AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I study her for a moment. “I’m not sure everyone defines true love the same way. But, yes, I do.”
“I know.”
“I believe in true love for other people,” I tell her.
“Other people? Who might that be?”
“Other. As in not me.”
A million emotions play across Brooklyn’s features. I see confusion, concern, and pain written in her eyes. It’s her sigh that tells me an unexpected story. She feels disappointment.
“Why would you say that?” Brooklyn asks.
“Experience,” I reply. “I believe in once upon a time,” I admit. “It’s the happily ever after part that leaves me skeptical.”
“Someone hurt you.”
“Yes. Me.”
“What do you mean?”
How do I explain this to Brooklyn? Have I been hurt? We’ve all suffered at least one broken heart—lost love, unrequited love, or misplaced trust. I have a talent for falling in love with women who are either emotionally unavailable, unwilling to take a chance, or simply don’t love me. That’s been the story of my life. Maybe somewhere deep down it’s my protection mechanism. Some part of me always knows my tale will end before it’s had a chance to begin. I’ve written chapter one. I’ve read chapter two. Once, I may have reached the third chapter in a story. Love and relationships have never meshed in my life. It’s the reason I’ve stayed single the last eight years. I’ve had relationships. I’ve shared my home and my bed with a partner who was caring and attentive. But I wasn’t in love. I could have stayed, and perhaps I should have stayed. How could I stay with someone when my heart was always restless? I said goodbye. It was the right thing to do for me, and the best thing to do for Andrea. I’ve dated. I’ve had a few one-night stands, and the occasional short-lived lover. I thought I might have found love for a brief moment. She took a one-way flight to a job in Paris. I entertained moving to France. She moved on to someone new before I could book a flight. No. Love isn’t written in my cards. I accept that. Brooklyn isn’t the exception. She’s the rule.
“Carter. Why not for you? You can’t honestly believe that.”
“I do believe it. What about you? Do you believe in true love?”
“I guess that depends on your definition.”
“See? It’s like I said—not everyone defines it the same way,” I tell her.
“How do you define it? True love?”
“I think people confuse love and relationships,” I reply.
“How so?”
“You can fall in love with someone and never have a relationship. And you can have a relationship with a person and never fall in love with them.”
“I guess. Why wouldn’t you want to have a relationship when you fall in love with someone?”
“That presupposes the object of your affection returns your feelings, and that the future they want includes you.”
Brooklyn considers my words. “I’ve never felt a desire to be with someone every day. Not every—”
I stop her before she can finish her thought. “Then why is it hard for you to understand what I am saying?”
“Because.”
“Because?”
Brooklyn appears to be struggling with something. “Carter, I—I don’t know what to say.”
“I don’t think you need to say anything.”
“But I do,” Brooklyn disagrees.
“You don’t need to worry about my love life.” I smile at her. “I’m okay with my life.”
