Crown: Man of My Word

Prologue 10 years ago – Rockport

Prologue

Beck

“Kels, baby… Please,” I say, practically begging her. “Why won’t you just come with me?”

I watch as she crosses her arms over her chest and pouts.

This is what happens when she won’t budge on something.

It’s the look she gives me when she wants me to cave and give in to her.

I usually do, I’m powerless when it comes to saying no to this girl.

Except for now, this time I just can’t give in.

I need to leave this place and there’s nothing she can say or do to convince me otherwise.

“Why won’t you just stay?” she says, her eyes glistening with tears.

“You know why,” I say, stepping towards her. Her body stiffens as I do, so I stop, my heart pounding in my chest at what might really be happening here.

“I don’t, Beck,” she says, her arms tightening. “All I know, is you apparently don’t love me enough to stay. You don’t love me enough to want to stay here with me.”

“Fuck!” I say, my hands gripping my hair in frustration. “And maybe you don’t love me enough to leave?”

“You know I do,” she says, her voice quiet.

“But you still won’t come?”

Kelsey throws her arms up in frustration now. “You know I can’t, Beck,” she says. “I have to stay, for them, you know that!”

“And you know I have to go,” I say, taking a step backwards now before I give in and do what she wants.

“So I guess this is it then?” she asks, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“I guess so,” I say, taking another step away from her, even as my body is screaming at me to do the opposite.

“Well thanks, Beck,” she spits out, bitterness in her voice that I’ve never heard before. “Thanks for fucking nothing.”

“Shit, Kels, come on,” I say, but it’s too late, because before I even finish my sentence, Kelsey turns and walks out the door and somehow I know this really is it.