Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
I stop when I find her still on her back, one hand holding one leg and the other holding her grandfather’s letter to me. Gone is that satiated expression, replaced by confusion as she looks over at me. The need for answers is swirling in her beautiful eyes, and then she searches mine as if I have them.
Her voice is hoarse as she asks, “What is he talking about? What does he regret that happened after Salt Lake? What did my parents do?”
CHAPTER
THIRTY-FOUR
Fable
I don’t regret much, JT, but that day after Salt Lake is a day that has haunted me for years. I should have stood beside you, not agreed with what my son and his wife wanted. I don’t know if you hate me for how that played out, but I want you to know I’m sorry. I’ve watched you, your failed relationships, and your loneliness, knowing I had a hand in it. I wish I had known what I know now. I wouldn’t have agreed. I truly wouldn’t have. Maybe that’s another reason why I’m asking her to stay, to give you the chance I took away.
I can’t stop staring at the paragraph, and something seems so wrong about it. What does he mean? I wouldn’t have even seen it if I hadn’t turned my head to look out at the trees and my lingering tears hadn’t made his letter stick to my face. Pretty sure my grandfather wouldn’t be happy with how I found his letter. Alas, here I am.
While I had no desire to read it, my eyes settled on the sentence about regret, and I had to know what he was talking about. My head is pounding, my heart working overtime, as I gaze up at the man I love. Needing answers surely he has. Jett just stares at me, unsure what to say, and it’s only allowing my head to make up all kinds of things.
Did they break us up?
Did they send him away?
Was it not his choice?
I don’t know, but my stomach hurts, and I’m fighting back tears as he comes toward me. He uses the damp paper towel to wipe away his release, but he won’t look at me. “What do you want me to say, Fable?”
“I want you to tell me the truth. What does this mean?”
He sends me a sheepish smile, though it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Pretty sure you weren’t supposed to read that.”
I press my lips together at his deflection. “I am very sorry for invading your privacy. Would you like to read mine? I can tell you for sure it doesn’t say anything about any regrets.”
When he is satisfied that I’m clean, he sits back in his chair, tossing the paper towels in the trash by his desk. I sit up, meeting his hollow gaze, and everything starts to ache. “Jett.”
He shrugs, shaking his head. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Tell me,” I demand, and he nods.
“This doesn’t change anything between us.” It’s not a question, but it’s almost like he’s begging me to believe his words. Why, though?
I knit my brows as I stare down at him. “You’re scaring me.”
He swallows hard, then cups the back of his neck. He sighs deeply. “You were taking a shower when they cornered me.” He meets my gaze and clarifies, “Your parents, with Phillip, but your grandfather never spoke. He just stood there as they told me that they wouldn’t pay for me to skate with you. That the sponsorships we would draw would only support your career, not mine.”
My mouth parts, my whole body starting to itch. “What? That’s not true. We had a lot of offers lined up, according to Kitty.”
“I didn’t know, and I didn’t find out the truth until I came home after my injury.” He looks so stricken, and it guts me. I move to him, crawling into his lap, and he wraps his arms around me, pressing his chin against the top of my head. “They told me that the coach in Ohio wanted me, but I think they paid him off to give me the spot.”
“Why would they do that?”
“To keep me away from you,” he answers softly. “They never let a moment pass, telling me I shouldn’t have been chosen, that you were too good for me, that you’d never think of me as more than just a partner.”
I cover my mouth to keep in the sob. “And Phillip didn’t stop them?”
“He couldn’t, or maybe he tried. But I don’t know, Fable.”
“Why did you believe them? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“They manipulated me,” he admits, and I watch his Adam’s apple as he swallows. “They made me believe it was my choice to walk away when, really, it wasn’t. If I had said no, it wouldn’t have mattered. They already had Colorado lined up for you to get you out of Thistlebrook and away from me.”