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“Patty, you went through something traumatic.”
“Andrew was relieved when I lost the baby. He came to the hospital with me and made sure I was okay after the procedure. Then he broke up with me and said he was never ready for kids or something so serious. I was devastated because of losing the baby, but he broke my heart. I questioned how I could ever fall for a man like that. My father is such a good man. I didn’t know the opposite of him existed out there.”
I take her in my arms again and hold her. “I’m sorry you had to go through all of that. It must have been so hard to lose the baby and, on top of it, that asshole played you,” I comfort.
“It was a dark time,” she admits. “I never told my parents, and my father is still friends with the guy. He’s going to be at Hunter’s wedding. I need you to come with me because I don’t know if he will try to talk to me, but I don’t want to talk to him. I have nothing to say to him, and I just need you to help me keep him at a distance,” she confesses.
“I’ll be there. I promise you that but if that asshole comes near you; I can’t promise I won’t punch him,” I warn.
My words cause a bubble of laughter to escape her.
“I’m serious,” I say, pulling my head back and looking in her eyes.
“Oh, I know, Evan, but you can’t punch him because my parents don’t know what happened. I don’t want them feeling responsible or guilty.”
“So because of that asshole, you’ve been playing the field. Not wanting to settle down,” I state.
“That, and I never wanted to get pregnant again. The doctors told me I was young and it was probably a fluke, but I never wanted to experience the pain of losing a baby ever again. When I met Skylar, I took care of her and helped her. I told myself it was my only chance to experience a pregnancy through her. I helped her take care of Crew. I felt satisfied knowing I had that time helping her raise Crew and making sure they were off to a good start, because Sky had no one,” she explains.
Her words cause my heart to fracture, but they also make me fall in love with her a little more than I already am. Patty has a heart of gold. She is trusting and a good person, and that asshole took advantage of her goodness.
“That’s why it’s been so hard for you since Skylar moved out of your place,” I remark.
She nods. “I love Crew like my own, but I never want to have a child of my own.”
I take her and hold her close. “What you went through was tragic, but you were young. Your heart can heal.” I want to kiss the hell out of her but now is clearly not the time to confess my feelings.
We are interrupted by a phone call. The food has arrived.
“Please don’t tell anyone,” she begs before she goes to the door. She wipes at her eyes.
“You know I won’t. You can trust me,” I assure.
“I know I can,” she replies, and that does something to my insides.
She goes to the door to collect the food and when she returns, she looks at me with a sad smile.
“I lost my appetite,” she states.
“No, Patty, that man is your past. He may have hurt you, but you are strong and amazing. You can’t let that asshole define your life anymore. There is great love out there waiting for you. You just need to be open to it,” I declare. Okay, I know I may be talking in riddles but it’s better than having a full-on confession here.
“Thanks, Evan. I appreciate you,” she replies, and her hand comes up and caresses my face. Her touch sends bolts of electricity through me and I feel like a lovesick puppy.
“I appreciate you too, Patty. Now let’s eat,” I urge because after a confession like that, what else can you do?
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
Patty
After a very awkward two-and-a-half-hour flight from JFK to Chicago O’Hare, with Mom and Dad sitting on one side of me and Evan on the other, I’m ready for some tequila and space from everyone. During the flight I began to fantasize about inviting Evan to the restroom with me and becoming a mile high club member. Who knows, maybe he’s already part of the club, but I’m not and . . . what am I doing? If I am going to get through this weekend in one piece, then I need to remember Evan is my dear friend and not a man I want to hump the hell out of like a dog in heat.
When we reach the hotel, we all check in together. Kevin meets us in the lobby so it’s a true family affair. Dad lingers as I get my room key and Evan gets his, which makes me wonder if he is suspicious about there being more between Evan and me than I have let on.
We have a jam-packed couple of days with a rehearsal dinner tonight, a brunch in the morning, and the wedding late tomorrow afternoon.
“I’m going to go take everything to my room,” Evan says of his luggage.
“’Kay, catch you later,” I say.
