Chapter Twenty-Seven
As soon as Charlie opened the door to him, Riley was flanked by dogs—Chewie on one side, Tripod at his ankles, and another dog he hadn’t had the chance to meet yet blocking his way into the house.
“Hello, Chewie.” Riley crouched down to play with Chewie’s ears, letting him lick his face as he picked Tripod up for a cuddle. “And hello handsome. What’s your name?”
“This is Rex,” Charlie explained. “He’s a Boxer cross, but he thinks he’s a lap dog.”
“And I bet neither you nor Scott have tried to tell him otherwise,” Riley said, looking up at his little brother. “Are you gonna invite me in, or…?”
“You’re always invited in,” Charlie said. “If you can get past the dogs.”
Riley snorted, standing and edging his way inside, all three dogs still vying for his attention.
He could see why Charlie liked it here. Riley had never seen his little brother as happy as he was with Scott.
“I just wanted to drop in and say goodbye before I go,” Riley said. “Is there coffee?”
“Uh, there can be coffee.” Charlie blinked at him, taking a step toward the kitchen. “Where are you going?”
Riley shrugged, following Charlie to the back of the house, where the kitchen was. “Dunno yet. Away. I promise I’ll be back for your wedding.”
“You always know where you’re going. I mean, you don’t alwaysend upwhere you’re going, but you alwaysknow.” Charlie looked at him suspiciously. “And I thought you and Brent…”
Riley’s stomach sank.
It wasn’t impossible that he hadn’t been all that subtle on Sunday.
He’d thought then that he was staying. But with Rose back in the picture, it was a kindness to Brent for him to leave. She was a much better option.
“Rose came back,” Riley said.
“So?” Charlie raised an eyebrow. “Brent isn’t an idiot.”
“Tom played her,” Riley explained. “I don’t wanna tell other people’s stories for them, but just… Brent doesn’t blame her for what happened at all, now that he knows the truth. Which is fair. Even I don’t blame her.”
“I don’t understand,” Charlie said. “You’re leaving because… Brent’s forgiving his ex? Aren’t you all about forgiveness and getting along with each other and singing Kumbaya around the campfire?”
“I have literally never done that,” Riley defended, though he saw Charlie’s point. “Forgiveness is good. But… if he can get back together with Rose, he should.”
“Instead of you?” Charlie asked. “Because you love him, and anyone who doesn’t know that would have to be both blind and stupid.”
“Love isn’t always enough,” Riley said. Saying the words out loud made him feel tired, but he knew it was true.
Relationships took more than love. That was only half of what he needed.
“Yes it is.” Charlie frowned at him. “If you love someone enough, you can be everything they need you to be. And you love Brent enough.”
Riley chewed on his lip. “I can’t give him a family. He wants… he wants a wife and six kids. Those are his own words.”
He remembered Brent saying that while they’d been away.
Riley could hardly believe now that he’d thought there was a chance between them. Brent deserved the normal, quiet life that someone like Rose could give him. He didn’t need Riley’s crap.
Even if Riley was ready to settle down. Even if he would have done anything Brent asked, without hesitation.
“You’re so full of shit sometimes,” Charlie said, flicking on the coffee pot. “Watch the coffee and the dogs. I’ll be back in a second.”
Riley watched Charlie leave the kitchen, then heard his footsteps on the stairs.
