Chapter 10

DM from Jalen to Rachel:

Hey. Just checking in. I’m still here for you. I hope you’re okay.

Rachel and Jalen haven’t spoken since the morning after their encounter at the gym. Rachel stares at her phone, her thumb hovering over Jalen’s message. She hasn’t spoken to him since that morning. She hasn’t spoken to anyone about what happened. She’s barely even spoken to Trevor, who’s repeatedly asked her what’s going on with her, to which she replies that she’s just busy. Despite all that, she’s thought about what happened every single day. She thought avoiding Jalen would help. She thought burying herself in work would keep her mind off of it. She thought pretending like it never happened would somehow make it all go away. But it hasn’t. Because it did happen. And now, she’s late. Rachel closes her eyes, exhaling sharply. She had been so caught up in the fact that she cheated on Trevor that she forgot to consider that maybe she should’ve gotten a plan B after that night with Jalen. She foolishly told him to cum inside of her, knowing she wasn’t on any kind of birth control. And now? Now she may be facing serious consequences.

She hasn’t told Trevor. She hasn’t taken a test. She hasn’t even said the words out loud. And now Jalen is reaching out, checking on her. She should ignore it. She should just pretend she didn’t see it. She should do anything other than what she’s about to do. Her fingers start moving.

Rachel → Jalen

Hey. I’m okay. Just ... a lot on my mind. Thanks for checking in.

She hits send before she can talk herself out of it. And then she waits. Jalen responded a few minutes later:

I miss you. But I know you probably still need space. Just know that I meant everything I said before.

Rachel stares at Jalen’s response, her heart hammering against her ribs.

“I miss you.”

God, those three words hit her so much harder than they should. Because the truth is? She misses him too. She misses the way he made her feel. She misses the way he looked at her. She misses the way he listened—really listened—to her. But she also knows that missing him doesn’t change what happened. She cheated on Trevor. She might be pregnant. And Jalen? Jalen is the last person she should be thinking about right now. Rachel closes her eyes, running a hand through her hair. She can’t say it back. She wants to—God, she wants to. But if she does? There’s no coming back from it. Her fingers hover over the keyboard. She types. She erases it. She types again. Rachel finally sends a response to Jalen:

I just ... I don’t know what to say.

Send. Because right now? That’s the only truth she can give him.

Rachel continues to sit on her couch, staring at her phone. Trevor’s contact stares back at her. She knows what she has to do. He deserves the truth. He doesn’t deserve to be lied to. He doesn’t deserve to be strung along. He doesn’t deserve to be in a relationship with someone who gave her body to another man—who let herself fall for someone else. Rachel inhales sharply and presses Call. It rings. Once. Twice.

“Hey, babe,” Trevor answers, his voice casual, unaware. “What’s up?”

Rachel closes her eyes, her stomach in knots.

“Can we talk?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

A beat of silence.

“Uh ... yeah? Is everything okay?”

No. Nothing is okay. And after this? It never will be again.

“Can I come over?” she asks.

Because this?

This isn’t a conversation she can have over the phone.

Trevor exhales. “Yeah, of course. I’ll see you soon?”

“Yeah.”

She hangs up. Her hands are shaking. But it’s time. Rachel grips her phone tightly, swallowing past the lump in her throat.

“No,” she says, her voice small but firm. “Everything’s not okay.”

Trevor is quiet for a moment.

Then— “What do you mean?” His tone shifts, laced with concern.

Rachel inhales deeply. “I need to see you. In person. Can I come over?”

Another pause.

Then... “Yeah. Of course. I’ll be here.”

Rachel ends the call, her hands trembling. This is it. No more hiding. No more lying. No more running. She grabs her keys, throws on a hoodie over her t-shirt, and heads out.

Rachel stands outside his door, her heart pounding. Her palms are sweaty. Her stomach twists violently. She raises a fist and knocks. Trevor answers almost immediately, like he was waiting by the door.

His face is etched with worry, his dark eyes scanning her.

“Rachel ... what’s going on?” Rachel steps inside, her chest tight.

She doesn’t sit. She doesn’t take off her shoes. She just looks at him, this man who has been nothing but good to her, and knows she’s about to break his heart.

“I need you to let me say everything before you respond.” Her voice shakes, but she powers through.

Trevor’s brows furrow, but he nods.

Rachel takes a deep breath. “I cheated on you.”

His entire body stiffens. His jaw tightens. She keeps going before she loses her nerve.

“It wasn’t planned. It wasn’t something I ever thought I would do. But it happened. And I can’t take it back. And I won’t lie to you about it.”

Trevor is stone still.

Rachel forces herself to keep going.

“I met someone ... at your game a couple of weeks ago. I didn’t mean to notice him, but I did. And then I saw him play again. And I don’t know, Trevor, something about him just—” she chokes on her words, shaking her head. “I was drawn to him. I tried to ignore it, I did. But then work sent me to do a story on the league, and I had to talk to him. And I thought I could keep it professional, I really did. But then...”

She looks away, ashamed.

“One night, we played one-on-one. And I lost. And I let something happen that should have never happened.”

Silence.

Rachel finally looks at him, her vision blurry. “I won’t make excuses. I did this. And I am so, so sorry, Trevor.”

Trevor just stares at her. His eyes darken. His hands ball into fists. Then... “Who?” Rachel’s stomach drops. “Trevor—”

“Who was it?” His voice is eerily calm, but his knuckles are white.

She hesitates, then whispers: “Jalen Moss.”

Trevor’s eyes flash with recognition. Then anger.

He laughs, but there’s no humor. “The dude from the Ballers? The one who was all over your story?”

Rachel nods slowly, feeling sick. Trevor’s expression hardens.

He shakes his head, stepping away from her, running a hand through his hair. “Are you in love with him?”

Rachel doesn’t answer. Because she doesn’t know how to lie to him anymore. And her silence? That’s all the answer Trevor needs.

“I was wondering why you’ve been so distant lately.” Trevor says darkly. “I had a bad feeling about that Jalen dude when you told me about him. You told me that it was strictly professional, remember? That I had nothing to worry about. But you lied to me.”

Rachel closes her eyes briefly, guilt tightening in her chest.

“I know,” she whispers. “I did lie. And I hate that I did.”

Trevor lets out a sharp breath, shaking his head.

“I asked you straight up if I had something to worry about, and you looked me in the face and told me no,” he says, his voice low but tight with emotion.

Rachel nods, swallowing hard.

“I didn’t mean for this to happen, Trevor. I swear I didn’t. But I take full responsibility for it. I should’ve been honest with you when I felt things shifting inside me. I should’ve told you the truth instead of trying to pretend it wasn’t happening.”

Trevor laughs bitterly, rubbing a hand down his face.

“So, what now, huh?” he asks. “You come here, tell me all this, and what? You expect me to just forgive you?”

Rachel shakes her head quickly.

“No. No, Trevor. I don’t expect that at all. I didn’t come here for forgiveness. I came here because you deserve to know the truth. And because...” she pauses, voice breaking, “I respect you too much to keep lying to you.”

Trevor stares at her for a long moment, his jaw tight, his breathing slow and measured.

“So that’s it, huh?” he says finally. “You’re choosing him.”

Rachel hesitates. “I don’t know what I’m choosing, Trevor. But I know that this...” she gestures between them, her eyes stinging, “ ... is over.” Trevor nods slowly, his face unreadable.

“Yeah,” he says, his voice hollow. “I figured as much.”

Silence falls between them, heavy and suffocating.

Then he finally says, “I need you to go. Now. Don’t call me.”

Rachel nods, fighting the tears threatening to fall.

“Okay.”

She turns toward the door but stops, looking back at him one last time.

“I really am sorry, Trevor.”

He doesn’t respond.

He just stares at the floor, jaw clenched. Rachel leaves quietly, shutting the door behind her. And as soon as she steps into the hallway, the weight of everything finally crashes down on her.

Rachel sits in her car, her hands gripping the steering wheel, her body shaking as the tears keep coming.

Everything hurts. She knew this conversation would be painful, but she didn’t expect it to feel like this—like a piece of her life was ripped away in the worst way possible. Trevor had been good to her. Maybe not always perfect, maybe not always as present as she wanted, but he had never hurt her. He didn’t deserve this. And yet ... The moment she looked him in the eye and told him the truth, it was like a weight lifted off her chest. She was free. But that freedom came with a heavy price. Rachel presses her forehead against the steering wheel, her breaths shaky and uneven. She feels so lost, so guilty, so confused. Did she really just throw away a good man for a guy she barely knows? Or had she just admitted something to herself that she had been trying to deny for weeks? She doesn’t know. She doesn’t know anything right now. Rachel sits there for nearly an hour, letting it all out. And when the tears finally slow, and her chest no longer feels like it’s about to cave in, she pulls out her phone. She hesitates. Then, she types out a message. Hey. I need to see you. She stares at the screen. Then, finally—she presses Send.

Rachel pulls into her parking lot, her eyes still puffy, her body exhausted from all the crying. As she turns off her car, she spots him—Jalen, leaning against his own car, waiting for her. Her breath catches in her throat. For a moment, she doesn’t move. She just watches him, her heart hammering in her chest. She still feels raw from everything with Trevor. The weight of it hasn’t left her yet. But ... She needs to see Jalen. She needs to hear his voice, to feel something other than guilt and heartbreak. So, she grabs her keys, opens the door, and steps out. Jalen pushes off his car, his expression unreadable, his eyes locked on hers as she approaches. Neither of them speaks right away. Then— “You okay?” he asks, his voice low, gentle. Rachel lets out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. “No.” Jalen nods slowly, like he expected that. “You wanna talk about it?” he asks. Rachel hesitates. She doesn’t even know where to start. But she doesn’t want to be out here, standing in the cold night air, trying to figure it out. “Come inside,” she says instead. Jalen doesn’t hesitate. He follows her upstairs, into her apartment, into her world. And as soon as the door clicks shut behind them, Rachel lets out a shaky breath—because for the first time all night, she feels like she can finally breathe again. Rachel sits on the couch, her hands clasped tightly together, her mind racing as she tries to make sense of it all. Jalen sits across from her, silent, just watching her process. “I told Trevor everything,” she finally says, her voice barely above a whisper. Jalen exhales, nodding slowly, letting her take her time. “And?” he asks. Rachel swallows hard, her fingernails digging into her palm. “And it’s over,” she whispers. Jalen doesn’t react right away. He just nods, letting the weight of her words settle in the air between them.

Rachel looks away, her chest tightening.

“I feel like shit for betraying him,” she admits. “He didn’t deserve it. He was a good guy. And I should’ve handled things differently.”

Jalen nods again, because he knows there’s nothing he can say to take that guilt away.

But then—Rachel meets his eyes again, her expression conflicted, almost tortured.

“But the crazy thing is...” she whispers, shaking her head, “ ... I don’t regret what happened with us. Not at all. And I hate that. It doesn’t make sense.”

Jalen watches her carefully, taking in her every word, her every expression. “Why does it have to make sense?” he finally says.

Rachel blinks, caught off guard.

“Because—because it should! It should make sense!” she exclaims, frustrated. “I should either regret everything, or I should feel good about it! But instead, I feel guilty and relieved at the same time! I feel sick for hurting Trevor, but I also—”

She cuts herself off, squeezing her eyes shut, her hands clenching into fists.

Jalen leans forward, his elbows resting on his knees.

“But you also what?” he asks gently.

Rachel inhales sharply, then looks at him—really looks at him.

“But I also feel like I finally did something for me,” she admits, her voice raw. “Something that I wanted. Not something that made sense to other people. Not something that was ‘right’ on paper. Just something that felt ... real.”

Jalen nods again, his gaze softening.

“Then maybe that’s your answer,” he says simply.

Rachel stares at him, her heart pounding. Because maybe, just maybe, he’s right. Maybe this was never about logic. Maybe this was about finally listening to herself for once.

Jalen exhales slowly, feeling the familiar weight settle in his chest.

Rachel is staring at him, still lost in the whirlwind of her emotions, and it makes his stomach tighten—because he knows what he has to say next is going to change everything between them.

“Rachel...” Jalen starts carefully, his voice low and measured.

She blinks, snapping out of her thoughts, her brows knitting together at his tone. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

Rachel tilts her head, the exhaustion in her eyes briefly replaced by wariness. “Okay...?” she says slowly.

Jalen runs a hand over his face, trying to find the right words, but there’s no easy way to say this.

“I haven’t exactly been ... alone in all of this,” he admits.

Rachel straightens slightly, her entire posture going rigid.

“What do you mean?”

Jalen holds her gaze, knowing he can’t back out now.

“There are ... other women,” he says, his voice even, but heavy. “And it’s not just casual. It’s ... complicated.”

Rachel’s face shifts instantly—from confusion to sudden realization. “Other women?” she repeats.

Jalen nods slowly, watching as she processes it.

“How many?” Rachel asks, her voice noticeably sharper now.

Jalen hesitates, then finally says, “Three.”

Rachel’s jaw tightens. “And let me guess—this is an ongoing thing? You’re still ... involved with them?”

“Yes.”

Rachel lets out a slow, bitter laugh, shaking her head as she rubs her temples.

“Wow,” she mutters. “Wow, Jalen. You just—what? Collect women? Is that what this is?”

“No,” Jalen says immediately, shaking his head. “It’s not like that, Rachel. I care about all of you—”

“Oh, that’s rich.” She cuts him off, her laugh dry and humorless. “You care about us? And you’re just stringing us all along? Is that it?”

“I never lied to anyone,” Jalen says firmly.

Rachel’s eyes flash. “You didn’t exactly tell me the truth, either, did you?”

Jalen sighs, running a hand over his head.

“I was going to tell you, Rachel. I just ... I didn’t know how.”

“So, when was the right time, Jalen? Huh?” she challenges. “Before or after you fucked me in that locker room?”

Jalen flinches, but he doesn’t look away.

“I won’t make excuses,” he says quietly. “But I will tell you this—this isn’t some game for me. I didn’t go out looking for this. I didn’t charm my way into anyone’s life. It just ... happened.”

Rachel scoffs, crossing her arms. “So, who are these other women?” she demands.

Jalen inhales deeply, then tells her. About Sydney. About Kristen. About Megan. And then, finally—about the pregnancies. Rachel goes completely still. “Wait...” she breathes. “Pregnancies? As in ... plural?” Jalen nods, his expression serious. “Sydney and Kristen are both pregnant. And Megan ... there’s a strong chance she might be too.”

Rachel just stares at him, her face completely blank—but Jalen can see the moment it hits her.

Her chest rises and falls unevenly, her breathing shallow. And then—she stands up abruptly, stepping away from him. “I can’t—” she shakes her head, wrapping her arms around herself. “I can’t do this. I can’t believe I let myself get caught up in ... whatever the hell this is.”

“Rachel—”

“No!” she snaps, her eyes blazing now. “I don’t know what kind of bullshit you’re wrapped up in, but I want no part of it. I should’ve never—I should’ve never let this happen.”

Jalen feels a sharp pang in his chest, but he doesn’t fight her words.

“I understand,” he says softly.

Rachel laughs bitterly, shaking her head as she grabs her keys from the table.

“Good for you,” she mutters.

And then suddenly she storms into the bathroom, slams the door, and locks it.

Jalen sits there, staring at the door, knowing there was never a way this conversation could’ve ended well. And yet ... It still hurts like hell.

Jalen hears Rachel begin to sob in the bathroom. He feels like there is nothing left for him to do now. So, he gets up and leaves the apartment.

Jalen steps outside, the cold night air hitting him like a slap, but it does nothing to ease the heavy weight crushing his chest. He feels like absolute shit.

Rachel’s sobs still echoed in his mind, even though he tried his best not to listen as he walked out. He didn’t want to leave her like that. God, he didn’t want to leave her like that. But what the hell was he supposed to do?

Force her to be okay with this? Beg her to understand? She deserved space. He owed her that much. Still, as he leans against his car, running a hand over his face, he can’t shake the sick feeling in his gut. This isn’t the first time he’s had to have this conversation. But this time felt different. Sydney had been shocked, but level-headed. Kristen had been devastated but let him hold her together. Megan had taken it in stride, because she was already in the middle of fighting for her freedom. But Rachel? Rachel was furious. Heartbroken. And Jalen could see it in her eyes—she felt betrayed. And maybe she had every right to. He doesn’t even realize how long he’s been standing there until his phone buzzes. He looks down.

Sydney: Hey. You okay?

Jalen stares at the screen for a long moment before sighing and typing back:

Jalen: I don’t know.

Sydney: Come over. Come talk to me.

He climbs into his car but doesn’t start it right away. Instead, he rests his head against the steering wheel, exhaling shakily. For the first time since this all began, Jalen isn’t sure if he’s doing the right thing anymore. Jalen goes to Sydney because he desperately needed to talk to someone who didn’t look at him as someone who betrayed them.

Jalen arrived at Sydney’s place about 20 minutes later. Once he arrived and sat on her couch, he took a moment to exhale and gather himself before telling Sydney everything that’s happened since she first told him that she’s pregnant. He told her about Kristen telling him she’s pregnant and then her subsequent emotional breakdown. He then told her about how Kristen felt hurt and devastated when he told her about the other women the following morning. He told her about how Megan has now been assigned a lawyer named Karla Silva and how Karla came to see him to ask him a bunch of questions about him as a person. He also mentioned how he was able to secure a copy of the prenup for Megan from the Westward mansion in order to assist her case. Then he finally told her everything about Rachel. He told Sydney how he met Rachel, how she did a story piece on him, how they had dinner together and talked about her career, her basketball background, and challenged her to a one-on-one basketball game. He told her how they had the one-on-one basketball game the following night and it led to them having sex in the locker room. He also told Sydney about how Rachel felt extremely guilty for cheating on her boyfriend with him. Finally, she told him how hurt and betrayed she was when Jalen told her about all the other women and their pregnancies. Jalen sinks onto Sydney’s couch, running his hands down his face. He feels drained, like he hasn’t had a moment to breathe in weeks. Sydney watches him carefully from the other end of the couch, her legs curled underneath her, wearing an oversized hoodie and shorts. She looks comfortable, but her expression is anything but.

“Damn,” she finally says after Jalen lays everything out—Kristen’s pregnancy, Megan’s escape, Karla showing up, and now, Rachel breaking down completely. Sydney lets out a slow breath, shaking her head. “I mean, I knew things were gonna get crazy,” she says, leaning back, “but Jalen, this is ... a lot.”

Jalen lets out a humorless chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. “You think I don’t know that?”

Sydney doesn’t say anything for a long moment. She just watches him, reading him, seeing the guilt and weight he’s carrying. “I think...” she finally says, softer now, “you need to stop and ask yourself ... what do you actually want?”

Jalen looks at her, and she holds his gaze, serious, but not judgmental. “Like, really want,” she presses. “Because right now, it just seems like you’re drowning in all of this, trying to take care of everyone, but not once have I heard you say what you actually want for yourself.”

Jalen exhales, shaking his head. “It’s not that simple, Sydney.”

“Maybe not. But it doesn’t mean you don’t deserve to think about it.”

He looks at her, and for the first time in a while, he has no words. Because the truth is ... he hasn’t stopped to think about what he wants. He’s been so focused on handling everything, on making sure he didn’t let anyone down, on trying to keep everything from falling apart ... but maybe it was already falling apart.

Sydney shifts, placing a hand on his. It’s a small gesture, but it grounds him. “No matter what happens,” she says, gentler now, “you’re not in this alone, Jalen.”

He looks down at their hands, at the woman carrying his child, and for the first time all night, he lets himself breathe. Jalen nods slowly, squeezing Sydney’s hand for a brief moment before leaning back against the couch. He’s still processing everything, but Sydney’s words stick with him. What does he want? Hell, if he knows. Right now, all he knows is that everything is spiraling faster than he can keep up with. Sydney shifts next to him, tucking her hair behind her ear before looking at him again.

“So ... what now?” she asks.

Jalen lets out a slow exhale, staring at the ceiling for a moment before answering. “I need to check on Rachel,” he says. “She was ... completely wrecked. I don’t know if she’s gonna want to talk to me, but I can’t just leave her like that.”

Sydney doesn’t look thrilled about that, but she nods. “I get it,” she says. “But Jalen, you can’t fix everything for everyone. Rachel’s got to deal with her own choices just like the rest of us.”

Jalen rubs his hands together, knowing she’s right but still feeling uneasy about it.

Then Sydney sighs, looking away for a second before biting her lip. “There’s something else,” she says hesitantly.

Jalen glances at her. “What is it?”

She looks at him now, eyes more vulnerable than usual. “My parents...” she starts, hesitating for a second before continuing. “I have to tell them. About the baby.”

Jalen sits up a little straighter. “Oh,” he says, realizing just how big this moment is for her.

Sydney nods, looking down at her lap. “I’ve been putting it off because I know exactly how this is gonna go. They’re gonna flip,” she mutters, rolling her eyes at the thought. “My mom’s probably gonna cry. My dad’s gonna go on some rant about how I ruined my life. And I’ll get the whole speech about how this isn’t what they wanted for me.”

Jalen listens carefully, knowing how much weight Sydney carries when it comes to her parents’ expectations.

She looks at him now. “But I need to get it over with,” she says. “And I was wondering ... would you come with me?”

Jalen blinks, surprised. “To tell them?” he asks.

Sydney nods, biting the inside of her cheek. “I know they’re gonna be mad either way,” she says. “But if you’re there, at least I won’t be facing them alone.”

Jalen looks at her for a long moment before answering. “Of course,” he says, without hesitation.

Sydney relaxes slightly, like she was afraid he might say no. “Thanks,” she murmurs.

Jalen gives a small nod, but inside, he knows that this? This is gonna be a whole different kind of battle. And it’s coming sooner than he’s ready for.

Two days later...

Knock Knock

“Rachel! Rachel! Please open up!”

Rachel sat on her couch, knees pulled to her chest, staring at the door as Jalen’s voice echoed through her apartment. Her eyes were still puffy from more crying she did earlier, her body exhausted from the emotional weight of everything. She wanted to pretend she wasn’t home. Pretend she didn’t hear him. Pretend she didn’t care.

But she did. God, she did. Jalen knocked again, more urgently this time. “Rachel, please,” he called out. “I just ... I need to know you’re okay.”

Rachel squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the sound. She wasn’t okay. And he was part of the reason why. But at the same time ... he was the only person she wanted to see right now. With a deep breath, she slowly got up and walked to the door. Her fingers hovered over the handle for a second. Then, finally, she unlocked it and pulled it open. Jalen’s face was a mixture of relief and concern, his eyes scanning over her, taking in the fact that she’d clearly been crying. Rachel didn’t say anything at first. She just stood there, arms crossed over her chest, waiting. Jalen sighed, running a hand over his head.

“I’m so sorry, Rachel,” he said softly.

Rachel let out a hollow laugh, shaking her head. “Sorry for what, exactly?” she asked, her voice raw. “For being honest with me? For making me feel things I shouldn’t? For being the reason I just lost someone who actually cared about me?”

Jalen’s jaw tightened at that last part, but he didn’t argue. He just nodded slowly. “For all of it,” he admitted. “For hurting you. For making this harder than it already was.”

Rachel looked away, her chest feeling too tight, her emotions too tangled to make sense of.

Jalen took a small step closer, hesitating, like he wasn’t sure if she’d let him. “I never wanted to put you through this,” he said. “I swear, Rachel. The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt you.”

Rachel let out a shaky breath, still not looking at him. “But you did,” she whispered.

Jalen closed his eyes briefly, like he felt the weight of her words. “I know,” he murmured. “And if I could take that pain away, I would.”

Silence stretched between them, thick with all the things neither of them knew how to say. Finally, Rachel looked up at him, her expression unreadable.

“Why did it have to be you?” she asked.

Jalen exhaled slowly, his eyes searching hers. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “But it is.”

Rachel swallowed hard, feeling everything and nothing all at once. Then, before she could talk herself out of it, she stepped aside, wordlessly inviting him in. Jalen didn’t hesitate. Because no matter how much pain there was between them right now, neither of them was ready to walk away.

Jalen looked at her intensely. “Rachel, I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness for hurting you and I probably don’t deserve you period. But I do not want you to go through this alone. I want to be here for you. Yes, there are other women, and I care about them too, but you can count on me for anything you need. That I can promise you.”

Rachel stared at him, her emotions a tangled mess as she took in his words. She wanted to be angry. She should be angry. But all she felt was exhaustion. Exhausted from fighting against feelings she didn’t want to have. Exhausted from the pain of hurting and losing Trevor. Exhausted from trying to figure out what the hell she was supposed to do next. And yet ... Jalen was here. Standing in front of her. Saying everything she needed to hear. She swallowed hard, crossing her arms over her chest as she leaned against the back of her couch.

“You say I can count on you,” she murmured. “But Jalen, this isn’t just about me.”

Jalen’s eyes flickered with understanding. She didn’t have to say it. He knew.

Rachel exhaled sharply, shaking her head as she looked down at the floor.