Hustle Him (Bank Shot Romance #2)(42)
Author: Jennifer Foor

I grabbed my keys off the table and pushed past him. “Gladly!”

“See you in court, bitch!” He slammed the door behind me.

I had planned on staying at a hotel for the night, but after my heated argument with Gavin, I just wanted to go home. Except, that wasn’t where I drove to.

When I pulled up at Ramsey’s place, all of the lights were turned off. It was nearly midnight and I knew that he was probably asleep. Since he was finally able to start sleeping in his bed again, he liked going to bed earlier. I knocked two times before I heard the latch releasing and the door opening. He was wiping his eyes and standing there in just a pair of pajama pants. I threw myself into his chest and started crying.

To be honest, I don’t even remember him shutting the door. He pulled me by the hand into his bedroom, where he proceeded to undress me down to my underwear. We said nothing to each other. It wasn’t like I could talk anyway, since I was still busy bawling my eyes out. Once he got me tucked into bed, he climbed in the other side and pulled me into his chest. His strong arms held me tight while I continued to let my emotions overwhelm me.

I’m not really sure exactly which one of us fell asleep first. I woke up in a dark room, still in Ramsey’s arms. He was snoring, but it was comforting knowing he was there with me. Being there with him, feeling so safe, made me realize just what I was considering giving up. Was I really willing to let go of this wonderful man because Gavin wanted to be in control of my life. He wanted me to suffer and I already was. Just imagining never seeing Ramsey again ripped through my heart. I couldn’t believe that I had to choose.

I knew what I had to do, what I had to choose, but it didn’t make the decision any easier. I started crying again and Ramsey began to stir. He looked over at the clock to see it was three in the morning. “You crying again?”

“I didn’t mean to wake you up. I’ll just go out to the living room.” I leaned over and kissed him before getting up. He tried to grab my hand, but I was already standing.

I should have known that he was going to follow me. It was still hard to get used to someone caring so much about me, especially considering the kind of man he was when we first met. He kneeled down in front of me and put his hands on my knees. “Talk to me.”

“I can’t tell you this. It hurts too much to talk about.”

“Whatever it is, we can work through it. I promise you we can.” I ran my hand over the whiskers growing on his cheeks. He smiled and kissed my fingers as they passed.

I shook my head and the tears really started coming down again. “I can’t tell you this. You’re not going to like it. It changes everything.”

“I can handle anything, except losing you, Vessa.” He used both thumbs to wipe my face and then he kiss me softly. With our foreheads still together, he kissed me once more. “I’m so in love in with you.”

His beautiful words ripped through my heart like a sheet of shattered glass. He was everything that I wanted. I could see our future together in my mind. I wanted to be his rock and support him emotionally for the rest of our lives. I hadn’t known him my whole life. It wasn’t love at first sight. It wasn’t even a beautiful love story, but it was our story. All of it brought us to this very moment, where my one decision could make all of our happiness disappear.

I already knew my choice. For me, it was never an option. I think that’s why it hurt so much. As a mother, I had to make decisions everyday. The most important decision I could ever make for them was to be with them. There was no way I was going to let anyone else raise my children, even if it cost me my own happiness with Ramsey.

“I’ve never loved someone the way that I love you, Ramsey. You’ve showed me what it’s like to be at the lowest point of your life and find that one light that guides you back to happiness. Now I know that it’s possible to be happy after you felt like you’ve lost all that you were living for. I think that’s what makes what I’m about to tell you so hard. It isn’t what I choose for myself.”

“I’m not following you, Vessa. You’re talking weird. What is it? Just tell me.”

“I have to leave town.” The words almost didn’t come out. I found it hard to talk without losing it.

“When will you be back?” He rubbed my shoulders, waiting for me to respond.

I shook my head and looked away from his concerned face. “I’m not coming back. “

“What are you saying? You live here. I live here.” I could tell that he was getting worried about what I was telling him. Deep down I think he knew this was coming. Our struggles to stay together had been weighing on both of us.

This wasn’t just about me doing the right thing. His heart was going to be broken, directly because of me. How was I supposed to live with myself? “I’m taking the kids back to the town where their father lives. Gavin said he would drop the custody case.”

“I’ll come with you. We’ll get a nice place and you won’t have to struggle. It might take me a while to get into the police department there, but I’m sure I can find something in the meantime. There’s plenty of other jobs I can try out.”

God, he was willing to move his whole life again just to be with me; to make a life with me. A future. I shook my head again. “You don’t understand. If I move back there, you can’t come with me.”

His eyes got really big. “What do you mean?”

“Gavin will only drop the custody case if I move back home and end my relationship with you.”

“I won’t let that happen, Vessa. Did you think you could just walk out of my life and it would be okay with me? This isn’t okay. I know this isn’t what you want.” He stood up and started walking around in front of me. I could tell how upset he already was, although, I don’t think the whole reality of what was happening had set in. I think he thought we still had a chance, even when I knew that we didn’t.

“I can’t lose my kids. I don’t have a choice. Can’t you see that? You think I want to leave you? All I want to do is have a future with you, Ramsey. I’ve hated having to hide what we have. I want everyone to know how much I love you.”

“So, I guess I’m just the bad guy in all of this. I mean, if I hadn’t beaten his ass none of this would be happening. Is this some kind of punishment? This is what I get for trying to protect you? I have to lose you now?” His eyes were wet and it made me feel even worse, if that was even possible.