young, and single, and certainly not in a position in his life to settle down with someone. I’m nothing more than a stupid piece of ass.”

I wiped my eyes. My eyeliner was noticeable on my finger. I felt the tear form and drip down my cheek.

Marie rushed around the grill and gave me a hug. I couldn’t hold the tears in anymore thinking about losing him; they streamed down my face.

“What happened?” Ryan yelled, running over to where we stood.

Marie answered him. “That Suzanne is a bitch! She’s lucky I didn’t punch her.”

“What did she say to you? Tell me!” He started to pull on my arm.

Marie let me go and I turned to take the steaks off the grill. I sniffed back my tears and tried to stifle the sobs that ebbed up my chest as I threw

each steak in the pot. I couldn’t look at him.

“Give me the fork,” Marie ordered, relieving me of steak duty.

Ryan grabbed my upper arms and spun me around with force. “Taryn, Sweetheart, what did she say to you? Tell me right now!”

I just shook my head. I couldn’t stop the tears. I also didn’t want to have this conversation with him while Marie was present.

“Marie, would you please take the steaks downstairs for me? Please? I need a moment,” I muttered. Ryan was wiping my face with his fingers.

“Please, tell me what she said,” he pleaded.

“She said a lot of things, Ryan. Mostly she reminded me repeatedly that you’re leaving soon and you’re not coming back here - and thinking

about that hurts… so bad.” I squeezed my eyes shut; fresh tears rolled down my face.

“She informed me that you’re leaving for Scotland soon, and that you have many other movie commitments and so many other places in the

world to be.” I swallowed hard, trying to pull myself together. I didn’t want him to see me crying over him. I wiped my cheek.

“Funny, I knew all along that you wouldn’t be staying here. How could you possibly…”

“That bitch! I’ve just about had enough of her shit!” he yelled.

I didn’t fully understand why he was mad at Suzanne.

“Don’t blame her. She didn’t say anything that I hadn’t already considered. I just didn’t need her to remind me today.”

I looked away when I realized the day of reckoning was happening now.

“I should have never let myself get this attached,” I said, chastising myself. I started to take a step back to walk away, but Ryan grabbed my

arms again. I tried to squirm out of his hands but he tightened his grip.

“This is exactly why…” I didn’t finish saying it out loud. My hands clenched into fists. In my mind, the inevitable heartbreak was already here and

I was furious with myself.

“Oh, God. Why did I let this happen? I’m so stupid! I should have never, ever…” Fresh air stuttered down my throat.

“Taryn?” Ryan’s face twisted with confusion.

I knew he didn’t understand why I was so distraught.

“I’m sorry, Ryan. I knew this moment would come eventually. That’s why I tried to just stay friends. I don’t want to put this on you. It’s my problem.”

“What are you saying?” He shook my arms.

I attempted to wipe my eye, trying to find the internal strength to say the words. I love you, but I can’t keep you.

“I’m saying we shouldn’t see each other anymore. Then when you leave in a few weeks, no one gets hurt.”

His mouth fell open. “What? No!” he shouted. “NO! Why are you doing this?”

“Ryan, we both know that you’re leaving soon! Then what? We’re going to try to have a long distance relationship? I’m not that naïve.” I wiped

my face.

“The more time I spend with you, the harder it will be when you go. This relationship doesn’t stand a chance and I know you know it! So why

pretend that anything good can come from it!

“Let’s just end this now instead of prolonging the inevitable. Then when you leave you’re free to be with whomever you want to be with. No

strings, no worries… no regrets.” As hard as I tried to stick to my guns, my tears were pouring uncontrollably down my face. I had to look away.

“It’s already too painful and I’m already too attached to you,” I muttered under my breath.

“Taryn, honey, look at me,” he pleaded. I noticed his voice crack.

I shrugged my shoulders, trying to escape from his hands. “I can’t.” My heart was breaking and I wanted to get away from the source of the pain.

“Please?” he begged.

“No. No,” I said adamantly, my voice trembled uncontrollably. I tasted the salt from my tears as they dripped across my lips. I struggled in his

hands, but he still wouldn’t let go.

“No. It’s all right.” I swallowed hard. “You don’t have to say anything. You don’t owe me. Let’s just go back to the party and when it’s over we’ll

say our goodbyes.”

My words burned in my throat and my heart crumbled to pieces. I had to let him go.

As much as I love you, you can never be mine.

His hands shook my arms.

“Please, just… let me go,” I whispered between sobs.

“Taryn? No! No! Please baby. Look at me. Look into my eyes. Please!” It almost sounded like he was crying too.

“Look at me!” he shouted.

The moment I looked up, new tears streamed down my face. I didn’t want him to see me like this.

“I have no intentions to walk away from you or let any amount of distance ruin this. Will it be difficult for us? Yes. Will it hurt me just as bad to be

away from you? Yes.”

Tears fell from Ryan’s eyes.

“But one thing I know for sure…” He held my chin up to make sure I wouldn’t look away. “I am falling in love with you.”

My knees felt weak. I hadn’t expected that response from him.

“With you, Taryn!” he stressed, looking directly into my eyes. “I don’t want anyone else - just you. And no matter where I am, wherever I go,

you’re the only one who is holding my heart.”

He felt that I wasn’t resisting so he eased up on the grip he had on my arm. His grasp that once kept me from running away now held me up

where I stood.

“We’ll figure out a way to make it work. I promise,” he solemnly vowed.

“I have plenty of time between my schedules to come back here, and when I can’t be here, I’ll get you on a plane. No matter what, I’m not going

to let you go.” He stressed his last words.

“I’m falling in love with you, too,” I confessed, looking up into his warm, blue eyes. “That’s why it hurts so much.”

He pulled me into a comforting embrace and crushed his lips on mine. I felt the weight of my uncertainties lift off my heart as I read his lips and

the message his kiss conveyed. Knowing that he wanted me, hearing that he didn’t want it to end, was exactly what I needed to move forward.

His kiss ended and he sighed heavily.

“Oh, Sweetheart, don’t worry. You’re not gonna get rid of me that easily.”

“That’s good to know,” I murmured on his chest.

Ryan hugged me, stroking his hand over my hair.

“I didn’t know. I wasn’t sure how long you and I...” I sniffed. “If this, between us, was only until you left Seaport.”

“No. That was never my intention.” He kissed my head.

“The way I feel about you, and after our incredible night and this morning…” I tossed my head back and took a moment to breathe.

“I don’t know about you, but my feelings for you started way before that!” He tried to joke.

“Mine too,” I admitted. “But Suzanne kept picking until she found my weakness.” I sighed, collecting myself further.

“Ryan, I know you have obligations that will tear you away from here. Suzanne informed me of all of them, emphasizing how much you need your

freedom. The thought of never seeing you again was excruciating. Allowing myself to fall madly in love with you and then having to let you go for

good, I don’t know if I could survive that.”

Ryan softly kissed me. “I know how you feel. A few minutes ago when you broke up with me, I felt that same excruciating pain.”