“Ahh, that’s so sweet,” Rosy says. “Is that what you’re planning, Cuddle Bear?”
“No, I’m not…” I shake my head, exasperation flooding my veins. “I don’t have any plans for any grand romantic gestures or anything. I amnotthe man she needs. She needs someone who could survive in her world—someone well-read who…likes being inside all the time at meetings and lunches and who would be happy to attend an endless list of boring functions. I couldn’t even stand being at Emma’s awful wedding. No offense, Emma.”
She shrugs. “None taken. I could hardly stand it myself.”
“Listen, I know you all think you’re helping me, but you aren’t. None of you have even met Arabella, so you really have no idea what’s best for her.”
“Andyou do?” Emma asks. “That’s a little condescending, no?”
“Yes, I do,” I answer. “We talked about it, and we both realized there wasn’t anything for us after our time out there.”
“So, it did happen!” Rosy says.
Letting my shoulders drop, I mutter, “Fine. Yes. It happened. And now it’s over. Can we all please move on?”
“No,” they all say at the same time.
“We want you to be happy,” Rosy says. “And if that cute little princess makes you happy, you should be with her.”
“And what? Give up everything I love, only to start to resent her for it?” I say. “Or ask her to give up her life for me, so she can be the one with the bitter taste in her mouth for the rest of her days? Besides, I’mfinallyhome for once. Isn’t that what you wanted?” I ask Rosy. “To have your Cuddle Bear here full-time?”
“Not if he’s going to pout about it,” she says, wrinkling up her nose.
“Yeah.” Harrison nods. “I’d rather have you off globe-trotting than have you sitting here whining.”
“I have abroken leg.”
“And a broken heart,” Rosy says.
“No, just my leg,” I answer. “You know what? I told myself if I made it out of there alive, I was going to be a better brother from now on. And a better uncle.” I look at Rosy. “And a better Cuddle Bear.”
That ought to work. Rosy can’t resist her Cuddle Bear. She’ll flip to my side now.
Huh, that’s weird. She’s not smiling and peppering my cheeks with kisses. Instead, she’s giving me a dirty look.
Harrison nods his head. “Yup. He’s scared.”
I start to object, but he holds up his hand. “I’m not judging you. I totally get it. It was the same with Libby and me. One of us had to give up their life for the other. It’s a tough call.”
“Good thing she made it,” Rosy says.
“Well, not really.” He shakes his head. “If she hadn’t wanted to move here, I would have dropped everything and left. And as much as I would have missed everyone, I wouldn’t have regretted it for a second. Sorry guys, but that’s the truth.”
I scoff. “You would havehatedliving in Valcourt.”
“No, I would’ve been happy because I’d still be with her. So your situation is complicated. Big deal. Every relationship comes with some sort of puzzle to solve. But together, you find a way to make it work, because that’s what love is.”
Rosy sniffs. “He’s right, Cuddle Bear. Take Darnell and me. He loves to fish, and I love to stare at hot younger men, but we found a way so we can both get what we need.” She means her husband goes fishing every day while she’s at work gawking at the Fed Ex guy when he comes by.
“Yeah, I’m glad that works for you and Darnell, but our situation is not at all the same as yours,” I say. “I have nothing to offer her. I’m not rich, I don’t even have my own house, let alone a castle. She’s aprincess, for God’s sake. And I’m…nothing now.”
“That’s ridiculous. You’re handsome and smart and sweet,” Rosy says, swatting me on my knee. “Plus, you’re a big TV star.”
“My career is over. I had to becarriedout of the jungle. By aprincess. Not exactly the right kind of image for a guy who spends his life teaching people how to survive in the wild. The humiliation can be felt around the world, and the show hasn’t even aired yet. That’s just from a thirty-second news clip.”
“Well, that’s that then,” Emma says, getting up. “We tried.”
Rosy stands as well. “Yup. He’s determined to spend the rest of his life feeling sorry for himself.”
