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“And I wasn’t calling to cancel your membership. I’m not that kind of guy and neither is Sam. You’re welcome at the club anytime.”
“Thanks, that’s very generous, but I think it’s best if I don’t intrude on Sam’s life since I’m no longer part of it. He’s got enough on his plate without having to see me. You can and should cancel the pass you gave me. I’ll cut up the card and send it back to you.”
“Don’t do that. Please don’t, I mean.” Silence hung between them for several beats, before what had to be an exasperated exhale filled her ear. “I’m a person who really values privacy, so I’m not sure how to butt into Sam’s and your business without sounding like a meddling asshole.”
“Then…don’t?”
He snorted. “Yeah, can’t take that advice. If Sam hadn’t stuck his nose into my relationship with Cassie when he did, I wouldn’t be engaged to the woman I’d die for. I owe him.”
“Then save the IOU and pay him back another time, when it’ll count.”
“It counts now, Leigh. For Sam, at least. And that’s enough for me.”
Her turn to sigh. “If I tell you something, are you going to run back and tell him what I said?”
“I probably won’t run. Brisk walk, maybe.”
She could hear the smile in his voice, and it made her laugh. Something she very much needed to do. “You’re a good friend, Brian. I’m glad Sam has you in his life.” This was her opportunity to get information. If she didn’t take it, she likely wouldn’t get another. “How’s he doing, and—the baby, how is she?”
“Call him and find out.”
“I can’t do that.”
“A strong, independent woman like you can do whatever she wants. You’ve already proven that.”
“Then why are you suggesting I call him, when I already independently broke things off and walked away?”
“That’s what you wanted in the heat of the moment. And I don’t blame you, because that was some crazy-shocking news. Now that you’ve had time to process it, maybe you’ve reconsidered. Strong, independent people can change their minds about what they want. But sometimes pride gets in the way of admitting that. Believe me, I know of what I speak. If there’s a chance you want to make that call, but have been holding back, I’m hoping a friendly nudge might push you to make it.”
“So, you think I want him back, but I’m too proud to call him? Or is that what Sam thinks?”
“Hey, this conversation is all me. Sam knows nothing about it. Just like I knew nothing about his call to Cassie, back when we thought the obstacles between us were too big to get over.”
Yet another example of Sam’s goodness. His willingness—no, his nature—to jump in and help others.
God, she missed him.
“Still there?” Brian asked. “Or did you have enough of my shit and hang up?”
She laughed again. “I’m still here. I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but Sam and I don’t have the kind of issues that can be sorted out so we can pick up where we left off and carry on, as if nothing has changed.”
“True. But you can pick up where you left off and take a different road together. Because of your daughter, you and Sam were already in a family vehicle. Now there’d be a car seat in the back as well. A big deal, yeah, but also not so different from where you were already. It just seems like something you can handle.”
“If I want to.”
“Right. All I’m suggesting is that you think about it some more. About whether the current road is really where you want to be. If it is, then it is. But, if you decide the longer drive with some crying along the way is worth the destination, give Sam a call.”
“Thanks for the talk,” she said, in lieu of a response that potentially leaned in any direction. “And thanks for being such a great friend to Sam.”
“Thanks for hearing me out. Hope we’ll see you at Focus soon.”
She ended the call rather than commit or decline. Holding the phone against her chest, she leaned back in her chair, only to have her gaze land on the empty space above her whiteboard. No imaginary lost-time counter popped into her mind this time. Nothing did. Inspiration had deserted her.
Everything she’d created in the last ten days had been a result of autopilot. She’d had passion before Sam, surely it would come back to her. Maybe it was the abruptness of their ending. The finality had been there, but not with satisfying closure.
They were both intelligent, reasonable adults. A sensible goodbye and good-luck conversation would probably do them both good. Help them close the box and shelve it, so they could move on to the next chapters of their respective lives.
That’s what she’d tell herself, anyway. The fact that she missed the sound of his voice had nothing to do with making this phone call.
