I can’t do this. I can’t not be with her. She’s in my city, on my team, in my fucking arms…and she’s saying no. “Don’t push me away again,” I plead, my heart shredding. “I can’t do this twice, Rachel. Don’t ask me to pretend that we’re nothing. I don’t care about the damn contract.” Her chin lifts in defiance, lips glistening with my kisses, teary eyes dark and dangerous. “Well, I care. This is my life, Jake. This is my chance,” she says with such determination. “This fellowship, this team. It’s my whole career on the line. You don’t have to care about breaking the rules, but I do.”
