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“I just have one question first.” She waits patiently for me to ask. “Nothing’s changed? Meaning what exactly? You’re still thinking or you’re still saying no?”
“Still thinking.”
“All right. If you need help deciding, call me.” I grin.
Brittany laughs, and damn, I’ve missed her laugh. Without thinking, I bend to kiss her forehead. Her laugh abruptly ends. I walk away before I can capture much more of her reaction because I don’t want to see her conflicted eyes, a mixture of resistance, desire, love, and hate. There’s only two of those that I’d rather see.
The lack of anger at my unannounced arrival has to be good, right? She didn’t immediately kick me to the curb. She smiled and even laughed. She’ll come back to me.
She has to.
I stare at the flowers Trace brought. No one has ever bought me flowers before. It’s odd how it’s softened me. They’re just flowers. They’ll be dead eventually.
“What’s the deal with him?” I hear Quinn ask. “You never mentioned him.”
“It’s a long story, which I doubt you actually want to hear,” I say as I face him.
“I still care about you.” As if that’s enough reason to talk about an ex.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
Quinn frowns. “I miss you.”
For some reason, I doubt he truly means it. We were only together for two months, and the first sight of an old flame reentering the picture so soon after we break up is probably why he misses me. Quinn is a little…territorial, I guess. He’s probably just jealous.
“I’m too much work, remember?” I say, causing him to flinch.
“Not my best choice of words,” he mumbles.
“Yet they’re still true. Did you get everything?” The sooner he leaves, the better. I can’t deal with two men in my life. It’s been a long day at work, plus dealing with both Trace and Quinn, and I’m exhausted. I need sleep ASAP.
“Yeah. I’ll, um, get going. Bye.”
“Bye.”
Once he’s out the door, I decide to skip dinner and head to bed. Who cares if it’s only six in the evening? I’ve been up since six this morning and have had more than I can handle for one day. Even though I have no clue what I want to do about Trace, the looming decision is weighing on me. I’ve been trying not to think about it really. It just stresses me out and leaves me more confused than anything. I am so angry with him, but I miss him and he was sweet bringing me flowers, and he seems so genuine.
What am I supposed to do with that shit?
My feelings for Trace are all over the place. How am I supposed to make a decision based on that? Rebecca is firmly Team Anyone But Trace. Same for my dad. Mom is the only one who thinks he deserves another chance. Thirty minutes after getting in bed, I can’t sleep. I decide to call Mom.
“You must need to talk if you’re the one calling me,” she answers.
I laugh softly. “You just always call me before I can call you.”
“That’s probably true. What’s going on? Something new with Trace?”
“Not really. He brought me flowers today.”
“That’s sweet. It sounds like he’s trying.”
“Tell me what to do, Mom,” I beg. “Can I go back to someone I don’t even trust? What sense does that make?”
“Because if the love is still there, then trust can be repaired. I know he hurt you, Brittany, but after hearing why, it makes sense. Now, that doesn’t mean I agree with it. Only that I can see his point of view and understand it.”
“Why do you think I should get back together with him?”
Mom is quiet for a moment as if forming her thoughts. “Because despite everything else going on, he made you happier than anyone else ever has. There’s a reason why you were so heartbroken. You loved him so deeply that it cut even deeper. Don’t you think if you have a chance to get that love back, you should try?”
