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"Is that why..." I trail off, not really sure I want to know the answer.
He exhales and the sound makes my heart dip. "I'm not going to blame my father for my poor choices, Iz. I made them. I bear the weight of them. But my father was a firm believer that we have an obligation to people who are loyal to us. That we take care of the people who stick by us."
"Blind loyalty," I offer with a small smile. "Is that why you chose Maya?"
"In the end, I chose you," he frowns. "I was late. I showed up too late."
"You chose Maya first," I clear my throat.
"I did."
I watch as he grabs the coffee cup off the table and takes a sip.
Deciding that the Maya conversation gets us nowhere, I say, "I feel an obligation to keep the peace with Steve because I left him. But I don't want to take care of him. I did that for years."
"What do you want from him then?" Brady runs a hand through his hair, making my stomach flutter with butterflies.
"Nothing," I answer. "I want to be left alone."
"I'm not sure that's possible," Brady chuckles.
"No," I agree as I think about it for a moment. What do I want from Steve? "I want Steve to be a good father. I want him to get his life in order. I want him to find a good job that's nothere."
"You need space."
"I need space."
"You need to tell him, then," Brady offers.
"It's not that easy," I purse my lips. "Steve isn't..."you.
My cell phone vibrates in my pocket and I break eye contact with Brady to grab it. Steve is calling for the fourth time.
"You should take that," Brady points to my phone. "And tell him the truth."
I watch as he stands and grabs his coffee.
"Where are you going?"
"If you need to leave work early to pick him up, you should go now."
"I have things to do here," I shrug. "He can rent a car."
Brady smirks. "Then tell him, Iz."
I reach a hand out as he starts to walk by.
As our fingers twine, I gaze up at him. "Thank you."
"For what?" he furrows his brow.
"For..."everything.
To my surprise, Brady kisses the top of my head as if he can hear what I didn't say.
He gives my hand a tight squeeze before he lets go and leaves me sitting at the table with my vibrating phone.
Chapter 16
