Page 68 of Oathbreaker

“Yeah,” he murmurs. “I knew it.”

I press my hand to my chest, heart sinking, stomach twisting. “Knew what?”

His eyes close and he releases me, turning away, hands settling on the island, and when his head drops, shoulders slumping, I know.

“West,” I whisper.

He’s still for a long moment. Then his head lifts and his eyes lock onto mine.

And God, the pain in them hurts, almost as much as his words.

“I felt it the moment I walked into Sunday Dinner.” A breath, his big body shuddering. “But I knew it when I saw the way you looked at him when he held Frankie up to grab a puck.”

I suck in a breath, a tear slipping down my cheek.

“You looked like a family.”

Fuck.

My lungs hitch, and I shake my head. “I didn’t— We didn’t— Nothing’s happened—” A sob escapes. “West, I promise you nothing has happened between us. I’m with you?—”

“No, honey,” he whispers, “you’re not.”

Hand pressing harder against my chest, I step back…

And stumble.

But he’s there, steadying me before I can fall.

Of course he is.

Because West is such a good guy.

“I know nothing’s happened,” he murmurs, drawing me close, hugging me tight. “Because you’re Briar. Because you’re sitting across from me, eating your favorite meal, and you’re tearing yourself apart, baby. I’m falling for you—no, I fell for you a long while back.”

“I—”

He lightly presses his thumb to my lips. “I know you were right there with me. I know. But he’s the one for you. He’s Frankie’s dad. He’s Colt, and I can never, ever compete with that.”

Said with blunt, heartbreaking honesty.

Another sob escapes, and I bury my face in his chest.

“West,” I whisper.

His hand settles on the back of my head, keeping me there while I try to not completely fall apart.

“I didn’t want us to end like this,” I say when I can manage to speak.

A light tug at my hair has my head lifting. “I know,” he says gently. “But you can’t turn yourself inside out trying to keep it.”

I close my eyes. Breathe. Then open them again. “You deserve to be with someone who’s not doing that.”

“Yeah,” he murmurs, but something about the way he says that has my heart convulsing.

Because I’m not sure he believes that.

“West,” I begin.