’t let herself get all worked up over it. If she did, she’d get whisked right back into the drama. “Look, that’s not even the point, and you know it. You just keep doing this, and I’m done.”
“I know. Just…from my perspective, she came in crying, upset about a breakup I felt partially responsible for. I was going to get my clothes on and meet her in the living room, but she broke down. She was inconsolable.”
“Cassian, in what world is it okay for a woman to come into your bedroom half-naked and expect to be comforted on your bed?”
He went quiet.
Exactly. She’d finally figured out the problem. “Think about that.” I know I will. “Other than my sisters and my parents, no one would dream of taking the liberties with me that people take with you.” There was no point in talking to him. As long as he didn’t see his problems, he’d never change. “Listen, I only answered your call to let you know I’m going back to LA.”
“What? No. Okay, I’m coming over.”
“Don’t bother. You won’t get past the gate. I’m just letting you know that I’m done. I put up with the instability of loving you in high school, but I won’t do it as an adult.”
“Instability? I love you. That’s…I am devoted to you and you alone. There’s not a shred of uncertainty in me about my feelings for you.”
“I know that. I’m not afraid you’ll cheat on me or fall out of love, but I’ll never stop worrying what you’re doing when you’re away from me.” The ache grew, forming a knot in her throat. “I do love you, you know. Very much. I just can’t be with you.”
“You can. Every couple has hurdles.”
“That’s true, but this is more than a hurdle. You’re always going to break my heart, because you have no boundaries. You let people take advantage of you, and until you see that there’s no chance for you to have a real relationship with anyone. But, most definitely, not with me.”
“I fucking love you, Gigi. I love you down to my soul. You’re part of me, and I can’t live without you.”
“Well, you’re going to have to.” Big words, tough voice. But underneath them lay a foundation as fractured as her heart.
“No, just listen. Listen to me.”
The clouds had finally parted, and a light fell onto a glimmering truth. “It’s funny, because everyone sees you as the life of the party. But think about it, Cassian. The people who trash your hotel, drive your fancy cars, drink all your booze…they don’t respect you. And, as the captain of your football team, that’s what you need most. Respect.”
His silence made her believe he was really listening, and that gave her hope. Dammit.
“You had two jobs,” she continued. “One was to lead your teammates, and the other was to take care of us. From what I saw in that suite, you weren’t doing either. I love you, Cassian. I do. But I love you for the man you could be, and not the man who wants to belong so badly he lets people take advantage of him. Now, let me go. I have a plane to catch.”
If Cassian were the type of man to accept defeat, he wouldn’t have become the quarterback for one of the top teams in the country.