Page 64 of The Boyfriend Bet

“It is. I really didn’t know.”

“You care for him deeply, don’t you?”

“I mean, yeah. I wouldn’t be with him if I didn’t.”

“No, you wouldn’t,” he says. He sips his whiskey again. “I haven’t talked about when I first met Lena in years. I haven’t talked about how proud I am of them. A lot of people think my legacy is making a lot of money, but my legacy, well, I want it to be that I left a happy family. That’s what’s important.”

He leans forward, takes my hand, and squeezes. “You don’t know me very well, Rosie, and I don’t want to step over any lines here. But Brett has seen a lot of heartache in his life, and he takes everything to heart. He is the very best of this family, and he wants to save the world, but I don’t want him to break himself doing it. When I realized how hard he took Charlie’s death, I knew I’d have to step in to make sure he didn’t live the life of a martyr. You understand me?”

I nod slowly because even though I don’t fully understand, I don’t want him to know that. My entire body feels like it wants to explode.

Charlie is dead. His best friend is dead. I didn’t know. He didn’t tell me, and yet it makes sense. Brett is closed off in a way that didn’t make sense to me before. There are parts of him so open and warm and then other parts of him that I don’t understand. And now I know why. He lost his best friend. I feel awful for asking if I could meet him. I want to run to find Brett and tell him I’m sorry. I want to hold him close. I want to ask if he’s okay, what happened, and yet I know I can’t.

“Brett loved Charlie like a brother, and I think a part of him died the day Charlie died. Maybe a part of him thinks he doesn’t deserve anything more from life than Charlie got. But he deserves the world. And I say this to you, Rosie, because I see the way he looks at you. I see the way he lights up, and I see the way he wants to protect you from his mother and father, who, I’m afraid to say, can be particularly nasty and snobby. I want to tell you that no matter what, I’d be very happy to welcome you into our family, if that’s what happens. You’ve got a friend in me and Lena. I thought I should tell you because I know my son and I know his wife. They may be particularly off-putting. They’ll most likely try to run you off, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that Veronica Carnegie shows up. But I want you to know we see you for who you are, Rosie Meadows.”

He leans back. “And I’m very grateful you came this weekend.”

“So am I.” I play another card, and I realize that I’m so grateful to see this side of Brett’s life. I feel like another layer of his life has been revealed, and I admire him even more for it.

* * *

When I walk into the bedroom, Brett is already in bed, reading a book. He looks up at me with a warm smile, and I can’t help but laugh when I see the stack of pillows down the middle of the mattress.

“Just wanted you to know I intend to keep my restraint tonight, so I built a fort.” He taps one of the pillows. “And I have on a T-shirt and briefs.”

“Too scared of what might happen if you’re naked?” I tease him as I walk over to my bag to grab my toothbrush.

“Maybe.” He places his book down on the duvet. “Or maybe I just want to show you I appreciate you for being here and I want to prove that I can keep my hands to myself.”

“Well, I’m happy to be here.” I make my way to the bathroom. “Your grandparents and your sisters are lovely, and I am glad to help.”

I want to say more. I want to ask about Charlie, but now is not the time. I want him to trust me enough to open up to me. I want him to show me inside the ice fort around his heart. I don’t want to push and make him tell me.

“And don’t worry about me. All I want to do right now is sleep.”

Chapter Fourteen

BRETT