“How do you know that if you won’t even try? Just fucking admit the truth to me.”
I tried to keep my temper down. He was goading me as he used to when I was a kid. But I wasn’t that kid anymore, and I wasn’t going to let him get to me. Plus, I didn’t want to wake up and frighten Abigail.
“What truth? That this woman in my arms is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known? That the first time I saw her, the only word that came into my head was Bonita? That she is all I ever think about night and day. That I want to spend the rest of my life with her, get married and start a family? If you must hear it, then yes, I fucking love her. I would die for her if it kept her safe or made her happy. But none of that matters. She is too good for the likes of me.”
The tear that had fallen down my face had turned into more tears. It was the first time that I had said it out loud. I loved Abigail Clarke. But she would never know, because I would never tell her.
“You have to tell her the truth, Kye. All of it. Only then will you be able to forgive yourself and open your heart to what is right in front of you. I can see how she feels about you, right here, right now. She is in love with you, Kye. Are you going to let that all slip away from you again?”
I looked back down at Abigail and immediately knew my answer. It hurt like hell, but it was for the best.
“Yes. I will give it all up, because I can’t take the rejection again. As soon as she knows the truth, she won’t want to know me anymore. I will be put in the friend zone. The man that will always care for her. The one that will always protect her and be there for her, but she can never love. Living life alone is the best for me, Mateus. I’m resigned to that fact now.”
“Well, you’re a fucking fool. If you won’t tell her the truth, then I will.”
Our voices had risen in the last few minutes, and I could feel Abigail stirring in my arms. I gave Mateus a pointed look, saying in no uncertain terms that this discussion was over. As I looked back down at Abigail, I was met by the most beautiful eyes in the world, and a smile on her face. Which quickly turned to panic in less than a second when she remembered what had happened.
