Chauncey
Watching Rhy board that private jet and take off without me was one of the hardest things I ever had to do.
I stood there on that runway longer than I probably should’ve, watching the jet disappear into the clouds until there was nothing left but empty sky.
And truthfully?
That shit hurt. Bad.
It took everything in me not to run back up those stairs, grab her, and beg her not to leave me again. Pride ain’t even existed in that moment. Not really.
Because somewhere between almost losing my life, sleeping beside her again, hearing her cry, and watching her choose us without abandoning herself, it finally hit me.
We shouldn’t even be here.
Not like this.
Not separated by cities and uncertainty. Not trying to rebuild something I should’ve protected the first time.
I ain’t fully felt the weight of it before. Maybe because ego got in the way. Maybe because I always assumed Rhy would be there no matter what I did.
But I feel it now.
And the fucked-up part is…
I know I’m the reason we’re here.
That realization humbles a man differently.
I slid back into the Escalade quietly while the runway lights reflected against the windows. Vince started pulling off, then lowered the privacy glass halfway.
“Boss man, you good?” he chuckled lightly.
I let out a dry laugh and leaned my head back against the seat.
I’m far from good.
“I don’t know yet,” I admitted honestly. “You might have to bring me back later.”
Vince laughed harder at that. “Say less. I’ll be on standby.”
I stared out the window toward the empty runway again before speaking.
“I’mma let Rhy breathe,” I muttered low. “But if I figure it out, I can’t breathe without her after two days…” I shook my head slowly. “I’m outta here.”
“Damn,” Vince laughed. “You down bad.”
“Bad as hell.”
And for once, I wasn’t embarrassed to admit it.
“I’ll be in Texas until she’s ready to leave.”
Because that’s the thing nobody tells you about real love after destruction…
Once a man finally understands the value of the woman he almost lost, distance starts to feel like physical pain.