“Hmm.”
I place my fork down and ask, “What does ‘hmm’ mean?”
He chews on his food and washes it down with a large gulp of his coffee.
“I know what Dahlia means to you, and I know you felt, at the time, that you were doing the right thing, but this is wrong. You should be going after her and explain what’s really going on. It’s a difficult situation, but you need Dahlia here with you.”
He eats more food and watches me between bites.
“She entered the relationship with you knowing about Brittany. I know it was hit and miss at the beginning, but you two are right for each other. And no matter how difficult she’d find what’s happening now, I bet she’d want to be here. You don’t love Brittany and you never have. Dahlia will understand you being compassionate and not going through with the divorce when she discovers the reason behind your decision.”
I push my plate away, unable to eat any more with my stomach threatening to rebel.
“I want Dahlia here more than anything, and I constantly miss her.” I sigh, feeling about ninety years old. “I just can’t ask her to live with me while my wife is dying of cancer. Before with the divorce going ahead, it was different. This is something I can’t ask of her . . . I’m such a coward.”
He raises a brow and sits back in the chair, sipping his second cup of coffee.
“I’m afraid that if I ask her, she won’t want to know.”
“I’ll never agree
with you not telling her, but you know her best.”
I debate whether or not to tell him my plans but, in the end, there’s no need to keep them from anyone.
“I need to go and see her.”
He pauses mid-sip.
“I’m not going to let her see me, but I’m going to find out where she is and just . . . see her.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” he offers.
Do I?
“I think I’ll be good, but thanks for asking.”
“You aren’t going to do anything stupid, are you?”
“I seriously just want to see her and make sure she’s okay. That’s all. I’m not going to go and talk to her until I’m free to do so.”
He nods. “How are you going to find out where she is?”
“Reece.”
“And he’s really going to tell you, huh?”
“He will when I tell him what’s really going on.”
And I know that’s what I have to do. I have to tell him the truth and hope he won’t go and tell Dahlia.
Reece is the only one who will know where she is, at least, that’s what I’m thinking. Up until she gave me her trust, it was always Reece.
It kills me knowing that she believes I’ve betrayed her and, in a way, I have. Which makes me wonder if I’ll ever gain her trust again.
“When are you leaving?” Jace breaks into my thoughts.
“As soon as I know where she is.”