UNFORGETTABLE (Able Series Book 3) by Gigi Aceves Page A

buries them in hurt and devastation. The only one being set free is the person doing the confessing.
    “So, when you say hurtful things, I just need to accept them, right? Just like when I told you I was pregnant, your outburst was something I should’ve taken lightly and understood. I tried to understand your pain. I truly did. But your hurtful words and unchangeable mindset, I can’t live with that. Do I have stupid written on my forehead?”
    Immediately, he pushes away from me, while I smooth down my hair. Will we ever get past this? I’m beginning to fear we won’t. I look over his way, and I see a different man before me, gone is the confident, mellow, logical, positive, full of life man I fell in love with. Instead, I see a man stressed out of his mind, afraid, uncertain, and ruined because of his past and fears. Fears he’s forced to face, probably because of me, perhaps because he needs to. At this point, I don’t care as long as he faces them. I don’t want to see him like this . . . I hate seeing him like this.
    He braces his arms on the counter as he leans forward, head down. “How did we get here? We were so happy . . . so content even when bad shit was happening around us. I was ready to pop the question, T, especially after you had the accident. You’re all I need; please, don’t doubt that. I don’t know what to fucking say anymore. All I know is I don’t want to lose us, T.” He looks at me with pleading eyes, but it’s not going to be enough this time. . . . not this time.
    So, it happens. Our inevitable break up because of the past he’s running from, and my desire to have something he thought he couldn’t possibly give me. I want so badly to change my mind because I unequivocally love this man with everything in me, but I think I should believe the old time saying of ‘if you love someone, set them free. If they come back, they’re yours.’ The irony of it all is this saying applies to the two angels he lost if only he’d sit still enough to realize it.
    “I have to let you go so you can find yourself. I think with me in the picture and knowing how badly I want a child with you, it just slows down the process of acceptance instead of making it easier for you.”
    I push off the wall and stand behind him as I reach for his hand, tears I don’t want to fall, finally falls. “I want you to get past this. I hate seeing you carry this guilt, because your hurts are mine, too. I hate myself for putting that pressure on you, the constant asking if you want to have a baby, not knowing how it was affecting you. I want to help you, not drag you down. This constant bickering and fighting isn’t healthy. I don’t want us to hate each other, Brian; and we eventually will if we continue down this path.” I squeeze his hand as I painfully watch the agony in his eyes. “This is me putting you first. Your needs before mine, because right now, you’re more broken than whole. You’re more hurt than happy. I’m more hurt than happy.”
    “I don’t want to be without you.” His voice cracks at the same time my heart does. “Why are you giving up on us?”
    “Sometimes, fighting isn’t the answer, but rather letting someone or an idea go, then maybe once it’s free the fight begins. I love you, that’s not the question here. It seems my love isn’t sufficient since your confidence in it isn’t enough to rid the demons that chase you.”
    “It’s not you, Tami; it’s me. They’re my fears to own, mine to overcome. It has nothing to do with you.”
    He turns around and holds my face tenderly and before he can continue, I beat him to it. “Actually, it has everything to do with me. I want you to be whole, because you want to, not because you want to give me what I want and need. What I want causes you the greatest grief and self-doubt, perhaps I’m not the right person for you.” He starts shaking his head as his hands clasp my face a little tighter. “Just listen, please. When you