“You’re welcome, Ronan. Take care, and I’ll see you next time for our session.”
“Next time,” I reiterated and left.
Reaching the parking lot, I unlocked the doors of my jet-black Rolls-Royce Droptail and slid into the driver’s seat, pressing Dillon’s contact and waiting for him to pick up.
Dillon Xander. My best friend for almost twenty years, though“friend” hardly covered it. This was the man who knew all the darker, messier sides of me and never flinched. Dillon was a force to be reckoned with in his own right: billionaire CEO of Xander Empire, with a presence as sharp and intimidating as his business acumen. He ran the boardroom and the tabloids like a gladiator’s arena, and his world knew no room for weakness or hesitation. If anyone could understand my pain, it’d be that asshole.
“What is it, Ronan?” he answered, exasperation clear in his tone.
“I’ve been calling you since midday.”
“I know,” he replied flatly. “I watched my phone ring.”
“Asshole,” I snarled under my breath.
“Is there a problem?” he asked, his tone a bit gentler than before.
“Do you believe in second chances?”
The line went silent, and I assumed he was thinking. “Depends on the situation,” he finally responded.
“Think about it.”
“Ronan,” he hissed, “You’re not serious. I thought you were over h—”
“My silence on the matter doesn’t mean I’m over her,” I interrupted, my voice thick with frustration. “Ican’tbe over her. But I’ve spent five fucking years watching her through everyone else’s eyes. I can’t live like this.”
“Five years?”he echoed, surprised.
“Yes. So, do you believe in second chances?”
“Do you think she will give it a second chance? I know her, and what happened between the two of you hasn’t had the best effect on either of you. But, by all means, if you think it’s a good idea, go for it.”
“Women are difficult,” I sputtered, deflecting.
“Think about the whole situation, Ronan, before you doanything drastic. If you need me, I’m here for you.”
“Didn’t you say you watched the phone ring when I called you?”
I could practically hear his eyes roll. “I was busy, alright? You know how it is.”
“Yeah, sure,” I replied, slight amusement lacing my tone.
The line went silent for a while, then he sighed.
“Just be careful,” he urged, his tone a blend of concern and compassion. “You did what you thought was best. You lost everyone you relied on for guidance, so you protected her from the turmoil you were going through. She may never fully understand that, but don’t punish yourself for it. On the other hand, Nina might not know what it’s like to lose your support system piece by piece, but she does know what it’s like to watch her whole world fall apart and then have to rebuild it, all on her own.”
I took what he said into deep consideration, and he was right, but she deserved better.
The woman who stood by me through everything deserved better.
And that is what I would be—better.
“You’re right,” I admitted, “but I’ve gotta try.”
“It’s late. I’m headed to bed,” he said, his tone gentle. “You should also get some rest.”
“Lucky you. I’m headed to do hour thirty-seven of a twenty-hour shift,” I announced.
