Strong arms wrapped around me later that night. Rome’s scruff nuzzled into my neck. “You awake, doll?”
“I wish I wasn’t.”
I heard him sigh behind me. “You know I love you, Brey.”
I tensed because I knew what was coming.
“Falling in love sneaks up on you. You don’t stand at the edge and decide to jump. Someone, probably the person you’re about to fall for, pushes you over the edge with a little gesture, a little hint, a subconscious action. Then it’s all over. You’re falling and humans can’t fly. We don’t get a shot to catch ourselves mid fall. I don’t want to fall for you, and you don’t want to fall for me.”
“I get it, Rome.” I felt my throat close, my eyes tear up. I swallowed hard. “I know we have to stop.”
He pulled me closer and said a muffled good night.
I fell asleep crying. It wasn’t because I’d lost the casual relationship with Rome. It wasn’t because I had more feelings for him than I admitted. It was because I couldn’t hide from my emotions anymore, couldn’t lie to myself about the real battle my heart and mind always waged.
Truth was, I knew the damn reason I didn’t want to date other men. I knew the reason to not get involved.
I hated the reason and the man.