Playing For Her Heart - Megan Erickson Page 0,44

family knew what you were putting yourself through, they’d be devastated. I know they would. Ethan would never ever want you to feel like this. So for their sakes, for your own sake, please realize this, Chloe.”

“I don’t know what to do to fix this,” she whispered.

“Chloe,” he whispered. “I think the first step is realize that you can’t fix this. And that’s not your fault.”

She sniffed.

“Talk to your family,” he said. “And then set yourself up with a grief counselor. Have you talked to anyone about this?”

She shook her head.

“I can look some up for you. And I’d go with you, too, if you wanted. Will you let me do that?” If he couldn’t be her lover, he’d be her friend.

Her lips wobbled. The cracks weren’t getting any bigger. Her attention was wavering now and he could see her retreat into herself. “Chloe—”

“I can’t do this,” she whispered. “It’s too much and my life is still so scattered and…”

The extreme high he’d been riding crashed down into the ground.

“But—”

She shook her head and slid out from between him and the wall. He let her go, even though he didn’t want to, even though it felt unnatural. He’d said his piece; he’d pleaded. He thought he’d gotten to her but apparently not.

She swallowed and placed her hand over his. “You’re a good man, Grant Osprey.”

His smile felt brittle. “I’d love to get the chance to show you just how good I can be.”

But she wasn’t giving him that chance, because with a sad, sad smile, she turned and walked away. And Grant wasn’t sure how long he stood there in the parking lot, wondering where he was going to go from here. All he knew was that he wasn’t quite ready to give up yet. And he was pretty sure where he needed to head to next.

Chapter Eleven

Chloe stared at the suitcase on her bed. She could still feel Grant’s hand in hers. She could still hear his voice in her ear, telling her that he’d be there for her.

Her. Chloe Talley.

It had taken all of her strength not to hand over her heart to him right then and there. And that would have been wrong. Now that she was home and had a moment to think, she realized that had been her problem all along—she’d been handing her heart out to everyone else. To her parents, to Ethan, to the memory of her sister. She’d never kept a part for herself and certainly didn’t keep a part to share with the love of her life.

Before she could figure out if she was capable of that with Grant, she had some things to do. She hadn’t wanted to make him any promises, in case she never got to that place she thought she could give him her heart.

But if she did make it there, she hoped he was still willing to put up with her. She had to try. Not just for Grant, but for herself, too.

So she was packing to visit her parents. She’d called and told them and although surprised, they sounded happy to see her.

She’d also called Ethan and the man was prompt so any minute now…

There was a knock at the door.

She left her half-packed suitcase on her bed and walked to her front door. Through the peephole, Ethan stood, his head bowed, hands in his pockets. Chloe opened the door and ushered him in.

He looked her up and down, as if searching for wounds. “You okay? I came as quick as I could.”

She fidgeted her fingers, then stilled them and clasped her hands behind her back. This would be a hard conversation, for both of them, but it had to be done. “Yeah, everything’s okay, but I was hoping we could talk?”

He frowned, but nodded and she led him to her couch.

Sinking down into the cushions, she motioned for him to do the same. He did, holding his body stiffly.

He surprised her by speaking first. “I’ve been worried about you.” She opened her mouth to talk but he wasn’t done. “And I think part of it is my fault, but I’m unsure how to fix it.”

She laid a hand on his arm. “Ethan, it’s not your fault. It’s mine. I haven’t been doing a very good at dealing with all of this.”

He squinted at her. “I’m not sure it’s possible to do a good job at dealing with the death of your sister.”

She winced. “Right, I agree with that. But the way I’ve been dealing