“Did you tell her those matte lip stains should be ready to test soon?She gets the first shot at them."
"Oh, she knows.She’s been bugging me about them daily.But enough about Abby—let's talk about you.What's going on?"
"Hope worked a double, came home for three hours, then turned around and went right back to the hospital.Three hours!And damn if she didn't run right back up there as soon as her phone rang."
"Did you talk to her?"
"What's the point?It won't change anything.It's who she is.She's a doctor who happens to be my wife, not the other way around.It's not that I want her to give up medicine, but at some point, there has to be a balance, right?"Jay asked.
"I want you to think about something for me.”Rob paused.“Wisp Cosmetics.”
"What about Wisp?"
"How long did you try to make a go of it?"
"I don't know.Two and a half, maybe three years."
"It was almost four when you finally bailed.”
"So, what's your point?"Jay asked, a touch defensive.
"You threw every dollar you had into making a go of it, but it wasn't meant to be.You were never meant to be co-owner of Wisp.You were meant to strike out on your own and create your company."
"I don't understand where you're going with this?"
"You've got six years with Hope… and it still isn't what you want."
In all the years Jay had known him, Rob had never been so bold with his words.Of course, he didn't have to be.He excelled at getting the message across with just a hint or two.But this time, he laid it all out.Jay sighed with the realization that Rob’s motives were fueled by honest, brotherly affection.They'd been best friends from the moment Rob's family had moved across the street during their elementary school years.Jay trusted him implicitly, with not just his business, but his life.He needed him now more than ever.
Rob continued."If you think it's time to cut your losses, then you should cut your losses and move on."
"She's my wife, Rob.And the woman who saved your sorry ass.She's not some failed financial venture."
"Hope is an amazing woman.A beautiful, intelligent woman.She saved my life and for that, I will be eternally grateful to her.But this isn't about me.You've gotta ask yourself: Are you happy?"
Jay laughed."Define happiness."
"Jay, c'mon, man…”
"Well, we're not Robert and Abby Bradley happy, if that's what you mean.But who is?"
"I swear to God, if you say Abby and I are the perfect couple, I'm gonna reach through this phone and rip your head off," Rob snapped.
"Try it and I'll kick your ass."
"A nerd like you?What are you gonna do?Slam me into a periodic table?”Rob joked.
"You know Hope and I haven't been happy for a long time," Jay said.
"Remember that time we were in New York, and you saw that gorgeous suit in that one store?"Rob asked."Remember how great it looked, and then you tried it on and the cut was all wrong?"
"Yeah.I looked like Joe Pesci fromGoodfellas," Jay confirmed.
"It’s the same thing with Hope.She's gorgeous—just like that suit—but she doesn't fit you."
Jay found his smile once again, thankful for Rob's ability to get to the heart of the matter with a simple, everyday metaphor.
"I swore I wouldn't do this.You heard me.I swore that if and when I finally settled down and became a married man?—"
