His worry-filled eyes never leaving mine, Levi’s entire body vibrates with rage as he shouts, “Get the fuck out! You’ve done enough for one day.”

David says a few more things that I tune out because I’ve heard enough of his nastiness for one day, too, before heading for the door. “And just so you know, management has banned you both from use of the pool. Indefinitely.”

Just icing on the cake, really. The doors slams shut behind him and in the pervading quiet, I assume he’s taken my mother with him. I’m glad they’re gone. I don’t think I could handle another second of being the subject of disgust, disappointment, and ridicule.

Levi’s whole attention is focused on me and I can tell by the look in his eyes that he’s terrified of what I’ll say or do. I don’t know why. It’s not as if we were ever together in the first place.

“Talk to me, princess. Tell me what you’re thinking.”

“I’m thinking this has all been a huge mistake,” I tell him honestly. Covering his hands with mine, I pull them off and take a step back. “I never should have come here. This was all a mistake.”

Shaking his head, Levi closes the distance. “No, you’re wrong. You told me once that everything happens for a reason,” he reminds me, taking me back to when we were just a couple of kids who stayed up late talking about our futures. “Well, this is where you’re supposed to be, right here, right now, with me.”

“You’re right,” I croak, my throat clogged with emotion. “I was supposed to be here because now I know that the last four years I spent trying to forget you weren’t a total waste. Thanks to you, I’m stronger now, and when I walk away this time, I’ll know that it wasn’t me.”

I head for the stairs. I haven’t completed my job, but I’m sure David will understand why I have to leave. I never should have agreed to come here in the first place. Levi is my past. I never should have tried to make him part of my present. Some things just weren’t meant to be revisited.

“What do you mean, it wasn’t you?” Levi calls after me.

Pausing at the top of the stairs, I take a deep breath. “It wasn’t me who wasn’t good enough.” It’s a low blow, especially after the hits his father delivered, but it shuts him up.

Once upon a time, I blamed myself for being left behind. I cut myself down and decided that I simply wasn’t good enough for someone as high standing as Levi Black. But I was wrong. I am good enough. It’s him that doesn’t deserve me.

18

Four months later...

Despite being in the air for less than an hour, the plane ride back to Cincinnati was brutal, and the subsequent days that have passed since then haven’t been any kinder. I’ve had a lot of downtime to sit and think, but it’s given me time to reflect on my weeks spent in Chicago. I feel guilty. The last words I said to Levi were a deliberate blow designed to hurt him instead of what it should have been—a heartfelt goodbye.

My time in Chicago was never meant to last. That’s what I keep telling myself whenever I get nostalgic and revisit my memories there. I never expected to get attached to Levi again, but he has a way about him that is magnetic and undeniable. Even when I wanted to hate him, he somehow made me like him.

But it’s over now and there’s no going back. Now that I’m back at home, I’m content in knowing that I won’t ever have to return to Chicago again. Especially after the text my mother sent me.

It’s Monday morning and I’m lying in bed staring at my phone. I’ve read the text at least ten times, and I still can’t believe it. She’s leaving David. She already filed for divorce and the papers will be served any time.

Mom: Don’t worry about anything. I made sure you’ll be taken care of.

I don’t understand what she means exactly, but I assume she means financially. I know she’s just looking out for me, but I don’t want anything more from David Black.

I text back. Thanks but no thanks. I don’t need anything. Just take care of you.

Her response is immediate, as if she’s sitting there with her phone just like me. Just picturing the two of us connected over that distance makes me want to cry.

Mom:You’re my daughter. It’s my job to look out for you no matter how grown up you are.

My eyes begin to prickle as I read the message. I hate being so far away from her. It’s only a few hours’ drive away, but the divide feels massive today.

It’s been a hell of a couple months, to say the least. The moment I stepped off the plane and turned my phone off airplane mode, messages poured in. Most of them were from Levi, which I refused to read, and a good portion were from my mom asking me where I was, but the one that stood out most was from David Black.

My stepfather proved to me that day what a bastard he truly is. He wasted no time at all ensuring that I never returned to Chicago or Levi. According to him, if I entered the city again, it would effectively void our agreement and all the help he promised would cease immediately. I don’t know how he knew I’d left, but he did. What he didn’t know is that I have no plans to go anywhere near him, his son, or that city in the foreseeable future. And now that my mother is filing for divorce, I won’t have to.

David Black’s threat to tear me and my future apart nagged at me since the moment I stepped onto the tarmac. To get where I needed to be, I had to accept his help, but that didn’t last long.

The thing I’ve learned about David is that he has a serious God complex. He’s used to barking orders and getting his way. For some reason, he thought that without his support, I wouldn’t be able to pursue my dreams. But that’s the thing about dreams. If you want them bad enough, you’ll find a way to make them a reality. And I have.

The moment I saw a chance to get out from under his thumb, I jumped on it.

I used to wonder if it was a mistake not to take the Black name when my mother married David, but now I’m beginning to think it’s an asset. The Black name comes with strings, stigmas that can’t be easily outrun, but no one looks twice at the girl named Marquis. While the media runs wild with stories about the billionaire playboy who’s off winning games and stealing hearts, I’m here building the life I’ve dreamed of.

Putting out feelers in the medical community, I lucked out in finding someone willing to invest in my dreams. He’s some hot shot stationed in New York with too much money who wishes to remain a silent partner. At first, it felt kind of shady, but after meeting with his financial advisor and lawyer and combing through all the legalese, I decided to take a risk and go for it.

With this arrangement, I have all the seed money I’ll need to get the business up and running and hire all the help I’ll need to keep it moving in the right direction. The best thing about it is that I don’t have to rely on David. He can’t hold anything over my head because this is all me. The only stipulation with this investor was, as co-owner and shareholder, he gets a portion of the profits for a maximum of one year starting from the time the books register in the black. It seems a small price to pay.

Tomorrow is the grand opening of the Marquis Rehabilitation Center, and while I only have two patients added to the schedule so far, I have faith that the books will be packed with names before long.

It’s just as well that we’re not busy. Even with all my staff in place, there’s a ton still left to do. I’ve spent nearly every waking hour and then some unpacking and setting up equipment, but there’s only so much one person can do.

Chronic back pain and sleepless nights have led to a profound lethargy that I just can’t seem to kick. Which is to be expected when you’re in your second trimester.

I never told Levi about the baby, and I have no plans to. He hasn’t reached out to me in four months and I have no inclination to do so either. What we had was strictly for fun. Like he said, I needed to let go and live a little. Well, I did. Maybe a little too much. But I can’t say that I regret it. Not now that I have my little muffin on the way.