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“And before your engagement ended, how did you spend your weekends?”
“Mike always wanted to go out and be seen. In his mind, being a surgeon didn’t count unless he could tell everyone about it.”
“After two minutes with the guy, I’m not surprised. But what I can’t see is you putting up with it.”
No, the new Brooke wouldn’t. “After being in the shadow of my mother for so long and belonging in a world where title and status meant everything, I was used to it. Don’t get me wrong: I enjoyed dressing up and socializing, especially with wine and good food involved. But I don’t think I’d been my true self until the night of my sister’s wedding.”
He touched my bottom lip with the pad of his thumb. “Crazy girl.”
“On occasion, yes. Mainly, it was nice to feel free of judgment.”
“Your ex never gave you any credit, did he?”
Neither had my parents. “No, he didn’t. It was always about him being better than me because he was a surgeon. My mother made similar comparisons between herself and me.”
“What assholes. I guess I don’t need to tell you.”
“It’s still nice to hear. Do you know what pisses me off the most?”
“What?”
“I diminished myself in order to stroke their egos. I didn’t do it consciously, but looking back, I see I always let them both have the spotlight. It made them happy while I didn’t care as much. I changed my decisions to suit them rather than myself. Never again, though.”
I had San Francisco and my second chance in mind. This time, I wouldn’t let anything get in my way.
