Both of the men looked at him with unreadable expressions.
“What?” Marcus demanded. “What aren’t you telling me? Has she said something to Izzie?” He directed this question to Jason, who shook his head.
“Nope. But maybe you’re not able to see the bigger picture because you’re too close. Let me ask you something. Is it possible that the first time she pushed you away was because she was scared? And that fear hasn’t been healed?”
Marcus searched his memories for any indication that Jason was right.
He came up empty.
“I don’t get it. Why would she push me away? I’ve literally been nothing but good for her. I’ve never done anything to hurt her. Not even unintentionally.”
“Maybe that’s the problem.” Mathew leaned back in his chair and studied Marcus for a moment. “Maybe she doesn’t know what to do with you.”
Marcus scoffed. “She doesn’t know what to do with me? Seriously? That’s the best you’re going to come up with.” He shook his head. “Next you’re going to tell me too much of a good thing actually exists. I mean, sure, when we were younger, we were friends and neither one of us had ever crossed that line. Butafter…” He dragged a rough hand through his hair. “After that kiss under the mistletoe when she was a freshman in college, things changed. At least for me.”
“So you kissed her, and she left.” Jason nodded. “That makes sense.”
“No, it doesn’t!”
Mathew chuckled, and then Jason joined in. “If I had to guess, I’d say that she’s not ready for a commitment like you’re willing to offer.”
Marcus’s next words died in his throat. He gaped at the man, unable to compute what he’d said.
“He’s right,” Jason agreed. “She’s getting into her late twenties, and she hasn’t settled down with anyone. She doesn’t have a serious relationship. She’s practically married to her job. I’m not saying that getting married at an early age is the norm, but for someone who looks like her? Who has her life put together and a good career? It’s a logical next step. And it doesn’t look like she’s got any interest in that whatsoever. Maybe you’re asking the wrong questions here.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Marcus demanded.
“It means, instead of asking why she’s pushing you away, maybe you need to ask why she hasn’t settled down with anyone yet.” Jason glanced over to his brother, who merely nodded.
Maybe they had a point.
Hadn’t Wynter expressed that she wasn’t interested in settling down when they were younger? Or at least that she didn’t think relationships were capable of lasting? A long-lost thought niggled in the back of his mind, but he couldn’t grasp onto it long enough for it to make sense.
“What about you?”
Marcus startled at the question and glanced at Mathew. He was studying him hard as if doing so would ensure that Marcus would answer his question. “What about me?”
“Why haven’tyousettled down?”
Nodding to Mathew’s left hand, he gave the doctor a pointed look. “You’re not married, and you’re older than your brother.”
Jason ducked his head and chuckled. Mathew’s expression grew tight. He didn’t seem to like this line of questioning. But he didn’t hide from it either. “For your information, I was married. And it didn’t work out.”
Guilt immediately swarmed Marcus. He wanted to shrink back at Mathew’s pained tone. Had the split been one-sided? Or maybe it was a matter of failure. Something told Marcus that Mathew wasn’t the type of person who handled failure of any kind well. It would make sense considering the career he’d chosen.
Despite the low hum of voices in the café, Marcus felt the silence of their conversation press in on him. Outside, snow was starting to fall. What could have been a peaceful setting for the beginning of December felt more ominous than anything else.
“Well?” Mathew broke the quiet, his voice holding an edge. “Fair’s fair. I answered you. Now it’s your turn.”
Marcus lifted his gaze to the men seated across from him. “I think some part of me knew that Wynter was it. From the moment I kissed her. Maybe even from the moment I met her. She’s always been more to me than just a friend, but I was too blind to see it.” Roughing a hand over his face, he continued, “And now I feel like I’m losing her. Again.”
He groaned and leaned his head back, his fingers laced behind his neck to brace it as he stared at the ceiling.
“How is that even possible?” he asked no one in particular. “How can I lose something I’ve never even had?”
The fact that the men didn’t answer him only made this situation worse. None of them had faith that it would work out. Their suggestion to be patient wasn’t going to be good enough.He knew it in his bones. He had to do something. Anything to convince her.
His next words were a whisper. “Seeing her again brought it all back. I can’t give up.”
