Page 132 of Denim & Diamonds

“I don’t think Patrick is getting all analytical about it like you think he is.” My brother stopped sanding the wall for a moment. “Look, the sooner he gets used to other people watching him, the better off you’ll both be. It’s good for your mental health, too.”

The thing was, Ilikedtaking care of him myself and felt like I was missing out anytime we were apart. If I could’ve been home all the time with him, that would’ve been fine by me, so long as I got a couple of quick sanity breaks here and there. But the damn cabin needed to be built. We were outgrowing my apartment fast. And I couldn’t just let my businesses crumble. So I supposed my brother was right. I had to get used to giving up some control with Patrick, if I didn’t want all of the other parts of my life to go to shit.

“I’ve seen that Tori before,” Trevor said, referring to the babysitter. “She’s pretty cute. I should ask her if she cooks Mexican.” He winked.

“Oh yeah? You ready to be a father to her kids, too?”

“Not quite.” He chuckled.

“Then don’t waste her time.”

“Yeah, that’s probably wise.” He reached for more sandpaper. “So how did you leave things with February?”

My stomach was in knots just thinking about it. February had been constantly on my mind, but this was the first time I’d be forced to talk about what had happened when she left last weekend.

I swallowed. “You mean after I told her I loved her, and she didn’t return it?”

His eyes widened. “Whoa…say what?”

“It was a split-second decision and so fucking stupid. I blurted it out just as we were leaving each other at the airport. She didn’t say it back. It was the pause heard around the world. She told me to ‘take care of myself’.”

“Ouch.” He cringed. “That’s the equivalent of telling someone to go jerk off. What does ‘take care of yourself’ even mean?”

“It doesn’t mean I love you. She didn’t know what to say. I caught her off guard.” I ran my hand through my hair. “I realize that wasn’t the most opportune time, but…”

Trevor finished my sentence. “Butyou meant it. And you’ve always been someone who follows your heart. So you did what felt right at the time. Don’t blame yourself for being true to your feelings. If you hadn’t said it, you might’ve regretted it. Now you know the outcome.”

“I guess,” I muttered. “But a lot of good that did me.”

His brow furrowed. “You don’t think she feels the same?”

“The answer seems pretty clear to me. Wouldn’t she have said it back if she did?”

“Fair question, but there are other reasons she might’ve not said it at that moment.”

“Like what?” I reached for the power drill but stopped short of turning it on.

He shrugged. “She was leaving town. Maybe she didn’t feel like the time was right…because everything was rushed.”

“That’s a bit of a stretch, don’t you think? What better opportunity to return the sentiment than when someone says it to you? She didn’t reciprocate because she doesn’t feel the same.” I sighed. “I think she cares about me, but I’m not sure ifloveis what she feels.”

“Okay, well, if she doesn’t return your feelings, it’s a good thing you’re finding this out now. Right? Look at it that way.”

“Nice try attempting to put a positive spin on my humiliation. But only time is gonna heal this.”

Trevor walked over to find his coffee. “Maybe she’s doing you a favor, allowing you the freedom you need to find a good woman locally who wants to be a mother to Patrick.”

That was laughable. “Oh yeah, as if the perfect person for me just happens to be here in Meadowbrook out of everywhere in the world? Said woman’s been here all this time, waiting in the wings?” I rolled my eyes. “Just because something is convenient doesn’t make it right. I won’teversettle, Trevor. No matter how badly Patrick needs a mom. A woman his father doesn’t love is never gonna be the right choice, no matter how good she might be to him. Love is one thing you don’t compromise on, you know?”

Trevor nodded. “I guess you’d still be with Nina if you were open to compromise, huh?” He set his mug on the ground. “Speaking of which, do you think Nina would’ve changed her mind about raising Patrick if you had proposed to her back when she was giving you that ultimatum?”

“I have no idea. But in any case, things are the way they’re meant to be. Nina wasn’t the one—even before she gave up her son. And especially now, knowing whatshe did?Definitelywasn’t the one. That only solidified what I already knew.”

“I’d say you dodged a bullet, but youdidknock her up.”

“And I have no regrets about my son, thank you very much.”

“Nor do I about my handsome nephew.” He grinned. “Anyway, the perfect women for us are out there somewhere. We just need to be patient.”