Page 57 of A Million Times, Yes

“You said he had his reasons,” Bettie said. “Let me ask you this: Was it because he was afraid if he was honest, he would lose you?”

I nodded.

Bettie sighed. “Men haven’t changed at all since I was your age. I’m sorry this happened, Maya. I could tell you really liked him.”

“She’s a hot mess over it, Bettie.”

Bettie nodded at Emily. “I can see that. But maybe his indiscretions are something you can overlook? And possibly reconsider?”

This went deeper than his lies.

But I wasn’t going to get into that. Not with Bettie. She was a patient, and I’d already given her more information about my personal life than I probably should.

So instead of going there, I attempted to back up my decision and said, “You know, if a doctor withheld information from a patient, the ramifications could be deadly. It could change the entire course of treatment and the patient’s will to live.” I shifted my weight. “I don’t believe communication between a man and a woman should be any different. I’ve dated my fair share of jerks. I’ve been cheated on. I’vemade horrible decisions when it came to men, and I don’t want that anymore. I want someone who respects me.”

“And you believe he doesn’t?” Bettie’s voice was soft and nonjudgmental.

Emily pulled up a chair and sat next to Bettie and said to her, “We’re so on the same page.”

Bettie patted Emily’s arm. “I just saw how happy she was when she spoke about him, that’s all.”

“That makes two of us, Bettie,” Emily replied.

I let out a long, pent-up breath. “What am I going to do with the both of you?”

“It’s more like, what arewegoing to do withyou?” Emily countered—a confusing statement, considering she knew the layers to this where Bettie didn’t. “We understand why you’re upset. We understand that he didn’t necessarily do the right thing when it came to being up front about his identity”—she looked at Bettie, who nodded—“we just don’t want you to give up an opportunity with someone who could be really wonderful, and he just happened to make a few bad choices. But they were choices he thought were needed at the time.”

There was another vibration in my pocket.

“What if he’s unlike any of the men you’ve dated in the past and happens to be the best thing that’s ever happened to you?” Bettie asked before taking a sip of her water.

“What if he isn’t?” I whispered. I didn’t know why, but I felt the need to back that up so she could understand where I was coming from. “I live a very simple life, Bettie. I have three roommates—one is Emily. I work, I pay rent, I help out my mom, I drink cheap beer, and I have far more nursing scrubs than everyday clothes. Jordan is from a world I don’t understand, can’t relate to, or even wrap my head around.”

“Did you ever consider that he feels the same way about you? And that’s why he didn’t say anything?” Bettie paused. “That his life is far from simple, and knowing how you are, he wanted to tread very carefully and discover the best way to handle this?”

I smiled. “No ... and yes.”

“Which means no,” Emily offered.

“My dear, when men are successful, when they have what he has, they have a hard time trusting because they don’t know if the woman is there out of love or money. If I were to guess, Jordan’s never been with a woman who didn’t know how wealthy he was. Who looked at him like he was just a simple man, not an NHL player or a billionaire. Maybe for him, that was a relief. Maybe he wanted to enjoy those moments for as long as he could.”

“Bettie, you’re a genius,” Emily said.

“I’ve known my fair share of wealthy men,” Bettie admitted. “I know how they operate. I know their mindset. And I know the smile you’ve been wearing on your face, because up until I lost my Ernie, I wore the same one. Which tells me Jordan has made you feel a multitude of emotions, and I’m sure he’s feeling the same ones.”

My phone vibrated again.

“He’s been reaching out,” I told her.

“Have you spoken to him?” Bettie asked.

I closed my eyes and let my head fall back. “Not since this morning.”

“Do you plan to?” Emily questioned.

No.

Yes.