Page 53 of Secrets in the Deep

He spun back. “We’ve only been dating for five months.”

“Exactly. We’ve only been dating for five months.” She stepped closer, setting her palms to his chest. “And I already know…I choose you.”

“It’s the wrong choice.”

She pulled her hands back like he’d burned her. “Fine. But it’s still my choice.”

He shook his head. “This role, this career, it’s all you’ve ever wanted.”

“Until you.”

“I’m not letting you throw away your future for me.” Fuck, he was tired. A voice in his head told him this wasn’t the time for this discussion. He needed sleep. He needed to regain some sense of normality.

But he couldn’t stop.

“I’m not throwing away anything,” she gasped.

“A life with me isn’t stable. I disappear for months at a time…fuck, some guys don’t come back.” This time, he almost hadn’t.

She flinched.

Shit, he didn’t want to hurt her. But he needed her to see reason. “This is your chance. You are not turning it down so you can sit around and wait for a guy who might not even come home.”

“Stop it, Ryan.”

“I’m not going to be the mistake you wake up to in ten years and realize you gave it up for the wrong reason.”

Tears gathered in her eyes. “I’m not giving up anything. I’m choosing something.”

“You’re choosing wrong, and I won’t allow it.”

“Allow?” She stepped back.

“Yes, allow.”

“What is even going on right now? I love you, Ryan. That’s enough.”

Stop it. Close your fucking mouth and stop pushing away the only good thing in your life.

But he couldn’t stop. He couldn’t listen to the warning. Because he couldn’t let her do this.

“I’m leaving, Emily.”

Color left her face. “Leaving? For how long?”

“We’re done.” Pain. It sank through the fatigue and mess in his head.

She shook her head. “No. You’re not breaking up with me.”

“I am.” His words slowed, like even he couldn’t comprehend what he was saying.

“You’re breaking up with me because I turned down a job?”

“I’m breaking up with you because you deserve a life that’s more than just waiting for me.” He inched closer. “Because you were born to act, to let the entire world see your talent, not just me.”

“You don’t get to decide that for me.”

“I just did.”