Chapter 15 #2
“I’m sorry I put us through that. Looking back, I wish I would’ve taken a beat before reacting. There are so many things I regret about that time, but… I was hurt by your decision and how you didn’t tell me you were considering a new agent. Yes, I understand why you went with Ralph, but…”
As flashes of that night and their heated argument came to the forefront of her mind, a sudden bout of emotion gripped her.
She had lost a part of herself that night, and her self-confidence had taken a major hit.
She’d only been twenty-four, newly graduated from law school and had put her heart and soul into starting her sports agency.
When Triston shoved her aside for a new agent, it had crushed her.
Unexpected tears filled Cree’s eyes, and a tightness gripped her throat.
What the hell?
She swallowed hard and blinked rapidly, trying to keep the unwanted tears at bay. She wasn’t a crier, but this subject always hit her right in the feels. Actually, anything involving Tristan always had a visceral effect on her, and when they broke up…
“We were supposed to be a team,” she continued, her words coming out on a sob. “Ride or die, we were supposed to be together forever. It was going to be you and me against everyone else, and we were going to be unstoppable. You on the field and me with my sports agency.”
Cree startled when Tristan’s large hand covered hers on top of the table. “Baby, I am so sorry,” he whispered.
He brought her hand to his lips and placed a kiss on the inside of her palm.
“If I could go back and make different choices I would. I would’ve fought harder for us, and I sure as hell wouldn’t have signed with Ralph before talking it through with you. But everything moved so quickly. One minute he and I were just having conversations and the next I was a client.
“I swear to you, Cree, all the while he talked to me about what he could do for my career, I kept thinking you and I would be set for life. All our plans and dreams would come to fruition, and we’d live happily ever after.”
Cree didn’t miss the sincerity in his eyes or the emotion in his tone. They were so damn young back then. Kids trying to be grown and deal with grown folk’s stuff. They’d been in way over their heads, and their decisions and how they’d handled the situation reflected that.
If only she had stopped a moment to listen to him, to give him a chance to explain, there wouldn’t have been so much heartache for both of them.
“I still have the check you sent back to me,” Tristan said quietly before squeezing and releasing her hand.
He returned his attention to his plate, picking at the food.
“I knew you were still mad when it was returned to me. Then months later, after I finally signed the divorce papers, I found out you had closed your agency.”
After he had moved to Philly and played in his first few games, he had sent her a check for a hundred thousand dollars. She wasn’t sure what had shocked her the most, the check amount or the note that had come with it.
You’ll always be mine, and all I want to do is love and take care of you. Please let me. I miss you.
The money would’ve been enough to keep her agency open, but her ego got in the way. She had made a rash decision and closed the agency. Despite dreaming of having one since she was a kid, after her breakup with Tristan, she hadn’t wanted anything to do with professional athletes.
All I want to do is love and take care of you. Please let me.
The words from the letter played on loop in her mind and tears pricked her eyes. Walking away from Tristan had been a mistake. Though her anger had always been directed at him, their breakup had been her fault. She was the one who had reacted before thinking and ruined everything.
“Damn, baby. You know I can’t handle your tears,” Tristan said softly.
He reached over and rubbed her arm, and his gentleness only made her stupid tears fall faster. Cree couldn’t seem to make them stop, which only pissed her off. She wasn’t a damn crybaby, and she was horrified that she was silently bawling in public.
As she dabbed at her face with one of the napkins the server had left with the food, Tristan stood. He pulled out his wallet and dropped enough money on the table to cover the meals for everyone in the restaurant. Then he tugged her out of her seat and into his arms.
“Everything is going to be okay,” he whispered, and placed a lingering kiss against her temple. “Come on. Let’s go.”
Keeping his strong arm around her, he guided her through the small restaurant. No one was probably paying her any mind, but Cree kept her eyes lowered, refusing to look at anyone. She just needed to get out of there so she could pull herself together.
The moment they were outside, she inhaled a long breath before releasing it slowly.
Neither of them spoke as they walked to Tristan’s car.
When she was settled into the vehicle, she used the heel of her palm to dab at a few rogue tears that crept down her cheeks.
She hated crying and couldn’t remember the last time she’d shed a tear.
Tristan climbed into the car and pulled out of the parking lot without saying anything. He just reached over and held her hand and drove.
Cree appreciated the quietness in the car. She didn’t want to talk, and she didn’t care where they went, as long as they were together.