I backed away.
Maverick broke the hug and stepped back.
I looked up at him.
I love you, Mav… I… love… you…
“I have to go,” I said.
I hurried around him and ran toward the door.
“Madison!” he called out to me.
I shook my head.
“I can’t, Mav,” I said. “I can’t look back.”
“Then I’ll go with you. You don’t have to be alone right now.”
I paused at the door and looked up and swallowed hard. “I think I do have to be alone right now. You’re missing everything I’m trying to tell you.”
“Which is what?”
“This can’t happen,” I said. “This… won’t happen.”
“Why?”
“I’ll never commit,” I said.
I opened the apartment door and left.
I just lied to Maverick.
To protect him.
To save myself.
Or maybe those were just lies too.