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My legs tightened, the fluttering instantly sparking between them.

The tingling making it hard for me to process the reality of this situation.

“What are you saying, Ford?”

He was silent as he stared at me. “I don’t see a way around this.”

“I’m not sure I understand.”

“I can’t have both, Sydney.”

Both.

And then it hit me.

It was either the job or the start of this relationship—or whatever direction we were moving in, together.

But I couldn’t have both.

I was slowly inhaling, trying to convince my heart to settle, as he asked, “Which do you want more?”

I pulled my hair to one side, holding it in my slick hand, my heart increasing instead of calming. “You can’t ask me that. It’s not fair.”

“But it’s the only way I’m going to decide.”

I released the strands of hair, my head dropping, my hand now holding my forehead. I needed the pressure; my brain felt like it was going to explode.

Which do you want more?

The one thing I knew, the one thing Ford had emphasized, was that he didn’t bring w