“I got that feeling, but I didn’t want to pry.”
“There’s a girl back home.” They’d asked if I was married or had a girlfriend, but when I said I didn’t they let it go without pressing for more details or giving me a hard time about it. They were kind, respectful people, not like so many I’d met back home who insisted on passing judgement over the way I lived my life. “We’ve known each other a long time. She’s been pretty important to me.”
Diego smiled. “You love her, hmm?”
“Yeah, I do.” I knew I couldn’t live a more authentic life while denying my feelings for Briar. They were as real as the blood running through my veins. “But we’re not good for each other. Too different.” Or maybe too similar. We were both stubborn, strong-willed, opinionated and tenacious. Maybe I needed someone sweeter, softer, and gentler. According to Drew, his sister had been like that once upon a time, but I just couldn’t see it. She’d clearly buried those parts of her personality deep and I couldn’t imagine anyone or anything stirring them again.
“Differences can be good,” Diego said, raising his hand. “But you need both. Differences and similarities, so you balance each other out. At least that’s what’s always worked for me and Isabella.”
I’d observed them together. They were clearly best friends who had apparently fallen in love at seventeen and been inseparable ever since. I’d trade my fortune without a second thought for the love, friendship, and mutual respect they’d found in each other. And that unconditional love extended to their children, who were so sweet and playful, always laughing and smiling. Spending time with them reminded me I didn’t want to waste any more of my life without hearing a baby’s laughter or the pitter-patter of little feet.
“I agree with you. But my girl has… issues.”My girl.It was still hard for me to imagine Briar being anyone else’s because I knew no one could ever love her the way I could. If only she’d let me. “Her parents divorced when she was young and I think that kind of messed her up.”
Knowing Briar would never meet Diego made it easy to confide in him. He was so far removed from my real life it was almost like confiding in a trusted therapist… or wise friend. I realized that’s how I’d come to view him, as a trusted friend.
I’d travelled around the world. Made friends with people from all backgrounds and socioeconomic classes so I knew better than to judge anyone before hearing their stories and getting a glimpse of their hearts.
“Ah, divorce rates are much higher here now too. Thirty years ago, it was only fifteen percent. Now over forty percent of people who marry here divorce.” He shook his head as he stared out at the water. “It’s a shame. Harms the children, like your friend.”
“Yeah.” My parents didn’t have a perfect marriage, but they made it work. They’d shown me how important it was to stick it out and work through the trying times and I appreciated that lesson. I thought it would make me a better husband and father someday. “It’s too bad, really. I think we could have had something special.”
“Is it too late?” Diego asked. “For you two?”
“Yeah, I’m afraid it is.” It hurt like hell to admit it, but I was done deluding myself.
“That’s too bad. It’s hard to find someone to love.”
He wasn’t wrong. I’d been dating for years and Briar was the only woman who’d ever made it impossible to hold back those three little words. “Yeah, it is.”
He side-eyed me. “May sound silly, but Isabella is the only woman I could love, I think. If something happened to her…” He shrugged. “That would be it, I guess. I’d have my kids. My extended family. My friends. My faith. And that would have to be enough.”
I knew he was trying to send me a message, that maybe Briar was the only woman I could ever love too. But I couldn’t allow myself to believe that. She had already made it clear there was no hope for us and I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life alone.
ChapterEighteen
Briar
Gia pushed her way through my half-open door on a Saturday morning and her unexpected visit was met with a lot of grumbling, eye-rubbing, and maybe a few cuss words thrown in for good measure.
I couldn’t help it. Rhett had been gone for a month already and I was climbing out of my skin, waiting for him to come back. Praying he would come back, because according to Jake he was loving life and living it up in Costa Rica.
“I don’t want you to freak out,” Gia said, holding up a non-descript brown paper bag. “But I think you need to take this.”
“What is it?”
She thrust it at me. “Just look inside, but don’t freak out.”
My eyes bugged out as I pulled the box out, letting the bag flutter to the floor. “A pregnancy test? Are you crazy? I’m not pregnant!”
“Just hear me out,” Gia said, raising her hands. “You may not be, but you did say you were late—”
“Because I’m stressed about Rhett being gone so long! And I can’t talk to him about this shit over the phone.” He’d probably tell me where to go and hang up on me, or worse, ignore my call altogether. Maybe even block my number. I didn’t know how pissed he was, but staying away for so long gave me some indication.
“Yeah, but there have been other things too, Briar.” Her voice was gentle when she said, “You said you’ve been nauseous. Barely able to choke down one cup of coffee in the morning, instead of your usual four. And wine…” She pointed at me. “You said you were going to have a glass of wine the other night but had to pour it down the sink because it turned your stomach.”
I hadn’t had a glass of wine in weeks, which was unusual for me. Of course, I’d been hiding out like a hermit at home since Rhett and I broke up, instead of partying with my friends. I told myself it was because I didn’t want to deal with questions about the break-up, but it was more than that. I didn’t want to deal with desperate men coming on to me either. Yuck.
“You’re letting your imagination—”
