“Don’t let that bitch from back then ruin the rest of your life.” I prop my back against his truck, as he stands in front of me with his hands on his hips.
“Look at me,” he demands.
“I am.”
“Fuck, Ryder. Really look at me. Most days I barely hold it together. Yes, I’m finally starting to find some satisfaction in my job, but it isn’t the one I want to be doing—I’m not whole and I haven’t been in five years.”
That’s the first time he’s admitted out loud how much losing his detective badge hurt him. But I sure as hell don’t like the whole part. I’m not going to act as though I’ve no idea what he’s talking about. Because thinking that way isn’t healthy.
“Do you seriously think Savannah, over there, doesn’t think you’re whole? She can’t keep her eyes off you, and blushes when you catch her staring.”
“Yeah, and how do you think she’ll react when I take the prosthesis off?” he asks, his voice laced with a mixture of anger and hurt.
“Look, not everyone is like your ex. You need to stop letting that bitch into your head. You’ve come a long way since the shooting and I don’t see how one date is going to screw anything up. Savannah doesn’t seem like a ‘get laid quick’ kind of woman so I can’t imagine you’ll be stripping anytime soon . . . But you’re in shorts now so it’s not exactly going to come as a surprise to her that you’re missing something.”
He rubs his hand over his face. “Okay, enough about me. What’d you need to talk about?”
He’d taken my mind from my problems and now, they’re back. “I went to visit Brittany today, and it was the weirdest thirty minutes I’ve ever spent with her.”
“How?” He rests beside me on his truck.
“Mom visited her yesterday and apparently, whatever she said got Brittany thinking. She’s accepted that we’re getting divorced and she’s sorry.” I let out a heavy sigh. “Something’s going on, though. She didn’t look good but said it was the start of a cold. I’m not sure if that was fact.”
I rub my temples before letting my hand drop away. “I’m still going to go through with the divorce, but—”
Jace glances at me when I pause. “But what?”
“I’ve told Evan to keep in touch with how she’s doing. I thought I wanted a clean break, and part of me still does. It’s just that seeing her lying in bed, looking like she’s fading away, made me stop and think. It didn’t help, her telling me that she always looked forward to seeing me on her birthday.”
I push away from the truck and face Jace. “What the fuck am I going to do?”
“You might want Evan to keep you up-to-date, but my guess is you’re feeling guilty about going ahead with the divorce. The problem is, you know if you don’t, you’ll lose Dahlia. Does that sum it up?”
I throw my head back and stare up at the sky. “Yeah.”
Looking back at my brother, I notice the frown on his face. “You’re finally getting your life back on track with Kix, you have a woman you love . . . and now you’re hesitating to end your old relationship. My only advice is to stick to your guns, and don’t let anything sway you from doing what your heart is telling you to do.”
“You didn’t see her though. I can’t get the image out of my head.”
I was planning to carry on with the divorce after I left her room, even after leaving her house, but on the drive over my mind kept wavering. No matter what anyone says, she isn’t doing too well—that was obvious.
“Go through with the divorce, but there isn’t any harm staying in touch with Evan, right? I’ve never met Dahlia, but I’m guessing she’s pretty special to have you tied in knots. You don’t want to lose her over this.” He laughs. “Fuck, just call me Mom.”
“Mom.” I chuckle. “I need to call Ryan Townsend, the lawyer and get him to send the papers . . . I need to call Dahlia back as well.” I wince, remembering sending her call to voicemail.
Jace gives me a curious look so I explain, “She called when I was walking out of Brittany’s house. I didn’t know what the hell to tell her so I sent it to voicemail. I just hope she isn’t going to be pissed.”
“That’s why I stay single,” he comments.
“Yeah right,” I reply, not wanting to start anything with him now. “I’m going to head home. I need to see my girl, and I’ll leave Ryan for tomorrow.”
“All right. You take care.” He grins. “I’ll see you soon at Mom and Dad’s for dinner. Can’t wait to meet Dahlia.” He grins.
“Dick,” I mumble under my breath.
He roars with laughter while I’m getting back into my truck. If there weren’t any kids around, he’d be getting the finger about now.
Dahlia