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Bridget took a step back and placed a hand on her chest. “The woman at the center?” She sneered. “I thought she was another groupie trying to get with you.”
“She isn’t.” He fought to keep his calm after the disdain in Bridget’s voice. “We click. There’s something there. I don’t want to ignore it—I don’t think I can.”
Bridget rolled her eyes and scoffed. “Really, Isaiah? I thought you were smarter than that.” She turned away.
Isaiah stood. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
She looked at him as if he was crazy. “You’ve spent years saying you can’t deal with these thirsty women who chase you and your teammates, and now one comes around with a pretty face, and an at-risk kid, and you’re ready to save a ho.”
“She’s not a whore.” His voice hardened with his anger. “And she doesn’t need saving. It’s different when I’m with her.”
Bridget flipped her wrist dismissively. “You know what? Go get her. See if I give a damn. I knew years ago I was wasting my time with you.”
He wasn’t sure if the statement was meant to harm or was just her way to deflect her own pain, but either way, it bothered him. “Then why did you come?”
She crossed her arms and tossed up her chin. “I didn’t say no because like an idiot I had a soft spot for you. I knew I was your backup. That you were keeping me in your back pocket until you decided you were ready to get married.”
“That’s not how I treated you. That’s not how I thought of you.”
“You can lie to me, but don’t lie to yourself. I was your safety net. Not because you love me, but because you love the idea of me.”
Isaiah clenched his jaw to keep from cursing. He took a deep breath and asked, “What are you talking about?”
“You want what your parents have. Do you think I didn’t realize you called and asked me to move here right after your brother got engaged? You’ve played professional ball, traveled and had your fun. Now you’re ready for a wife and kids. What do you do? Call me to come fill the bill.” Her voice was cold and sliced him to the quick.
He took a few steps back. “You didn’t really want to come.”
She lifted her shoulder. “Honestly, the job offer made up my mind.”
The admission wasn’t a surprise. He’d already wondered if that was the real reason. Maybe even the only reason. “That’s it, huh?”
“I did wonder if proximity would have brought us closer. I did love you once.” Her voice softened from glacial to freezing rain.
He had loved her once, too. Years ago when they were in college and she was the first woman he’d felt comfortable with. That’s why he’d held on to this for so long. The memory of love just as powerful as the actual feelings. Especially for him when the actual feelings made him feel off and unsure. “When did you stop?”
“When I realized our relationship had morphed to just a physical one.”
“Did you want more from me?” Something in her voice made him suspect she was only pretending to sound nonchalant. He didn’t want to know if he’d hurt her.
“Before we became just occasional hookups, yes, I wanted what you did. But when I started law school, I knew our goals had changed. You still want a perfect wife. Someone who needs you.”
His head jerked. That wasn’t what he was like. “I don’t want that.”
“Yes you do, even if you don’t see it. You’re old-fashioned that way. Just like your dad. You want to take care of things, solve everyone’s problems. You’ll want a woman who’ll rely on you. I’m not that woman. I never will be.”
“I never asked you to rely on me.”
“But you always swept in to take care of my problems. Maybe that’s the other reason I stuck around.”
“You used me.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’d hardly call it being used when you were so quick to step in before I could even fix the problem. Remember when my car broke down? I just mentioned it in passing and the next day, there was a mechanic at my door. That’s just you, Isaiah. I’ll admit it’s sweet, but it’s also proof that you’re a fixer. I think it would have eventually broken us… If this woman hadn’t broken us first.”
