“No. We’re probably selling the gym.”
The words hit her like a punch. They were the absolute last thing she thought he’d say.
“What? I thought you were opening another location.”
Gabe’s voice was clipped and formal. “The situation has changed and the best option now is to sell. I appreciate all the work you’ve put into this, but—”
“Gabe, whathappened? Yesterday I gave you the presentation and today you’re saying it’s all over.” Michelle didn’t like thisbleak, guarded version of Gabe, or the feeling that the gym was the only thing keeping him in her life. Because without it... where did that leave them? “Why is this the best option?”
His tone was full of bitterness. “Fabian’s out and Powell’s ready to buy immediately. The smart choice is to throw away everything I’ve worked for.”
“But you’re selling it,” she said, trying to understand. “You’re not throwing it away.”
His lips compressed and he shook his head. “Feels the same.”
“Why don’t you sit down? We’ll brainstorm. You don’t have to make this decision alone.”
“I do,” he said stubbornly. “It’s all on me.”
“Gabe—”
“Anyway, I came down to tell you I’m leaving.” He wouldn’t meet her gaze.
Her breath caught. “When?”
“Now.”
A chasm opened inside her, threatening to suck her in. This was happening sooner, and faster, than she’d expected. But she gathered her mettle and spoke the question in her heart. “Can’t you stay a little longer?”
“Michelle, my business is falling apart.”
“Maybe if we talked about it—”
“What is there to talk about?” Gabe ran his hands through his hair. “You knew I was going to leave. And now it’s happening. I would’ve been gone already if I hadn’t run into my dad.”
Michelle had no idea how they’d gotten from planning the expansion to a corporate takeover, but that wasn’t the point here. Gabe was clearly conflicted about the decision, and if shecould only get him to calm down and discuss it with her, she was sure they could work it out.
And maybe, they’d be able to work something out between the two of them too.
Thirteen years earlier, Gabe had told her he was leaving.
Damn it, she wouldn’t make the same mistake she had last time.
“Gabe. Please stay.”
There. She’d said it. In no uncertain terms. She was putting her heart on the line, making herself vulnerable. It was scary as hell, but worth it.
Hewas worth it.
“Mich, Ican’t.” Anguish roughened his voice, and his eyes pleaded with her to understand. “I have to go back and deal with this.”
Michelle waited, but he left it at that. Nothing about how he’d come back after it was taken care of, or how he’d call her once he was in a better frame of mind. No mention of the future at all.
Because she, clearly,wasn’tworth it.
It was on the tip of her tongue to say the other piece, the thing that had been brewing inside her for a few days.
I’m falling in love with you.
