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Her parents win.

We’ve fought too hard to get here.

A car honks and I’m hit with the worst spell of déjà vu.

History is trying to repeat itself.

So I break the fucking pattern.

“I believe you.” I step forward and press her clenched fists to my chest. She stops breathing and so do I. “This is yours, beating only for you. That’s all it’s ever done, but it’s hurting right now. Whether you intended to, you’ve hurt me. Fuck, all we keep doing is hurting one another.”

She spreads her fingers over the thundering organ in my chest as two tears trickle down her cheeks. “How do I fix this?”

The fissures behind my rib cage widen, spreading like spiderwebs.

“I have to go, baby.” Every atom in my body revolts at my words. “I have to sort this mess out with the label and Howard.”

Talia sucks in a sharp breath. “No. No, you can’t. Not like this. I don’t want you to go.”

“I don’t want to go.”

She peers up at me through tear-soaked lashes. “Then stay.”

“You know I can’t.”

“Please tell me we’ll be okay.” She presses her fingertips to her trembling lips. “Please tell me you know those papers mean nothing. I hate myself for having them drawn up. Hated myself for weeks. Please, Tate, I can’t watch you walk away and question if you’ll come home again.”

The horn blares a second time, the driver growing impatient.

It kills me to break our connection. Talia clutches her left hand to her chest, twisting her wedding ring anxiously.

I rarely take off my watch, and even then it’s only for a short period. The weathered band snaps from my wrist as I unclasp the buckle, circling the face with my finger, its hands suspended in time.

Pulling her hand free, I drop the watch in her palm.

“This isn’t permanent. But we are.” I tap the glass. “I can’t unsee the papers, and I need some time to wrap my head around their existence, but I am not leaving because of them; I’m leaving because I have no other choice. This is the last time we walk away from each other with tears in our eyes and our hearts in tatters.”

Talia slips the watch on and it hangs off her wrist.

Someone bangs on the front door.

Our time is up.

It physically pains me as I collect my belongings, and when we meet at the front door, it’s almost too unbearable.

Talia wrings her hands in front of her. “Is this the last crack?”

My shoulders slump. “It is.” It has to be. I tap the watch. “I’m leaving this with you, so you know I’m coming home.” Because I can’t help myself, I reach forward and brush my thumb over her cheek. She leans into the touch, pressing a kiss to my palm. “I’ll text you when I land.”

“Okay,” she whispers, and I tear my gaze away when fresh tears line her eyes. I pull away just as she says, “I’ll be here waiting, wearing your ring and your watch, sleeping on your side of the bed. I don’t care where we end up, Tate, so long as it’s together. I’m so sorry.”

I nod. “I’m sorry too. I love you, Tally Girl.”

“I love you too, baby.”

Then I leave. The steps through the front door are the hardest I’ve ever taken.

Once I’m in the car, I catch Talia standing on the lawn, a shattered silhouette growing smaller and smaller as we drive away.