His promise should have given me security in us. I’d been confident it would.
But it didn’t.
Nothing changed.
Nothing at all.
Because after that night, he ghosted me again.
And for three straight years, we rotated in the same toxic cycle of hot and cold, push and pull, making and breaking promises.
We’d start to get serious and discuss coming out to my family. Only for him to abruptly pull back with no explanation.
In return, I’d get rightfully angry, tell him to fuck off, then hit the streets again.
Eventually, I got tired of messing around and leading on men I didn’t want, unintentionally breaking hearts.
I wanthim. Just him.Onlyhim.
But Santo Luciani never chooses me.
And I no longer believe he ever will.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“You’ve got some decisions to make.”
Santo
“HE’S WAITING FOR YOUin the gym.” Lyra greets me with a chipper peck on the cheek, then loops her arm around mine. “Can I whip you up a protein shake?”
“No need.” I pat my gym bag. “Got some pre-workout mixed already.”
Her sigh is histrionic. Followed by a cute pout. “You never say yes to anything I offer you.”
Lyra has the likeness and aura of a pretty, long-haired cartoon princess who talks to birds and squirrels and twirls to music only she hears. She’s been through some tough shit but somehow manages to hold onto her warm, effusive light. I’ve never used the word “adorable” in my life, but if I ever were to use it, it would be to describe Lyra Henderson.
“Because it’ssafer,” I reply.
She rolls her eyes. “Coward.”
When we reach the French doors that lead out to the back, she unwinds her arm from mine. “You’re staying for breakfast.” She lifts her chin with an air of authority. “And that’s an order.”
I tip my nonexistent cowboy hat at her. “Yes, ma’am.”
She grins.
Two steps out the door, I stop and look back at her. “How is his mood?”
Her brows furrow as she thinks about it. “Normal, I guess. C’mon now, you know I’d give you a heads-up if he were in one of his moods. You’re my favorite.”
“I thought that was Reuben.”
“Shh!” She glances around like Reuben might be hiding in the walls. “I can have multiple favorites.”
The smile that forces itself onto my face is no surprise. Lyra is such a pure soul.
I stride across the backyard to the detached home gym. It’s been more than a year since Torin and I boxed together. We used to get in early morning boxing sessions three times a week. Depending on our schedules, we would rotate with Reuben and Tripp. But roughly a year ago, he abruptly stopped boxing with me. Rotating with only Tripp and Reuben.
