Blindsided (LSU, #1)

by Becca Steele

“You don’t have to say anything. But this…thing—” I choked on the word. “—between us needs to stop. I can’t do it anymore. I can’t be your friend with benefits, or your fuck buddy, or whatever you want to call it. I’m sorry.” “Noah.” His eyes glistened. “I can’t⁠—” “It’s okay. I understand. I wish more than anything that I could deal with us being a secret. I’d never, ever force you into anything you weren’t ready for.” The stupid fucking tears were coming, despite my attempts, and I blinked rapidly to keep them at bay. I had to get through this as quickly as I could. As I choked out the rest of the words, the pain in my chest increased, and I was barely able to get them out. “We need to end this before it ends up hurting us both even more than it already has.” A tear caught on his lashes, and he sucked in a shaky breath. “Please. Please don’t leave me.” Fuck. My heart hurt so much. It took everything in me to force out a reply, my voice cracking as the tears came. “I have to, Liam. We can’t…we can’t do this anymore.” His whispered reply finished us both. “You’re right. Okay. It’s over.”