Page 120 of Igniting Sparks

Doing the right thing sucks sometimes.

I grasp her shoulders and plaster on a smile. “You’re going to dance again. You’re going to make people fall in love with your choreography, and they’re going to celebrate your talent. All your dreams are coming true, and I’ve never met anyone more deserving.”

I mean every word, even though it breaks me. Saying them means releasing the woman who makes me feel whole.

But she’s lived long enough by the terms and conditions of other people. I’ll be damned if I become another one.

Mina wraps her arms around my neck and snuggles close, tucking her head beneath my chin. “You are the most fabulous man on the planet, and I’m the woman who got to love you. Guess you’re right. My dreams came true.”

Fuck, but this is ripping me apart, and I’m not sure how much longer I can stand here and pretend I’m fine.

“I love you, Braden,” she murmurs, brushing her lips against mine.

“Always.”

I will, too, because love doesn’t die when a relationshipends. At least not if you ever truly loved the person in the first place.

Mina swipes at her eyes before glancing at her hand, the diamond ring sparkling on her finger.

Funny thing. She never stopped wearing it, even after the truth of our engagement became public, and I never asked her to take it off.

With a sigh, she runs a finger over the ring and slides it off. “I’m going to miss how that felt. I’m going to miss you more than you can imagine.”

Trust me, sweets. I know how you feel.

Look, I’m not some toxic alpha male who refuses to show emotion. That’s never been my style. But if I let the cracks in my heart get a foothold now, there’s no stopping the dam from breaking. Mina needs positivity—forced or not—before she sets out on this adventure. And it is an adventure, even if it’s a solo one.

“How can I ever repay you for everything you’ve done for me?” she murmurs, tears streaming down her cheeks.

I slide the ring into my pocket and pull her close one last time. “By being the best damn choreographer this world has ever known. Live the life you dreamed of—the life you worked so hard to achieve. That’s thanks enough for me.”

We stand at the entrance to the security line. Mina fishes her passport and boarding pass from her bag. “Why do I feel like I’m never going to see you again? That this is goodbye forever?”

I press a kiss to her forehead. “It’s not goodbye forever. I’m here whenever you need me.”

My last words to Mina are a lie. We both know it.

Thisisour final goodbye. Not because I don’t adore her, but because I do. And I’ve lived long enough to know the best intentions don’t stand a chance against the currents of time.

Despite her fears, I know Mina will soar once she lands inLos Angeles. And one day, I’ll see her name in lights and smile, knowing that, for a moment, she was mine.

I wait until Mina is through security. With one last wave, she disappears into the boarding area. With a sigh and a heavy heart, I trudge toward my truck, the sun a mocking reminder thatmysunshine just left for the West Coast.

“Fuck, I need a drink.”

But that’s another lie. There isn’t a liquor on the planet strong enough to soothe the ache in my heart.

They say the truest testament to love is letting someone go to live life on their own terms. Maybe it’s a lesson I needed to learn—so I’ll be ready for my next big love.

Or maybe I’ve watched too many romcoms with Mina, and it’s all a load of shit.

My phone buzzes, and for a brief second, I wonder if it’s Mina with a last-minute change of heart.

It’s not.

No, it’s a mocking reminder of what I no longer have.

I accept the call as I slide into the driver’s seat. “Hey, Eddie. What’s up?”