Page 69 of Tiger's Voyage

He sighed. “We need to face the fact that our relationship is dysfunctional. Why put us both through the pain when it’s not necessary? You can be happy with Kishan and … I’m sure I can find someone else too.”

I’m sure he could. All he’d have to do is walk down any street in theworld, and there would be hundreds of “someone elses” lined up for blocks.

I inhaled shakily. “But there isn’t anyone else I want. I don’t want us to break up.”

Ren laughed cynically. “I knew you wouldn’t listen to reason.” He sighed. “Fine. Then let’s do this the hard way.” He squared his shoulders, and his mouth turned up cruelly. “People break up all the time, Kelsey. Just accept it. The fact of the matter is, it was nice for a while, but it’s time I moved on. No forgotten memories could possibly be worth all this … pain. All this drama.”

“I still don’t believe you. I know you still care about me.”

“How can I care about a girl when my gut twists in agony every time I touch her?”

“You never complained before.”

“You’re the only girl I’ve ever kissed, and a kiss that can only last a few seconds just isn’t worth it.”

“You know what I think? I think you are feeling extremely guilty about the CPR thing, and you’re trying to protect me. You’ve always been overprotective, so now you think breaking up with me will save me. You’ve got some kind of hyperactive Superman complex, and your favorite pastime is to sacrifice our being together for my safety.”

He grunted and ran a hand through his hair. “Apparently I’m not making myself clear. I … don’t …want… you. Not anymore. I’m not even sure I want a girlfriend right now. Maybe I’ll just play the field for a while, break a few hearts. I think I’ll try a redhead or a blonde next time.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it.”

“Is that what it will take? You have to see me with another woman before you believe I’m serious?”

I folded my arms. “Yes.”

“Fine. I’ll be happy to accommodate you.”

“Oh … no … you … won’t! If I see you with another woman, I will personally strangle you, Tarzan!”

“I don’t want to hurt you, Kelsey, but you’re forcing me. I’m serious about this. We don’t belong together, and until you come to accept that, you won’t see me.” Ren turned to leave.

“You coward. Hiding from a girl half your size.”

He spun back around. “I’m no coward, Kelsey. You once left me saying we didn’t belong together. That we didn’t … match. I’ve come to believe you’re right.Youare not forme. I’ll find someone else. Someone,” he worked his jaw, “prettier. And a little less mouthy would be good too.”

I gasped softly as fat, wet teardrops fell to my cheeks.

Seeing me falter, Ren moved in for the kill. “I’m sure we’ll both be able to move on quickly. Maybe even within the week.”

I turned around to hide my emotional turmoil, still speechless.

“The good news for you is, you already have a backup boyfriend or two. You have it easy. Men seem to flock to you like bears to honey, so count your blessings.”

I wrapped my hands across my stomach trying to contain the pain. Sucking in a shaky breath, I asked quietly, “So is that it? This is goodbye? We won’t mean anything to each other anymore? You won’t even be my friend?”

“That’s right. I’ll help on the tasks to break the curse, but other than that, don’t expect to see me. And when Durga’s tasks are complete, I’ll just disappear. You’ll never see me again.”

He took a few steps away but stopped when I softly said, “Ren?”

He sighed. “Yes?”

I turned and took a few steps so I could face him. I looked at his handsome face, searching for a sign that he would end this foolishness. His visage was set as hard as stone. There would be no changing his mind, no relenting. I tried another tack and threatened, “If you do this … if you leave me again … there won’t be another chance.”

Another fat tear plopped onto my cheek. He took a step closer, reaching out his finger to the teardrop. Our eyes met, and my heart thumped horribly in my chest. I loved him so much it hurt.How could hedo this to us?It felt wrong. These words he was saying were false. I knew it in my mind, but my heart was in pain regardless.MyRen would never say these things to me, but was he stillmyRen? Had he really changed that much?

Ren studied the teardrop as he rubbed it between his finger and thumb. He looked up, his blue eyes hardened sapphires. “I won’t need another chance. I won’t be seeking you out again.”

Maybe he wasn’t really my Ren anymore. Maybe I’ve been fooling myselfall along, wishing and hoping for something I’ll never get back.Angrily, I said, “You’d better be sure. Because if I commit myself to Kishan, I won’t leave him for you. It wouldn’t be fair to him.”