Slow Grind (Men of Mornington Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

not. He’s a wonderful guy who helped me through some hard times. He was there for me when nobody else was. Captain of the lacrosse team and Honor’s Society, he’s pretty much everything any girl could want. And he wants me. Sometimes I wish I felt the same way, but I don’t. Max’s recent diagnosis is enough to remind me life is too short, and I have too much value to settle for like instead of love.
    “I don’t want you to come,” I whisper.
    “Okay,” he mutters. He looks away, and it’s obvious I’ve hurt his feelings. Although I feel bad, it spurs me on to just get this over with.
    “Listen,” I begin. I take a deep breath and gather the strength to finish what I need to say. “I’ll be in Australia, you’ll be here. I have no idea how long I’ll be gone or what life’s going to look like for me when I come back. We had a really good time this year, but I think it’s time to walk away from whatever we have before it gets messy.” There. That wasn’t so hard. I’m already feeling better, but then I see his bewildered expression.
    “Whatever we have?” he sputters. “Aubrey, you’re joking, right? I love you.”
    A part of me wants to tell him I love him back because it would be so much easier if I did. But I’ve been on the other side of a one-sided love affair, where one person ends up destroyed because the other half doesn’t share the same feelings.
    “I really like you, Nate. You’re a great guy, but I don’t feel the same way about you. You were there for me after Jason, and I’ll never regret getting close to you. You made me feel safe again.” Truth is, without Nate, I’m not sure if I would have been able to get over what Jason did to me.  I’d dealt with assholes my whole life, but never abusive ones.  I take his hand, wishing I felt everything he wanted me to. I’m leaving the country, and he’s the last person I’m worried about missing. Hell, I’m more upset about leaving Jacey behind. “Right now, I need to focus on my brother. You’re going to find a wonderful girl who will love you the way you deserve. I’m just not her.” I shrug, wishing there was more I could do. “I’m sorry.”
    “Damn, Aubrey, you really know how to kill a guy’s ego.” He laughs nervously, trying to joke away the pain I’ve just caused. “I’ll give you a few weeks in Australia to change your mind. And you will. You’ll see. When you start missing me, you’ll realize we’re meant for each other. I’ll wait for you.”
    “You really shouldn’t.” I’m not sure how I could have been clearer about wanting to break up with him. “Honestly, you’re a great guy, but I just don’t feel the way you do.”
    “I’ll leave you to pack then. Call me if you need me. I’m always here for you, Aubs.”
    Nate kisses me on the forehead and walks out of my dorm room, and I go back to neatly putting all my clothes in my suitcase. He’s such a nice guy, but I still don’t know if he’s gotten the message. He was way too relaxed for someone who had just been dumped.
    I don’t have time to worry about this .
    My flight leaves in the morning and I still have so much to sort out. Jacey, my roommate and best friend, is going to keep my goldfish Louie and what little bit of furniture we’re allowed to keep in the dorms. My dad is going to pick up everything else and store it in his basement, where I’ll probably live when I return as a college graduate and unemployed dancer. Sighing, I push my suitcase closed and sit on the floor. I look around, an empty feeling creeping into my stomach.
    I never thought I’d be going back to Australia, especially under these circumstances.
    As I finish packing an overnight bag to take on board the plane with me, Jacey comes strolling into the room with a gloomy look on her face. She dives on my bed, her blue eyes sad.
    “Can you pack me and take me with you?”
    “I wish,” I sigh. I never really made any lasting friends in junior high or high