Page 127 of Tattered (Lark Cove 1)

The entire time, I contemplated my options. I wanted to tell Thea I’d find a way for us to be together, but I couldn’t make that kind of promise, not if I couldn’t keep it.

So when we pulled up to the hangar, I took a long breath and prepared for an awful good-bye.

I got out first, waving to the pilots and crew as they approached from the base of the jet’s stairs. They came over and took the luggage, then backed away as Charlie and Thea climbed out of the SUV.

“We’re ready anytime, sir.” The pilot smiled to Thea. “Just come on up when you’re ready and we’ll be off.”

“Thank you.” She nodded at him, then let go of Charlie’s hand, motioning her to my side.

I dropped to a knee, tipping up Charlie’s chin with my finger. “I’ll see you soon, peanut.”

“Okay, Daddy,” she told her feet.

My heart broke as the tears welled in her eyes. I yanked her forward, pulling her to my chest and hugged her tight. “I love you,” I whispered into her hair.

“I love you too.” Her small frame shook as she cried into my shoulder.

I breathed through the crushing ache in my chest, getting my emotions under control. But when I looked up to see Thea swiping tears off her cheeks, a whole new wave of pain hit my center.

The idea floating in my head had to work. It has to. Seeing these two in tears was more than I could bear.

I stood, picking Charlie up off the ground, and took Thea’s hand, tugging her into my side. The three of us held tight to our small huddle. None of us were in a hurry to break apart, but when I saw one of the crew checking their watch, I knew my time was up.

“Call me when you get home.”

Thea nodded, sniffling as she stood back. “We will.” Thea rubbed our daughter’s back and I set her down. “Okay, Charlie. Time to go.”

They linked hands and took a step away.

“Wait.” I stepped forward, taking Thea’s face in my hands. “I love you.”

Her eyes filled with new tears. “I love you too.”

Thea’s explanation for leaving hadn’t been easy to hear. I’d lain awake with her draped over my side for two nights now, replaying her words. And after all those hours of sorting it out and putting myself in her place, I came to a conclusion.

She loved me.

But she also needed to love herself.

If New York made her feel like less, then I wouldn’t ask her to stay. If she needed to be with her family, I had to let her go.

She loved me enough to be honest. I loved her enough to want her to have it all.

I pressed my lips to hers in a hard kiss. “I promise to see you soon,” I whispered against her lips.

She nodded. “You know where we’ll be.”

At home.

I let her go, watching as she led Charlie to the plane. My daughter looked over her shoulder, giving me a tiny wave as she climbed the stairs. Thea never looked back.

She still didn’t believe in promises.

But she would.

It took me two weeks to unravel my life.

Two weeks, and I was no longer a partner at Stone, Richards and Abergel. I was no longer the Kendrick prince, preparing to be king. And soon, I’d no longer be the chairman of the foundation’s board of directors.