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She doesn’t pull away, but she doesn’t relax, either I lay soft kisses along her neck to try to ease her down, but it doesn’t work

I whisper, “I’m sorry”

“What happened?” she asks, not hiding the hurt from her voice, which is so unlike her She nors For her to do so now, tells reat that she can’t hide it

I sigh and release her Sitting up against the headboard, I pull her withmy lap I like this position because it doesn’t allow her to hide her face from me I need to be able to see her face so I can see what she’s feeling as I talk She lets me maneuver her, but I can tell she’s uncomfortable She takes the sheet and wraps it around her shoulders, shielding herself as much as she can from me

I tuck a piece of hair behind her ear “There was an issue with one of the engines When I pulled up to the tar puddle of water, ruining it I couldn’t even get in et your nuy, I haven’t memorized your phone number”

Her expression changes as I talk No longer is the pain there It’s replaced with despondency, and the look sends fear downainst her lips She doesn’t respond, and my fear spikes even more

“I’ sorry” I let her see the re she’ll see how much I mean it Her expression stays the saain As soon as they told et it fixed, I commandeered my driver’s car and hauled ass this way, but I still didn’t make it in time”

Her eyes drop frohtens the sheet around her

“Abby—”

“I can’t, Colt” She shakes her head and brings her eyes back to mine They are filled with tears, and she doesn’t try to hide thelide down her cheeks “I knew this would happen I just wished it would have lasted a little bit longer than this”

“No, dammit!” I say heatedly “This isn’t over!” My hands trehten on her cheeks “Abby, it was one tiain”

She givesheart She leans forward and places a soft kiss against my lips

“There’s no way you can guarantee that, Colt Shit happens You can’t always be there There will be ti co around me because I can’t control my body And it’s no

t fair to me to depend on you to always be there when I know there will be tihts of my life Not only because of ive in and betray you I almost did, and it nearly killed me, Colt I can’t do that to you or me”

I hear her words and thethat they are true There is no way I can guarantee I’ll be there every time she needs me, but I still refuse to believe there isn’t a e can o Even the thought of it steals my breath and makes it hard to breathe There has to be a way