“Do you want it to be over?”
“No. God, no.”
“Do you think he’s a cheating pig?”
I cringed at her words. “No.”
“Do you think he was telling the truth?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s not that type of man.”
“Will you give him a chance?”
“No.”
“Are you ruining your own chances of happiness with that answer?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Times up.”
She gripped my shoulders and squeezed. “Why?”
“Because I’m scared I’ll be wrong again.”
“You aren’t. Not this time. Not about him. Listen to me. This. Is. Your. Man.”
I crumbled in her hold as she spoke on, ignoring my tears. “Luke was an evil bastard who took your innocence and made you feel guilty afterward. You’ll never get that back, and you’ll never be as naïve. You were cautious this time, and with good reason, but you know better with Cameron because this guy just wants to love you. Exchange your baggage and you two will be better for it
. Don’t miss your man on some principle that he was wrong. Hear him out before you make a decision. Or even better, don’t ask questions for once. Trust yourself and reap the reward. You don’t have to know every sordid detail about someone to truly love them. Life changes people in a matter of seconds. We both know that. Who he was a year ago is not who he is today. Maybe you changed him for the better and are hurting him for the worse. You know who you love. You know who Cameron is. You don’t have to know who he was before you loved him. Don’t be so black and white about all of this.”
“I’ll think about it,” I said with a wobbling chin.
“Hurry up, Abbie. It’s not over for you and you’re only hurting your chances by playing it safe.”
“I’m scared.”
“I know,” she said. “Now it’s time for me to get married.”
“Bree,” I said with an emotion-filled voice.
“I know. You love me, you’re happy for me. Blah blah, save it for the toast.”
“Okay. But I do love you.”
“You better.” She took a deep breath and grabbed her bouquet. “Roses are so traditional, don’t you think? I can’t believe I bought into all this hoopla. I expected better of myself.”
“They’re my favorite too. I didn’t know it, though.”
“Oh?” she said, taking a whiff of the heavenly scented stems. “Cameron?”
I nodded, picking up my own bouquet. “Where’s the honeymoon again?”