Page 37 of The Truths We Find

“I’ll drop it for now. But I see a strong woman who’s in an unhealthy relationship with the actual guy who caused her to want to crawl into a hole and die. Because as far as she knows, she still thinks that guy is you.”

“Wait, what?”

Emmett’s face is solemn.

“I didn’t tell you this, but I reached out to Dani after you ended things.”

“Why would you keep that from me?”

“Because you were so devastated and determined to protect her or whatever. The last thing I wanted to do was add to that by telling you I was still talking to her.”

“How bad was she?”

“It wasn’t pretty. I almost flew out here just so she had someone. But after a few phone calls, she asked me to stop reaching out. Said it was too painful to have me in her life. I reminded her too much of you. I was tempted to tell her everything, but I didn’t. It wasn’t my place.”

My hands shake as the weight of the truth hits me. I always thought he chose to end his friendship with Dani for me, but she cut him out because of me.

“I’m so sorry, Emmett. My choices ruined so many lives.”

“No!” he exclaims. “That jackass did this. You were just trying to protect Dani and still are. But it’s time to accept it’s not working anymore. Think we can get her to ‘Dear John’ him?”

Leave it to Emmett to find a way to lighten the situation. I somehow manage a small chuckle. “From your lips.”

“We’ll figure something out. Now let’s get out of here. I’m exhausted and need my beauty sleep. I’ve got a date with your woman tomorrow.”

Chapter 13

Dani

Igrab a table for Emmett and me at a seaside café the next morning, excited to reconnect with my friend.

After my call with Sam last night, I just wasn’t in the right headspace to socialize. But I’m putting all that out of my mind, because today is all about Emmett. He was my person back in Pittsburgh. We had such a strong platonic love for each other, cutting him out of my life was almost as hard as losing Gavin. But it was needed.

“There’s my girl!” Emmett booms from across the patio where I’m sitting.

I jump up and get swept into a big bear hug. I try to break away, but he doesn’t let me. “Yeah, not happening,” he chuckles. “Feel the love for a little longer.”

“Oh, how awful for me.”

He squeezes me a little tighter before finally letting go. “You’re lucky I’m starving. It’s the only reason you’re getting out of this love fest.”

We sit down and Emmett looks out over the ocean next to us.

“Damn.” He whistles. “If these are the kinds of views you guys have, maybe I should take Gavin up on his offer.”

“What offer?”

“Pretty much every call we have, he’s trying to convince me to move out here.”

“Wait, really?” I sit up in my chair.

“I can’t though. I have the business to think about. My employees. I can’t just close up shop on them.”

“You know you can run it from anywhere. From what Gavin’s told me, you’re more behind the scenes now anyway.”

“So, Gavin’s been talking about me, huh?” He waggles his eyebrows.

“He’s proud of his little brother.” I smile, because I know how much he hates being called that.