“Chocolate chip pancakes,” I said without hesitation. “I still speak your love language, Bren.”
I kissed her forehead, letting my lips linger before reluctantly dragging myself from the bed and throwing on a pair of sweatpants so I could feed my girl.
Our realtor arrived a day later for a walk-through after the power returned, but not alone. I looked at Brenna as she quickly descended the steps to ourtwoguests.
“I didn’t realize we were expecting more than one person. I would have baked more cookies.”
My jaw clenched to the point of pain. The last thing I wanted was her ex-boyfriend here, ruining our bubble of bliss, interrupting as we figured out what we meant to each other.
History was repeating, except I had nothing to worry about when it came to the two of them. Bren said they were friends, and I believed her. Though I wondered if Derek got that memo.
Brenna’s lips parted to say something, but they snapped shut when Ellis announced, “I’m here to support Brenna.”
“Aw, you hear that, Bren?” I replied in a lilting voice. “He’s here tosupportyou.”
Brenna rolled her eyes. She didn’t need to speak; she wanted me to knock it off.
She shook hands with the agent, who still stood in the doorway, a bemused smile on her face. At least we entertained her. “Hi, Ms. Marin, I’m Brenna Quinn. Come on in.”
“Shelly, please.” She had about twenty years on us, wore her hair short, and had on a heavy coat that rivaled Brenna’s. “And you must be Nathan Sharpe? I’m so sorry about your father.”
I nodded, still unsure how to respond when I heard this refrain. “It’s good to meet you.”
Shelly followed Brenna to the kitchen. Brenna playfully grabbed my side as she passed. Derek’s gaze ping-ponged between us, absorbing the interaction.
I smirked. “After you, Ellis.”
I should’ve been beyond the petty high school bullshit, but the memories of spending two weekends a month across the hall from Brenna, pretending to feel nothing for her, weren’t something I’d ever forget. I had to watch Ellis and Brenna giggle like damn schoolgirls, sharing glances and beaming at each other over the breakfast table.
He got moments that should have been mine—walking her to school senior year, holding her hand in the hall between classes, escorting her to prom. I played hundreds of baseball games without her on the field or in the stands. Not sharing baseball with her had dulled the fun of the game.
I had no idea what her life had been like these last six years, other than what she posted online. So many aspects still unknown to me. Who was her best friend? What classes did she struggle with in college? Did she live in a dorm, an apartment,with roommates? When she was low, how did she cheer herself up? What did she wish for her future?
So many seconds, minutes, hours, weeks, months, years wasted without her because of my stupid pride. Because I was afraid to call her, convinced I was better off not reopening that old hurt. Sure she wouldn’t want anything to do with me.
But nothing hurt more than knowing she’d existed in this world without me. I could never get that time back.
“Nathan?” Brenna spoke.
“Hmm?” The three faces staring at me came into focus.
Brenna’s brow furrowed. “Shelly was asking if you’d thought about a minimum amount you’re willing to accept for the house.”
No, Shelly, I’ve been too busy thinking about how to convince the woman who owns this house with me to become mine for the rest of our lives.
“No,” I said. “Have you?”
Bren shook her head.
Shelly typed something into her phone. “You should discuss it. It’ll be an important data point when considering the list price.”
“Have you called the financial adviser?” Ellis asked Brenna.
She glanced at me before turning to him. “No… um, not yet. Nathan’s been working on the books at the café. My mind’s been… elsewhere.”
“We can call this week,” I assured her. “We’ll figure it out.”
I hoped Ellis would take the fucking hint. Brenna said he was in a relationship, so maybe he was only trying to be supportive as he claimed. But he needed to back the fuck off and let me take care of her now.
