25. No Return Ticket
No Return Ticket
Braden
I t’s been a hell of a week.
I maintain a sunny disposition for Mina’s benefit, because this new journey is terrifying her.
What she doesn’t know is that it’s more terrifying for me to let her go.
I know I’m doing the right thing. Trust me, I’ve hashed it out with Ori and Ash, and they both agree this is the best move for Mina—even though they’ll miss her.
But they won’t miss her like I will.
They have each other. I have a lot of lonely nights to look forward to, and Zane’s promise to keep me occupied with beautiful women is not helping the situation.
I know he’s trying.
Everyone is, but it does little to soothe the pain.
So I plaster on a smile and spend every free second by Mina’s side. I help her pack, joking that I’m tired of this monthly moving schedule, and forward her boxes to her new address.
We’ve gone out to eat every night, and I even tagged along with Mina and Ori on a shopping trip for the baby .
I’m not letting her out of my sight. Not until the moment I have to let her go—for good.
Despite the state of my heart—a wretched minefield at the moment—I’m proud of Mina. She’s the ultimate comeback kid, finding new life after an injury threatened to sideline her permanently.
I’m grateful to Leo for giving Mina this chance. Ironic how he offered her one when her family turned away, but that’s the thing about friends. They’re the family we choose.
Mina insists we’ll see each other constantly, but we both know she’s lying. Soon, there will be thousands of miles between us, so impromptu visits are out of the question. Any trip will require intensive planning because of our schedules, likely limited to once or twice per year.
We’ll talk a lot in the beginning, through phone calls and texts, but those will drop off, too. Time zones and the chaos of life will ensure it.
Eventually, we’ll both move on and find new life along our paths. New people. New loves. New memories to replace the old.
The saddest part? Mina has no reason to come back to Sparkwood. Not even for a visit. Any time off she gets will go to her mom—because the rest of her family? That bridge is already burned.
But it also means there won’t be any reason for her to drop into our little town. I won’t glance up one day and see her walking down Main Street, a sunny smile on her lips.
The only reminder I’ll have of her will be the studio built in her honor—a place she’ll never know about now.
Zane asked me if I regretted it, and I said the only answer I know is true.
“Not a single second.”
“Hard to believe this time tomorrow you’ll be a West Coaster.” Ori blinks back tears and pulls her friend into yet another hug.
There have been about a hundred of them at dinner tonight—but that’s to be expected.
We gathered at Mina’s favorite restaurant to give her one hell of a sendoff, complete with food, drinks, and the obligatory toasts and teasing.
I know her departure is hard on Ori. Mina’s the little sister she never had, and Ori adores her. Trust me, the feeling is mutual.
“I can’t believe it either,” Mina replies, placing her hands on Ori’s expanding belly. “You better keep me updated on all the baby news.”
“Of course. And you’ll call if you need anything.”
“Leo said the place is furnished, so that helps.”
Her former partner has done everything possible to make this move as painless as possible, and there’s a niggling voice in my head that whispers they’ll find their way back to each other again.
Let’s be honest—they’d be one hell of a power couple in the dance world.
Maybe they make more sense than Mina and I ever did.
Doesn’t mean I won’t miss the hell out of her, though.
She opened my eyes to new possibilities. I had written her off as a romantic partner because of our age difference, but she was dogged in her determination that I reconsider.
And I’m glad I did.
Mina steps back, gesturing to the group. “You guys better come visit me. No excuses.”
Ash grins, wrapping an arm around Ori. “We have the convention in Vegas in December. You’ll have to meet us out there for a little fun in Sin City.”
The smile slides from Mina’s face. “But that’s six months away.”
Ori points to her belly with a laugh. “Woman, I’ve got a few things cooking in here. Let me have the baby, and we’ll talk about vacations, okay?”
Mina smiles and nods, once again pulling her friend close.
Meanwhile, I stand on the sidelines, drinking in every moment—all the details that make Mina so unforgettable. There are many. Her laugh. The way she plays with her hair when she’s nervous. Her soft, almost silent footfalls. The way her every move feels like a well-choreographed dance.
I commit them all to memory, because that’s where they’ll live from now on.
Then there was last night, which was truly spectacular. No, it wasn’t about the sex—although we made love three times. It was a glimpse into a future we’ll never have.
She asked me to cook her dinner instead of going out and admitted she’s a fool for my cooking. I hope she knows I’m a fool for her.
We shared a bottle of wine and watched one of her favorite movies. She has every line memorized and never misses a cue. We cut up laughing at the jokes we’d heard a dozen times before, despite the realization this will never happen again.
At the end of the night, after making love once more, she collapsed on my chest and demanded I not move a muscle until morning.
I held her all night, her soft curves pressed against me in a way that felt so right—and yet so out of my reach.
“Promise you’ll love me forever,” she murmured, kissing my chest.
“Forever.” I twirled my fingers in her hair, a soft smile on my mouth, knowing that I would .
“Forever,” she repeated, tracing her fingers along my jaw before sleep overtook her.
No, Mina and I won’t wind up as the happily-ever-after in a love story—but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t real.
For a moment in time, it was the realest thing I’ve ever experienced.
You know those moments where time seems to fly and drag all at once?
That’s me as I park the car at the airport. I dread letting Mina go, but I’m also aware that—regardless of my feelings—it’s a necessity.
I’ve thought about London a lot this past week, wondering who I might have become if obligation hadn’t tethered me to Sparkwood. Don’t get me wrong—I have no regrets. Just idle curiosity. Maybe that’s why I’m pushing Mina to seize her dream—so I can live vicariously through her.
Or maybe it’s just an excuse to make the wound bleed a little less.
We didn’t speak during the ride to the airport. We just sat with our hands intertwined, with some music playing softly in the background.
Because really, there isn’t much left to say except goodbye.
“You know, I should probably get an autograph from you now before you become all big and famous,” I tease, pulling her bag from the backseat and wheeling it toward the terminal.
Mina smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “I’ll always give you free autographs. Besides, I’ll always be Mina. ”
“I hope so.”
Do I believe she’ll become one of Hollywood’s dance elite? Without a doubt.
Do I believe she’ll stay the same shy, slightly awkward woman I fell in love with? Not a chance.
And I don’t want that for her.
Mina is a star, and she needs to shine—even if the idea terrifies her.
She screeches to a halt as we step into the terminal, her eyes scanning the TSA security line. “This is really it, isn’t it?”
She turns, her face tilted up, eyes wide and questioning, waiting, gauging my reaction.
I have three choices: say nothing, beg her to reconsider her plan, or convince her how amazing a life she’s about to live on the other side of the country.
Doing the right thing sucks sometimes.
I grasp her shoulders and plaster on a smile. “You’re going to dance again. You’re going to make people fall in love with your choreography, and they’re going to celebrate your talent. All your dreams are coming true, and I’ve never met anyone more deserving.”
I mean every word, even though it breaks me. Saying them means releasing the woman who makes me feel whole.
But she’s lived long enough by the terms and conditions of other people. I’ll be damned if I become another one.
Mina wraps her arms around my neck and snuggles close, tucking her head beneath my chin. “You are the most fabulous man on the planet, and I’m the woman who got to love you. Guess you’re right. My dreams came true.”
Fuck, but this is ripping me apart, and I’m not sure how much longer I can stand here and pretend I’m fine.
“I love you, Braden,” she murmurs, brushing her lips against mine.
“Always.”
I will, too, because love doesn’t die when a relationship ends. At least not if you ever truly loved the person in the first place.
Mina swipes at her eyes before glancing at her hand, the diamond ring sparkling on her finger.
Funny thing. She never stopped wearing it, even after the truth of our engagement became public, and I never asked her to take it off.
With a sigh, she runs a finger over the ring and slides it off. “I’m going to miss how that felt. I’m going to miss you more than you can imagine.”
Trust me, sweets. I know how you feel.
Look, I’m not some toxic alpha male who refuses to show emotion.
That’s never been my style. But if I let the cracks in my heart get a foothold now, there’s no stopping the dam from breaking.
Mina needs positivity—forced or not—before she sets out on this adventure.
And it is an adventure, even if it’s a solo one.
“How can I ever repay you for everything you’ve done for me?” she murmurs, tears streaming down her cheeks.
I slide the ring into my pocket and pull her close one last time. “By being the best damn choreographer this world has ever known. Live the life you dreamed of—the life you worked so hard to achieve. That’s thanks enough for me.”
We stand at the entrance to the security line. Mina fishes her passport and boarding pass from her bag. “Why do I feel like I’m never going to see you again? That this is goodbye forever?”
I press a kiss to her forehead. “It’s not goodbye forever. I’m here whenever you need me.”
My last words to Mina are a lie. We both know it.
This is our final goodbye. Not because I don’t adore her, but because I do. And I’ve lived long enough to know the best intentions don’t stand a chance against the currents of time.
Despite her fears, I know Mina will soar once she lands in Los Angeles. And one day, I’ll see her name in lights and smile, knowing that, for a moment, she was mine.
I wait until Mina is through security. With one last wave, she disappears into the boarding area. With a sigh and a heavy heart, I trudge toward my truck, the sun a mocking reminder that my sunshine just left for the West Coast.
“Fuck, I need a drink.”
But that’s another lie. There isn’t a liquor on the planet strong enough to soothe the ache in my heart.
They say the truest testament to love is letting someone go to live life on their own terms. Maybe it’s a lesson I needed to learn—so I’ll be ready for my next big love.
Or maybe I’ve watched too many romcoms with Mina, and it’s all a load of shit.
My phone buzzes, and for a brief second, I wonder if it’s Mina with a last-minute change of heart.
It’s not.
No, it’s a mocking reminder of what I no longer have.
I accept the call as I slide into the driver’s seat. “Hey, Eddie. What’s up?”
“You okay?” Eddie asks.
Ori’s brother is a hell of a nice guy, but I’m not ready to dive into my emotional state right now.
“I’m great,” I lie, forcing a smile.
I already know what he’s calling about. See, Eddie and I aren’t buddies—not really—but he’s been working on the studio for the past two weeks.
And that is definitely not a topic I want to discuss.
“I have a surprise for you, although I’m not sure if you want to hear it right now.”
I run a hand over my brow. “Go ahead.”
“We’re done. The studio is finished.”
Fucking figures. Perfect fucking timing.
“Do you want to come down and have a look? It looks fantastic, if I do say so myself. ”
I draw in a ragged breath, the weight of the last week crashing down around me.
“Braden?”
I smack the steering wheel and drag a hand through my hair, tempted to chuck my phone across the parking garage.
“Braden? Are you there?”
“I’m here.”
“Do you want to stop by and see it?”
I stare up at the ceiling and blink back tears. “No, man. I don’t.”