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“She made her choice. She doesn’t want me. I’m letting her be happy with Max.”
Shannon blew out a frustrated breath. “She doesn’t really want Max, and she’s not happy. She’s been just about as mopey as you’ve been all week.”
“Really?”
“Yes, but if you don’t do something soon, I’m afraid you’re going to lose your chance.”
“What am I supposed to do?”
“Tell her how you feel.”
“I did. I told her I wanted to be with her more than anything. But I hurt her. Deeply. I made her feel used, and she thinks I only chose her because Dréa ended things.”
“Did you?”
“No! I love her. I love her so much.” He raked his hands through his hair. “I can’t sleep. I can’t eat. I can’t work. I’m going out of my mind over here.”
When he looked at his sister, she was smiling ear to ear.
“Why are you smiling like that?”
“I wasn’t a hundred percent sure this wasn’t about Dréa, that maybe you were more hurt over losing her than you were letting on. But now I know I was right. You love Jamie, and that makes me so happy.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re happy because I’m not.”
“So, get off your butt and do something about it.” She stood and grabbed his arm. “Get up and go talk to her.” She pulled until he was on his feet. “Tell her you’re sorry.” She turned him and pushed him toward the door.
“I apologized. What more can I say?”
“I don’t know, but you have to find a way to make things right with her.”
“What if it doesn’t work? What if she still doesn’t want to be with me?”
“If all else fails, grovel.”
He laughed at his sister’s pushiness and spun out of her grip, pulling her into a hug. “I love you, Shan.”
“I love you too. And I want you to be happy. Both of you.”
“I feel like I’ve already lost her. And I guess I have to be okay with that. For the baby.”
Shannon gave him a tight squeeze before letting go. “Don’t give up. Go talk to her.”
“Okay. I will.”
She looked up at him with a smile. “She’s at the studio.”
As Duncan approached the studio door, his palms sweated, nerves churned his stomach, and his heart raced in his chest. He’d spent the drive there thinking of all he wanted to say to her and how to show her he was serious about her, about them as a family.
She glanced up at the sound of the door chimes and stood. “Hi.”
“Hi.” He had a huge lump in his throat. “Can I talk to you?”
“Okay.”
He felt a little lightheaded. “Can we take a walk? It’s a nice day.”
“All right.” She grabbed her keys and went to the door, hanging a sign that read “Be Back Soon” and locking the door behind them.