The Day I Said No!

The news traveled through our tight-knit climbing community like a shockwave.

the ones he' d chased with a reckless p

that, I beca

turned it back on, was

could

hearted

nd, Chloe. You jus

l not as a rational decision, but as a betrayal of the highest order. My expertise, once

em all witho

nock on my door. I knew who

. Beside him, clinging to his arm, was Brooke. She had h

s voice rough. "I just want

were laced

u for what

those years, I thought you were this amazing, selfle

at him with doe-eyed adoration. "

him. Her eyes, when they met mine, were cold an

ze fixed on me, trying to burn me with his hatred. "She' s the o

ting an explosion of tears or anger from me.

It did shatter me. He' d told me about Brooke a year

loe wasn' t

e to Brooke' s smug one. I

my tone light and unbothered.

to close

planned victory speech dying on his lips

ocking the door with his foot.

the doorknob. "You' ve made your choice. I' m happy fo

face, the click of the lock echoing th