Previous Chapter: "HAPPY NEW YEAR!" the room erupted with a round of applause, noise makers, glasses clinking and fireworks filling the skies.

"Joe, I love you—" I cried as his lips crashed down on me and he crushed me in a tight embrace.

CHAPTER 25

"Joe," I breathed out placing my hand on his chest.

He eagerly grabbed my hand and placed the ring on my finger and kissed my hand.

The tears continued to fall from my eyes as my heart broke into a million pieces. I did, I truly did love this man holding me. "Joe, I love you—"

"—You don't know how good it feels to hear those words finally come from your mouth, Cupcake," he kissed me with enough heat to give tonight's fireworks a run for its money.

"Joe, please let me talk," I cried out in exasperation. "I love you. I really do but I can't go with you."

His exuberant eyes filled with sadness as he loosened his grip around my slightly.

"My life is in Trenton. I'm not ready to leave. We haven't even known each other a year yet. How can you say that you want to spend the rest of your life with me? We barely made it a couple of months living with each other," the tears continued to fall from my eyes.

"Cupcake, I know that we fight, but it's never anything that we can't overcome. I'll turn down the job and let them know that I'm not ready now. I'll try to reapply to the program when you're ready to move on from Trenton."

"Joe, I can't let you do that. That's your goals and dreams and I can't let you put it on hold for me," I croaked out trying to grasp onto one of the hardest things I've ever done. "I love you, Joe, but I'm just not in love with you."

He released me immediately like I had just shot him with a bolt of electricity. "It's because of him, isn't it?" he growled menacingly. "You're in love with him, aren't you?"

I peeked from the corner of my eye and realized that Ranger was nowhere in sight. "If you're referring to Ranger, no it's not about him. Joe, we're just not right for each other. You don't really love me. I believe you love the idea of being with me but I'm never going to be what you want me to be. I'm not going to quit my job. I just can't see myself raising a family and living my life as a housewife."

"Nobody's saying you have to right now," his voice softened.

"Yes, but you will — eventually. It's what you want, Joe, and I can't give that to you," I cupped his face. "You're a wonderful man, and you deserve the best."

"You are the best," he grabbed my hands and I saw a tear form in the corner of his eyes. "Cupcake, I do love you — with all of my heart. And I would do anything for you. Please don't trivialize the way that I feel for you."

"I'm not the best for you, Joe. You deserve a girl you can be proud to bring home to your family. And I deserve to be with someone whose family is willing to accept me because his family will be the only family that I have. That's something that's important to me, Joe."

He stepped back and slammed his fist into the concrete railing and screamed, "FUCK!"

"Joe," I cried out grabbing his bloodied fist.

He waved me off, "I'm fine." He ran his hand down the length of his face, "I understand, Cupcake. I'm not happy but I understand." He pulled me into his arms and kissed me on the top of my head. "I love you, Cupcake. That won't ever change. But you're right. As much as I hate to admit it, you're right. I knew this was a longshot but I had to try."

My finger grazed over the diamond on my finger. It truly was a beautiful ring. And if I was a girl who cared for that kind of stuff, I'd probably ignore the fact that this wasn't right and just married him. I started to pull the ring off of my finger but Joe placed his hand on top of mine.

"Wear it just for the night, Cupcake?" his eyes pled to me.

"Joe…"

"Please, just for the night."

I agreed and walked into his open arms. I couldn't help but feel the sadness overcome me as the realization sunk in that a chapter in my story was about to draw to a conclusion. He would always have a special place in my heart but it was time for us to part ways and continue on the paths to our next future endeavors.

After the fireworks ended, Joe stepped away from me and excused himself, saying he needed to catch up with his friends before they left. I stood there alone on the balcony trying not to let the prying eyes and whispers get to me.

After a few minutes of standing on the balcony alone, I finally gave up and texted Joe that I was tired and heading back to the room. I stepped out of the elevator onto my floor and spotted Ranger entering a room with Carmen on his arm laughing at something he was saying. His eyes twinkled as he smiled like how he would for me.

I discreetly watched them disappear into the room and my heart sank. But what did I really expect from Ranger? He's an eligible bachelor and was always upfront and honest with me. He told me he didn't do relationships. And he never once told me that things had changed before we slept together. Could I really blame him? And he's right, Joe is a great man.

"Cupcake?" Joe's voice cut me like a knife as he approached me from behind.

I stood frozen in front of the room door unable to move as the tears continued to pour from eyes like a waterfall.

"It'll be ok," he wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed the back of my head. "We'll be ok."

I turned around and buried my face in his chest. I just broke this man's heart and now he's comforting me?

I couldn't help but wonder — did I make the right decision?

The End

That's it folks! I know it's a short chapter but I was ready to let this story come to a close. Thanks for staying with me and I hope you join me for Alyssa's next adventure! Next installment will be titled "Deuces, Baby" where Alyssa is introduced to a new Merry Man in her life. Ranger's still in the picture so don't give up hope on him yet! But we can all say good bye to Joe. Wave bye bye, Joe! ~Angie