Poor choice of words, Bella.“No, not at all. I just… I’m sorry. This is coming out all wrong. Can we talk about this tonight? I’m going to be late for work.”
“Yeah, by all means, go to work.”
***
Loran was cursing his stupidity while he rinsed Bella’s scent off in the shower. He’d let her leave without breakfast because he didn’t want topressureher into staying. That’s what he’d told her. And now he felt like an immature ass for expecting everything to go his way.
She was a smart, successful, independent woman who wasn’t going to bend to any man’s will. And he loved that about her. So why did he keep pushing her before she was ready? It was like he couldn’t help himself. Every time he was around her he found himself saying and doing stupid things he couldn’t control.
He was toweling off when his phone rang. He thought about ignoring it when he saw Ethan’s name, but knew that wouldn’t help his mood.
“Hey buddy, what’s up?”
“My beautiful wife took the kiddies to visit my parents. I was thinking about grilling some burgers. Want to join me?”
Loran knew his friend probably had an ulterior motive, like questioning him about his relationship with his sister, but since he didn’t feel like sitting around feeling sorry for himself and wouldn’t mind gaining some perspective from someone who knew Bella better than he did, he agreed.
“I’ll pass by the beer store and be there in twenty.”
Loran admired Ethan’s sprawling estate as he pulled in the circular drive. He’d been there plenty of times, but now that he was finally working on his dream home he found new elements of his friend’s house to appreciate. He knew that Bella designed it and hoped she could bring his vision to life the same way she had theirs.
He didn’t bother ringing the doorbell since he could hear music streaming from the backyard. Opening the iron gate, he took his time crossing the stone patio. He thought about how he’d respond if Ethan started questioning him about Bella. He didn’t want to betray her confidence but he wasn’t used to holding out on his buddies either.
Had it not been for Ethan he wouldn’t even have met Bella, nor would he have reconnected with her had it not been for the birthday party that brought them back together. Both Ethan and Grace had been supportive since they realized how serious Loran was about Bella and he didn’t want to seem like an ingrate.
“There he is,” Ethan said when he rounded the corner. “How’s it going, man?”
Loran brought it in for a one-armed hug and handshake before Ethan snagged his favorite brand of beer out of his hands.
“Thanks,” Ethan said, holding up the six-pack. “I’d just run out of this.”
“Nice to be able to tip a few now and again, huh?” Loran said, opening the lid to the grill while Ethan added the bottles to his built-in ice chest. “One of the few things I like about the off season, to be honest. I can eat and drink what I want.”
Ethan looked at him out of the corner of his eye before opening a bag of buns. He laid them out to toast before moving the burgers to the warming rack. “It’s not like you to drink a lot. Except for…” He cleared his throat. “Everything goin’ okay with you and Bella?”
“Yeah, sure.”
He turned towards the pool, smiling when he spotted a large pink elephant floating on the surface of the water. A few years back he would have found a few hot blondes in string bikinis floating around Ethan’s pool, not blow up toys.
“You don’t sound too convincing.” Ethan thrust a plastic plate at him piled high with two burgers before gesturing to the table, where condiments were already laid out.
“Thanks.” Loran was buying time, trying to figure out how to respond while he prepared his food.
Ethan joined him before asking, “My sister still giving you a hard time?”
“I just feel like I’m pushing her… all the damn time. I want her to want what I want.” He grinned when he realized he sounded like a toddler. “When I want it.”
Ethan laughed. “Good luck with that. Have youmetmy sister? That girl has a mind of her own.”
“I know.” Loran sat at one of the six chairs around the oblong teak table. “And I love that about her. I do. So why the hell can’t I just be happy that she’s back in my life instead of wanting more?”
Ethan took a big bite of his burger before shrugging. “I think it’s human nature. At least for guys like us. You set your sights on something and you go for it. I’m the same way.”
“Then you did that with Grace?” Loran knew it wasn’t the same thing. Grace and Ethan had known each other most of their lives before they hooked up. They trusted each other.
“Sure did.” He laughed. “But you know that, since I talked her into marrying me that weekend we were all in Vegas.”
“Sometimes I think I should’ve done that,” Loran muttered. “Talked your sister into marrying me that weekend. Then I wouldn’t be in this mess now, wondering where I stand with her.”
