“So think about it now. What would you have told him? Let’s play the what-if game. But this time, play it all the way through.What would you have told him if you’d known then that he was using?”
“I don’t know. That he’s being an ass. That he’s throwing away his life to chase a high that’s never going to feel like enough. That he’ll lose his life if he keeps doing what he’s doing. That he needs to work the program and really put his all into staying sober.”
“Do you really think that’s all that different from whatever Ryker told him? Or that he’d be more receptive to hear it from you because you know what it’s like?”
I sighed. “No. Probably not.”
“So maybe you need to give yourself a break. In my experience, he would’ve probably listenedlessto you than he would’ve to Ryker. Because he would’ve known exactly what you were going to say before you opened your mouth and he didn’t want to hear it. He would’ve been closed off to you from the jump. So give yourself a break. What he did is not on you.”
“I guess.” I stared unseeingly out the window and sighed. “It’s easy to say that, but it’s hard as hell to believe it.”
“Yeah, I get it, man. I’ve lost friends to this shit too. And it never gets any easier.” Caden shifted in his seat. “So what’s this I’m hearing about you getting married?”
“Damn.” I winced. “I thought you, of all people would avoidthe Babbler’sbullshit.”
Caden shrugged. “My assistant told me before I left. She keeps up to date on everything they post. Helps knowing when attention is coming your way.”
Sounded like his assistant was more thoughtful than mine. I grunted. “Yeah, I got married in Fiji the same day as Gio died. Or the day before? Hell if I understand all that time zone bullshit.”
“And what does she think about your sobriety?”
I bit my bottom lip much like Saylor always did, and then I softly laughed at myself. “She’s supportive. She didn’t orderwine the entire time we were in Fiji out of respect of my sobriety. I didn’t even ask her to; she just did it.”
Caden hummed. “Sounds like just the kinda woman you need at your back to get through this shit.”
Maybe.
But it wasn’t easy to open up under normal circumstances, and these were anything but normal.
“Come on.” Caden clapped my shoulder. “Let’s go inside and get a bad cup of coffee.”
Chapter 17
Saylor
I flinched as the door slammed shut behind Mal.
Leaving me all alone with his mom.
Awkward.
Judy sighed. “That boy…”
I walked over and buried my head in his spice cabinet. Anything to get away from the uncomfortable moment.
“So what did your parents say about your wedding?”
I winced and dropped my head. “Which wedding?”
Judy laughed. “Touché. Either, I guess.”
Sighing, I turned around and rested my hips against the sleek, glossy flat panel cabinets and equally gleaming countertop. “Well, my mom thinks I should patch things up with Trent and beg him for forgiveness since I was the one to cancel the wedding. I think she said in my last text that I was being immature.”
“And your dad?”
“He passed away when I was little. I don’t even remember him.”
“I’m sorry. I know what a hole it leaves in a child’s life not having a father figure.”
