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“I’ll be home as soon as I can.” He presses his forehead to mine, sighing deeply and closing his eyes. “I’ll explain everything to them. We’ll figure out what to do. You don’t need to worry about anything. I’ve got this.”

My heart pangs, but I square my shoulders and peer up at him. “Okay. I love you.”

He steps back, and a hollowness I haven’t felt in months takes his place.

“See you.” With that, he hustles out the door.

I hide my face in my hands, my body awash with dread. But I have to do this. Kevin will listen to me. He’ll do what I ask, but only me. If Xander reaches out, or his agent, or anyone from the team on his behalf, there’s a good chance Kevin’s jealousy will make everything worse.

I quickly feed Milo before I rush to my car, my determination my fuel.

A mile or so from Meg’s shop, my phone buzzes. I answer without checking the display, figuring she’s calling to see how close I am.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Audrey’s yell reverberates through my whole body, sending shivers down my spine.

Shit .

“Do you realize what’ll happen to his career if he gets kicked off the team? Do you have any idea how it’ll screw with his life?”

“I—”

“You’re ruining everything for him, his life and his career! You’re a fucking disease, Isabella!”

“I’ll fix it,” I bite out, gripping the steering wheel. “I will?—”

“Fuck you!”

When the line goes dead, I toss my phone onto the passenger seat like it’s a poisonous snake ready to strike.

I hate her, but I also hate that she’s right.

I’m ruining his life.

Once I’ve parked near Meg’s shop, I close my eyes and count to ten, taking deep breaths. The morning that started so perfectly has turned into the afternoon from hell. Our argument, his agent’s call, then Audrey’s. When it rains, it pours, they say…and now, it’s a damn cyclone.

Once my heart rate has slowed a fraction, I text Meg to let her know I’m outside.

Then, as I wait, I pull up Kevin’s number in my contacts.

For the space of several breaths, all I can do is stare at the screen, my finger hovering over his name.

For years, I’ve avoided him. Now? I have no choice but to reach out.

“Didn’t expect your call.” His deep voice pierces right through me, sliding into my veins.

I’ve been free of him for a very long time, but some days, my memories are a bitch.

Today is one of those days. My vulnerable state has opened the gates of my personal hell, flooding my mind with the memories I’ve desperately longed to forget.

“Can I see you?” I ask, bile rising in my throat.

He heaves a long sigh, the sound a bit wounded. “When?”

“It’ll take me an hour to get there.”

“There?” He chuckles. “You’ll need to be a bit more specific, love. I can’t imagine you want to meet at home.”

“No.” My heart pounds, the sound echoing in my ears.

“I can’t say that surprises me,” he says. “Where?”

“In the park.”

“Our place?” he asks.

Eyes closed, I bite my bottom lip, hard. The pain is a reminder of my purpose. Xander. He’s the reason I have to see this man.

“Yes.”

“See you in an hour, love.”

I cringe at the term of endearment, but I keep my words to myself, choosing to focus on the prize instead of all the things I can’t control.

As I end the call, Meg scurries to the car.

Smoothing my hair with my palm, I try to control my breathing. This won’t be an easy ride, but I’m finally ready to reveal all my darkest secrets to my best friend. I just hope she’ll understand.

Kevin is already waiting at the park when we arrive. He sits on the same bench he always did when we’d meet?—

Stop it , I scold myself. I’m not here to reminisce about my past. With any luck, I’ll put it behind me for good after this.

“Hey,” I greet him as I ease onto the far end of the bench, keeping my distance.

When he turns, I have to hold back a gasp. His face looks terrible. Two black eyes, a bandage across his nose, a swollen lip—Xander definitely didn’t hold himself back.

He shoves his phone into the pocket of his jacket. “Why are you here?”

My chest tightens. “You know why.”

“Because of him,” he snarls, his nostrils flaring.

“Yes.” I shift so I’m facing him head on, straightening my spine and lifting my chin. “Leave him alone. Don’t file charges against Xander. He doesn’t deserve it.”

“Isabella, love, look at my face and tell me again that he doesn’t deserve it. He used me as a punching bag.”

“He did it to protect me. From you.”

“I would’ve never hurt you.”

That’s what I’m banking on.

“But you have. So much.” I stare at him in silence, my hands curled in my lap.

He surveys me, taking in my face, then my body. The gleam in his eye is so familiar, it makes my stomach roll.

His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows. “Isabella,” he says my name again, his voice strangled. “Please.”

On instinct, I move closer, holding his gaze. “Kevin, leave him alone. Leave him alone, and I promise I will never file charges against you for what you did to me. You know I still can. Your life will be ruined if I speak up.”

“You want to punish me for loving you?”

“I want to punish you for rape. You raped me, Kevin. There was no consent, just brutality and force.” Heat creeps over my neck and up into my cheeks. What happened between us after that still haunts me, even years later. “Leave him alone, and I’ll never file charges against you.”

Jaw pulsing, he looks away. For a long moment, he says nothing, but I force myself to wait, counting in my head. By the time I hit twenty, my resolve has all but evaporated, but he finally puts me out of my misery.

“It wasn’t even my idea in the first place,” he says gruffly. “I won’t file charges against your boy, you have my word. I’ll talk to Sam, make sure she’s not running her mouth.” He leans in so our eyes are level. “Under one condition.”

I arch an eyebrow. “Which is?”

“I have a question, but I need you to promise you’ll answer it honestly.”

Without hesitation, I nod. “I promise.”

“Did you ever love me?”

Head bowed, I force my hands to relax. I can do this . I smooth my skirt and take a deep breath. I’ve asked myself this same question many times, and I came up with my answer long ago. Then I buried it under layers and layers of the truth I wanted to believe— my truth.

With another deep inhale, I face him. The hunger in his eyes washes over me like a wave full of shame. I’ve made so many terrible mistakes, and he is one of them.

“I did,” I confess. Admitting it to him is even harder than admitting it to myself. “I loved you.”

He closes his eyes, and his lips part, like he’s memorizing the moment.

“It was toxic and unhealthy, and it damaged me from the inside, but yes, I loved you. But I don’t love you anymore.” I stand, hovering above him. “Bye.”

As I turn to walk away, he grabs my hand.

A breath gets stuck in my throat. My instinct is to scream, but my vocal cords fail me.

But then he speaks, and my body relaxes. He won’t hurt me. Not anymore.

“I won’t bother you again, and I’ll leave your boyfriend alone. I swear.” He releases me and stands, forcing me to back away from him. “You were the reason I stayed with Samantha for so long. But after what she said to you…I can’t be with her anymore. I’m filing for divorce.”

Behind me, footsteps echo off the pavement. I peer over my shoulder and find Meg approaching. She stares daggers at Kevin, her expression darkening with each step.

The corners of my mouth tremble, a ghost of a smile crossing my lips. I’m so happy to have a friend like her in my corner.

“Be happy, Isabella,” he whispers. “That’s the only thing I want for you.”

After a beat of silence, I nod.

Then I turn and walk away. When Meg and I meet, she wraps an arm around my waist and remains at my side until we reach the car.

I hadn’t noticed until now how beautiful the weather is. The sun shines bright, and the birds chirp, the sound slipping under my skin and settling in my bones.

I did it.

Xander will be safe.