“I’m fine,” she lied, somehow managing a smile as she struggled to hold it together.
He didn’t love her.
“You don’t look fine,” Tristan said, taking a sip of his beer as he glanced around them, taking in the crowded ballroom while Sloane stood there, feeling like her heart was breaking in two.
He didn’t love her, but the problem was that she loved him.
More than anything.
She wanted to spend her life with him and…and…he said no. She’d been worried that he was overdoing it without his cane and went to make sure that he was okay and…
He said no.
“What the hell is wrong, Sloane?” Tristan asked, pushing away from the bar as he watched her. Unable to answer him, she bit her lip as she shook her head, praying that he let it go for her sake.
When she felt Chase’s arms wrap around her from behind, she closed her eyes and released a shaky breath. “What’s going on?” Chase asked on a soft murmur as she felt his lips brush against her temple.
“That’s what I was wondering,” Tristan said, sounding pissed.
“I’m fine,” Sloane managed to get out, wondering how many times she was going to have to say it before she believed it.
“You’re trembling,” Chase said, releasing her so that he could turn her around in his arms and cup her face in his hands. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m just a little tired,” she promised him, reaching up to cover his hand with hers as she stood there wondering how much longer she was going to be able to hold it together.
For a moment, Chase stood there, searching her face only to sigh as he leaned down and pressed his lips against her forehead. “You’ve got to start taking it easy, Pookie,” he said with another kiss against her forehead before he pulled back as his thumbs gently caressed her face.
“I will,” Sloane promised him, not quite able to meet his eyes, afraid that she’d lose it if she did.
“I’m taking you home,” Chase said, dropping his hands so that he could take her trembling hand in his and–
“Not before I dance with my sister,” Tristan said, smoothly reaching over to take her hand before Chase could and pulled her closer.
“Sloane, I–” Chase began only to sigh when she said, “I’m fine,” as she allowed Tristan to pull her toward the crowded dance floor.
As soon as they reached the dance floor, Tristan was pulling her into his arms and saying, “Okay, now tell me the truth. What’s going on?”
“I’m leaving,” she said hollowly, placing her hand in his as she found herself watching Chase from across the room only to find him watching her, worry etching across his handsome face.
Tristan released a muttered curse and asked, “When?”
“Tomorrow,” she mumbled sadly as she watched Chase drag his attention away from her and forced a smile for Deb, who was wearing the pretty white dress and the tiara that Chase bought for her.
“That soon?” Tristan asked, drawing her attention back to find her brother frowning down at her.
“Yes,” she said softly, almost wishing that it was today, but she wanted one more night with Chase before she was forced to let him go and if she found out that she was pregnant…
God, she couldn’t even think about that right now.
“When will you be back?”
“Not for a while,” Sloane said, watching as her brother glanced over at Chase, who was now dancing with Deb, dutifully turning her and sweeping her off her feet.
“What if he asks you to stay?” Tristan asked as she forced herself to look away.
“He won’t ask,” she said with a sad smile.
“You don’t know that.”
“Can we please talk about something else?” Sloane asked because she didn’t want to talk about this, not when she was trying to keep it together, but she knew that tomorrow, after she forced herself to walk away, that she wouldn’t be able to hold it together any longer.
“I’m going to miss you,” Tristan admitted with a soft smile.
“I’m going to miss you, too,” Sloane said, returning his smile and wishing that things were different.
“So, then don’t go,” he said stubbornly.
“I can’t stay, Tristan,” she told him, wishing that he’d let it go.
“Why do I feel like you’re not telling me something?” Tristan said, sighing heavily as he continued to move them to the music.
“Because you’re paranoid,” she told him as she found herself watching Chase.
She was going to miss him so much, Sloane thought, unable to help but smile as she watched