“The fine line is you’re either in or you’re out,” Sanders says. “With a woman like Scottie, you can’t casually pursue her. You’re either all in, or you don’t do it at all. And I can see it in you. I can see that you can be that man who goes all in. But you have to commit to it. What were your parents like?”
“They had the greatest marriage until they didn’t,” I say. “My dad was in a car accident, became a quadriplegic. It was hard. My mom carried a lot of stress and ended up cheating on my dad. It was really shitty, and I’ve worked through a lot of it in therapy. My brother is still working on it. My relationship with her is decent. My dad passed, and my main concern is taking care of my brother and making sure he’s okay. I don’t want to lose him as well.”
Sanders nods. “Ever think that you’re possibly committing to your brother and that’s why you can’t quite commit to Scottie, because you’re afraid it might stretch you too thin?”
“I…” I pause and think about it. Shit. Is that the holdup?
“I can see by the surprise in your expression that I might have just hit the nail on the head.” He claps his hands for the ball, and I toss it to him. “You need to speak with your brother, because if you want a shot with Scottie,thatrelationship needs to be resolved. Chances are he doesn’t want the emotional commitment you’ve enveloped him with.”
“True. I hadn’t thought about it like that. He was bullied as a kid, and I guess I just wanted him to feel secure in himself. He…he wanted to cut out of life early after Dad died, if you get whatI’m saying.” I grimace, hating that I’ve just shared something so personal about Mika.
“That would have been extremely traumatic to walk through for the both of you. And now? Where do you think he is emotionally? Does he still need you as his crutch?”
“Well, he’s my brother, so I’ll always prioritize his emotional health.”
He tosses me the ball, and I catch it. “Commendable, but maybe a conversation needs to be had there.”
“Yeah, probably,” I say.
“And then what will you do if there is no need for you to be his emotional guard dog?”
“I, uh…” I drag my hand over my jaw. “I need to think some more.”
“Well, do that. Decide if you’re all in. And if you are, be as honest as you have been while at camp, because your honesty helped Scottie find hers.”
Huh. That’s a good thought to take away.
“You’re right.”
“I know I am.” He smirks, lightening the tension.
I stare at him for a second and then ask, “Why all the sports stuff? Do you really think marriage is like a team sport?”
He chuckles. “Sure, you can look at it that way. You can also see it as something that eases anxiety for some people who might be against a traditional therapy session. It also takes people’s minds off speaking the truth and relaxes them more. Also keeps me busy and entertained. There are many reasons for it, and they all seem to work. They don’t call me the best for no reason. Hell, I was able to bring two people who didn’t even know each other together.”
I laugh. “Yeah, you’re right about that.”
“I’m right about a lot of things,” Sanders says with some cockiness.
“And the clothes?” I ask nodding to his attire.
He glances down at his outfit and then back up at me. “What’s wrong with my clothes?”
“Dude.” I eye him.
“Your point?”
I shake my head. “Never mind.”
At this point, heading to the cabin to talk to Scottie and tell her to come home with me is not going to happen. She has her mind set on leaving, and if that’s what she wants to do, then I’m going to let her do that. What I need to do right now is reassure her.
I open up the cabin door and find her suitcase on the bed, and the sight of it makes my stomach turn. God, Sanders is right. How would I feel if she just ended things right here and now? I know I wouldn’t like it, not one bit, which means I need to have some conversations.
Scottie walks out of the bathroom with her toiletries but doesn’t look at me as she sticks them in her bag. She’s avoiding, and I can understand why. She’s been through a lot the last few hours. I’m sure she just wants to get the hell out of here.
“Can I help you?” I ask.
“Um, I think I got everything,” she says as she closes her suitcase and zips it up. She pulls the suitcase to the floor and then reaches for her purse. She stuffs a few things in there and then sets it on top of her suitcase.
