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“Says me. I already lost Courtney over this. If I want any chance of rebuilding that relationship I can’t do it with Ant in my life.”
“Bullshit,” Tess interrupts.
I look at her for a long moment, not really sure how to respond.
“Courtney loves you, Bree,” she finally continues. “She will find a way to forgive you with or without Anthony in the picture. Her pride is hurt right now, but I think deep down she knows she and Ant were done a long time ago, and she will get over it. What she won’t get over is you lying to her, betraying her, and then coming out the other end with nothing to show for it.”
“I don’t think she’d see it that way.”
“I know she does.”
“What do you mean?” I question.
“You think Courtney and I haven’t talked about this? Of course, we have. And she has said to me exactly what I’m saying to you. She loves you, and she wants you to be happy. She’s hurt right now, but at the end of the day you’re more important to her than any guy; especially one she dated over five years ago.”
“I love him so much,” I choke on my words, letting the emotion of what Tess is telling me to seep through. “I don’t know if I can live without him.”
“Then don’t.” She smiles.
“What if it’s too late? What if I lost my one and only chance to be happy?”
“And what if you didn’t?” she counters. “You will never know unless you try. Take it from someone who’s been there.”
“But I don’t even know how to reach him. And I have a son; it’s not like I can just pick up on a whim and fly across the country if he’s in Rockfield.”
“Then you wait,” she says like it’s just that simple.
“Just like that?” I laugh bitterly.
“Just like that.” She reaches for the wine bottle on the table, topping off her glass before leaning over and refilling mine. “Just give it some time. Ant will come back and when he does, you don’t give him any other option but to hear you out.” She pauses, taking a drink. “Maybe he’ll say no, maybe he really is willing to walk away from you that easy, but that’s something you’re just going to have to find out yourself.”
“Do you think we could ever be as happy as you and Sebastian?” I don’t even know why I ask the question. I guess deep down I just need some reassurance.
“I really do.” She smiles. “I see the way you look at him, Bree, and the way he looks at you.”
“I never thought I’d want the family life. The husband and kids, the white picket fence, the dog running around in the yard. But watching Ant with Jack, it’s the first time I’ve ever even considered having more children. Because I want that with him. I want him to be a father to Jackson. I want to give him a son or daughter or both of his own. I want to walk into the kitchen in the morning to them making breakfast. I want to watch him tuck them in at night and tell them how much their daddy loves them. I want all of it. Isn’t that crazy? Like, who am I?” I ask, not sure if the question is meant for Tess or myself.
“You’re a girl who finally understands what it means to be in love.”
“I never thought this would be my life,” I admit, gesturing around the room. “I never thought I’d have any kids, or move across the country, or find love in the most unexpected place.”
“But you did, you did all those things. You’re the strongest person I know, Bree Kingsley. With or without Anthony, you will prevail, because that’s what you do. You fight your way back. I’ve been watching you do it since we were little. You’re a fighter, Bree. It’s time you start fighting for what you truly want. The rest will all work itself out.”
“I don’t know how I ever got so lucky to have you in my life,” I say, getting unusually sappy. “You have been my rock—you and Courtney—my constants in a world I could never seem to keep up with. I just want you to know how much I love you. You are my family.”
“And you are mine,” she responds, wrapping her arms around my neck as she pulls me into a hug. “You will be happy, Bree. I know it. Because you deserve it more than anyone I’ve ever met. And I mean that with everything I have.”
“Thank you,” it’s all I can manage to say.
Tess is right—it’s time to fight for what I want. It’s my turn to be happy. And with a renewed sense of optimism, I make myself a promise right here and now. Anthony Treadway will be mine and once I have him, I’m never letting him go again.
