She runs her fingers through her hair. “Ford, you realize by lunchtime everyone else will think we are back together, and that eventually affects Connor.”
I have thought every scenario through. How would I not? Through the years, I’ve created a whole damn playbook of how our situation could go.
“She only really talks to Violet these days, and I’m sure my sister would get behind this to safeguard that Margo has an easy few weeks ahead. Connor wouldn’t find out.” Because by the time he does, then stage two of my plan will be in effect.
Brielle shakes her head slightly. “And let me guess, you didn’t just lie that we are back together, you upped it and said we’re engaged?”
Now I have to grin. “You know me so well.”
She huffs out a breath and crosses her arms over her chest, and she pretends to be furious, but after a few seconds, the faintest of entertained smiles forms on her mouth that she desperately tries to suppress.
But only for a second, as disapproval returns to her look.
“I don’t know, Ford. This is… not wise.”
I lean forward to scoop up her hand and hold it between my palms. The sudden contact startles her, mostly because it’s an electric shock between us, a current still strong, maybe more intense as time goes on.
“Margo is like a grandmother to me, always on our side, and when she told me on the phone that she really had hoped to see us back together before her time comes, because yeah, she got a little dramatic on the age front, then it just seemed like the right thing to do.” It’s the truth, although it’s only the tip of the iceberg for what I have planned.
Brielle licks her lips, debating. “I know where you’re coming from, I just…”
I duck my head down, then I peer up to catch her sight. “Don’t trust us faking it for a day?”
Her lips roll in, and she doesn’t answer, but her eyes say enough. She doesn’t trust us.
“You know what I think?” I prod.
“What?”
“We’ve been able to avoid the obvious for years because we had things to keep us on a path. My hockey career, your education, Connor… but now hockey is no longer a factor, and you finished college and law school.” I notice her chest moving up and down, and I wonder if she knows what’s coming. “It’s our time to re-evaluate.”
She is quick to sit back, her hands falling out of my grasp. “Don’t! Don’t do this. You promised.” She’s enraged.
My body stiffens and shoulders straighten because it’s time to lay down some hard truths as the sun warms us and the water glistens around us.
“We both are exactly where we started.” Wanting each other.
She shakes her head, wishing not to listen, but damn, I know she believes in what I’m saying.
Energy shoots to my heart. I know relief is coming because I’m sharing it all. “We are still waiting. Fuck, we tried over the years to move on. Kept ourselves busy, we tried to find other people, and it always failed because it’s not us, and Christ, the number of times I wanted to kiss you. This isn’t new, you’re thinking this too.”
“Ford, it’s true, hockey and becoming a lawyer are no longer our blockers, but we still have Connor to think about. I would hate myself if you and I were to try and it didn’t work out, he would be crushed.”
I stand up in a flash with a bitter laugh. “Do you really think we wouldn’t work out? Are you crazy?”
She points a finger at me, rising from her seat. “Areyou? You are the one who brought me to the middle of a lake to have this talk.”
My hands come out to my sides, and I have a cheeky smile. “It’s a great play. We’re talking.”
“On the lake where we probably conceived our son,” she shrieks.
I hook my finger and nudge her cheek, purely entertained with her comment. “Ah, so that memory has flashed in your mind while we’re out here.”
She gives me a death glare and wags her finger at me. “Don’t even.” Her nostrils flare, and she wraps her arms around her body. Our eyes dance as we watch each other, standing in a rowboat on the lake.
Here is my chance. I’m throwing it all out there. “Stay the week with me and let’s be everything we wanted, give us this. One week, and then you can keep the ring or say we fulfilled our curiosity.”
Her jaw drops, and she moves to slam her hands against my chest, but she rocks the boat in the process. We both wobble, and I fall back to sitting against my propped hands, with my legs splayed out.
