AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I contemplated that for a moment. “Maybe I am a little bit.”
“Then you need to have these conversations sooner rather than later. If you want a future with Nolan, then you need to tell her. I know you guys haven’t known each other long, but there is too much at stake here not to. Ask her how she feels. Ask her if she thinks a future is possible, and tell her you’re open to learning how to cope with things to make life easier for her.”
“You know, I thought about that before. I want to be there for her. She’s a really strong woman, and she doesn’t need someone to do the heavy work, but emotionally, she’s alone. I hate that.”
“You were emotionally alone for a long time, Brad. You see yourself in her, and that’s why you want to be there for her. You found someone who can understand you.”
“Her husband had an affair on her too. He left Nolan to be with the other woman after his daughter was diagnosed with the heart condition.”
“That’s low.”
“I know. I keep thinking about when Cheryl found out she had cancer. The last thing I considered was walking away. I probably would have been there for her even if she had chosen the other guy.”
He laughed. “You probably would have been. That’s the kind of guy you are, Brad. You live up to your commitments. A lot of men run from them and trouble. The fact that you are even thinking about this and wondering if you could handle it tells me you can. You’re thinking ahead and not just letting your hormones rule your body.”
I snorted. “Yeah, well, when I’m around her, it’s hard not to listen to those.”
“A healthy sex life is good for a relationship.”
“It’s healthy, alright.”
Wes laughed, and for a few moments, we were quiet. “If you find out more about the girls’ conditions, let me know, and I’ll see what information I can get you on them.”
“I would appreciate that, Wes.”
“Anytime, big brother. That’s what family is for.”
I stared at my beer. “I can’t believe you knew Cheryl was having an affair.”
“Henley knows too. He was out with me the night we saw her.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah.”
“If Henley knows, then Hunt knows, which means that Riley knows too. Kayley is probably the only one who doesn’t.”
He looked sheepish. “She knows, and so do Mom and Dad. We discussed it one day. They were the ones that told me I needed to pass the information along to you.”
My mouth hung open. “You all knew? I can’t believe you all knew and never said anything.”
“What was the purpose? Cheryl was dying. We all cared about her, and yeah, maybe we were a little upset about what she did, but she gave us Tonya and Tyler, and we were okay with that.”
“Wow, just wow,” I said as I shook my head. “I had no idea any of you knew.”
“That’s how we wanted it.”
“Is there anything else you know that no one has told me?”
He grinned around his beer bottle. “Yeah, we all know you aren’t a magnum.”
I threw my head back and laughed, and for a few minutes longer, we talked. After I finished my beer, I said goodbye to the kids and hugged my brother.
“Thanks, Wes. I appreciate the talk.”
“What are you going to do now?” he asked as he walked me to my truck.
“I’m going to go see Nolan and hopefully have a long talk before I get her back in my bed.”
