Page 40 of Trial and Error

“Zac and Avery would’ve thought it was weird if we didn’t go back together.”

“You could’ve called her an Uber from your place,” Oscar argues.

“I could’ve done that.”

“But you didn’t.”

I clench my jaw. “You’re right—I didn’t. Is it so bad that I actually enjoy her company?”

“Not at all.” Oscar takes a sip of his coffee. “I just don’t want you to get in over your head and end up getting feelings for this woman.”

“First of all, her name is Bridget,” I grumble. “And what does it matter if I get feelings for her? We’re both consenting adults who, granted, met under unusual circumstances, but we’re both aware of what we’re doing and what might happen.”

“I’m not trying to piss you off, Eli,” he says. “I just don’t want you to get hurt, and I’m worried that if you’re into her, it’ll be even harder to let her go.”

I look away from him. I know I need to tell him things aren’t going to be over any time soon, but the feeling of disappointing him waves over me, and I can’t get the words out. As much as it feels like he is, Oscar would never judge me. Hell, I made some questionable choices when I was in my late teens and he never once judged me. He would give my shoulders a shake and tell me to get over it, but he’d never make me feel like shit or embarrassed.

“There’s something you’re not telling me,” he says, looking up at me over the rim of his mug. “You’ve got that look on your face.”

He can read me like a book.

“Bridget and I are going ahead with the engagement.”

Oscar leans forward and rests his elbows on the table top, his brows pulled together. “Are you insane?” he whispers harshly. “This will end badly, you know that, right? Nothing good is going to come out of you lying.”

I sigh. “Things are more complicated than that.”

He scoffs. “Yeah, you can say that again.”

“All I’m asking is for you to play along for just a little longer.”

He shakes his head. “I can’t do that, Eli. I can’t lie to my family. That may be something you’re comfortable doing, but I’m certainly not.”

I frown. Is that what he thinks, that I like the idea of lying to the people who matter the most to me? He couldn’t be further from the truth and he knows that.

“I was planning on ending it and telling them the truth, but then she told us that she wanted us to move the wedding up so she could be there, and I just…froze. I couldn’t fucking speak, Oscar…and before I knew it, Bridget jumped in and told her we would do it. And in that moment, I felt thankful. So fucking thankful that this woman, who barely knows me, was willing to do this for me.”

My brother leans back in his chair, folding his arms over his chest as he looks at me.

“You don’t have to understand the whys or the what ifs. All I want is for Mom to be happy, and if that means coming clean once she’s…gone, then I will. I’ll tell everyone the damn truth but she won’t ever hear that. She’ll get what she wants.”

“What about what you want?” Oscar asks.

I shrug. “I want her to be happy.”

“You deserve to be happy, too,” he says. “I’m only worried about you, Eli. I want you to be happy with someone you truly see yourself with, not someone you feel like you have to be with. That’s not to say that Bridget isn’t wonderful, because she is, and if you’d have met under different circumstances, I could see the two of you being a great match. I just think you should reconsider your plan.”

I take a sip of my coffee and shake my head. “I think this could be good for me.”

“How so?”

I shrug. “It feels like she was meant to be in my life, like we were destined to meet each other. Sometimes, when we’re together, I get so wrapped up in her that I forget where I am. I forget what it feels like to be alone, to want someone’s companionship. She’s a breath of fresh air, Oscar.”

He rolls his eyes playfully. “Man, you’re such a romantic.” I laugh. “I’m glad you’ve met someone who relaxes you, and while I wish you met her on your own timeline, I’m glad you’ve got her. Just try not to get too caught up in it.”

I nod. “I know what I’m doing.”

Oscar runs a hand through his hair and lets out a soft laugh. “Guess you’re going to need a ring after all.”