Brody (18 page)

“I don’t know why you think your plans would interest us,” Dr. Myers said, scowling.

“Because they include your daughter too.” If she’ll have me. “I know you’ve never approved of my career choice.”

He snorted. “Is that what you call what you do—a career?”

Macy shot her father a look before crossing her arms. “Give the guy a break, Dad. He’s not knocking off convenience stores, you know.”

“What are you even doing here?” her father asked her. “Do you really need to be here for this?”

“I’m here for moral support,” Macy said, smiling at me. “Because I know that’s what my sister would want.”

“Fine,” her father said, shaking his head. “Just make your point so you can leave, Steele.”

“I intend to marry your daughter.” Point made.

We stared each other down before he opened his mouth to object.

“Before you say no,” I said, raising my hand to stall him, “you need to know that Riley loves me, that she ended her relationship with
him
because it’s me she wants. It’s always been me.”

They shared a look before Riley’s mom said, “You said something about your career…?”

“I’ve accepted a football coaching position at a high school here. I won’t be playing poker anymore.” I’d never made that promise aloud before, and I was surprised by how easy it was to say. I’d loved poker, but not half as much as I loved Riley. I’d been too young and dumb to realize that before, but now I finally got it.

“You’re going to be coaching football,” her mother said slowly, as though she was considering the idea. “Well, that’s certainly better than what you’ve been doing.”

“And he’s buying a house,” Macy piped in. “A beautiful two-story, four-bedroom. Room for at least three kids.” She winked at me before looking at her mother. “Imagine that, Mom. Grandchildren, just like you always wanted.”

“Grandchildren,” she repeated, clutching her pearls. “Oh, that would be nice, wouldn’t it, Len? Grandchildren.”

His lips twisted before he gave me a hard look. “You’re saying you’re ready to settle down? You’re done with this self-indulgent lifestyle?”

I wanted to defend the way I’d been living for the past decade, but I wouldn’t. “Yes, sir.”

“You want to take care of my girl, to be the kind of husband she deserves?”

“Yes.”

“And you really want children?” her mother asked. “You’re not just saying that so we’ll approve of this marriage?”

I took a deep breath, then looked them in the eye. “You know I didn’t have it easy growing up. My mother basically raised us on her own before she died. If anyone knows how important it is for kids to have two parents who love each other, that they can rely on, it’s me.”

“I suppose you would know a thing or two about that,” Dr. Myers said, crossing his arms. “But being a husband and father is a big responsibility. Are you sure you’re ready for that?”

I smiled, since they seemed to be trying to meet me halfway. “I may not have had a great example of a strong marriage growing up, but my brother Ryker and his wife, Mac, have shown me how great it can be when you choose the right person to spend your life with. I know Riley’s the person for me, and I wouldn’t even consider asking her to marry me unless I was sure I could make her happy.”

Before her parents could respond, Macy said, “You’ve seen Riley with Brody and you’ve seen her without him. You know there’s no comparison. She’s happier, more content when she has him in her life. So why wouldn’t you want that for her?”

Her parents exchanged a look before her father said, “Don’t make us out to be the bad guys, Macy. We’re just looking out for your sister. We don’t want to see her marry a man who would leave her stuck at home with a couple of kids while he went traipsing around the world gambling with
their
future.”

“Fair enough,” I said, raising my hands to ward off Macy’s well-meaning comments. “You had every reason to be concerned. If it was my daughter, I would have been too. But I came back here for her, to build a life with her.” When they didn’t comment, I said, “Life without her has been hell. I’ve missed her every day, and when we went to Colorado for my brother’s wedding and I saw her with someone else, I realized I can’t live without her.”

“How does Riley feel about all these changes you’ve made?” her mother asked. “Is she supportive, or is she concerned that maybe you’re just doing it to appease her? Because I’m not going to lie, that thought has occurred to me.”

“She’s cautiously optimistic,” I said, with a weak smile. I didn’t expect to walk out of here with two new fans. I just wanted a chance to prove to them that I intended to do right by their daughter. “No one knows me better than she does, and of course she’s questioning this one-eighty I seem to have done, but what she doesn’t know is that it was a long time coming.”

“How so?” Dr. Myers asked.

“Every day we were apart, when I wasn’t able to talk to her, I died a little more inside.” I probably sounded ridiculous to them, but there was no other way to describe what I’d been going through. “My days, my life, were empty without her. I even started to resent poker for being one of the things standing between us. Winning didn’t matter to me anymore, not if it meant losing her.”

“Yet you kept playing, winning even,” her father said, sounding unimpressed.

I was surprised a man who had once claimed gambling was the devil’s work had followed my career. “I did it because it was the only thing I knew how to do. You have to understand, since I graduated college, I never thought about doing anything else. I didn’t even think I was capable of doing anything else.”

“People always have choices,” Mrs. Myers said reproachfully. “They certainly don’t have to turn to gambling to make a living.”

“That may be true, but it seemed like the only choice available to me at the time, so I took it.” While I still had their attention, I said, “I didn’t think coming back here to make things right with Riley was even an option. But something happened that brought me back here, because I needed her. Not only was she there for me, she made me believe she’s never stopped loving me.” I opened my hands. “So that’s why I’m here. Asking for a chance to be your son-in-law, your daughter’s husband, the father of your grandchildren.”

“Wow,” Len said, running a hand over his face. “I don’t know what to say. I never expected to hear this coming from you of all people.”

“Nor did I,” his wife said. “It’s encouraging to hear that you’re finally ready to grow up and take some responsibility, but this is all so new.”

With a harsh laugh, I said, “With all due respect, Mrs. Myers, I’ve loved your daughter more than half my life. Nothing about this is new to me.”

“I understand that,” she said, shaking her head. “But we thought it was over between you two. We haven’t heard Riley talk about you in a long time. We just assumed she was ready to move on with her life, especially when she started dating Stephan.”

“Brody’s right about her reasons for ending things with Stephan,” Macy said. “Riley told me she couldn’t go on being with him and thinking about Brody.”

“Well then,” her father said. “I guess there’s nothing more we can say or do, is there?”

It wasn’t exactly a blessing, but at least it didn’t seem as though they would disown their daughter if she chose to marry me. “I know only time can prove that I’m sincere.”

“You’re right.” Her father stood, as did I. “And I honestly hope it does.”

I shook his hand for what seemed like the first time. “It will, sir. I promise you that.”

Riley

I was stunned when I walked into my condo after a long day of work and found Stephan sitting on my sofa.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I demanded. “How did you get in? You gave my key back when we broke up!”

He shrugged, looking morose in a rumpled shirt and loose tie. “I had another key cut before I gave it back to you.”

“You what?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing—until I looked into his eyes and realized they seemed cloudy and unfocused. “Have you been drinking?”

He tipped his head back, staring at the ceiling. “What’s it matter? Nothing matters anymore.”

“Don’t say that.” What the hell was wrong with him? I knew he wasn’t taking our breakup well, but this reaction seemed extreme. I inched closer, torn between calling for help and hearing him out. “Tell me what’s going on.”

“You know what’s going on.” He stared at me or through me, as though he wasn’t really there. “I want us back.”

I eased onto the edge of a chair, prepared to flee if he did something crazy, like lunge at me. “I know this hasn’t been easy for you—”

“I thought you loved me.”

I tried seeing him as I had when we met. Looking at him for the first time, I’d felt a surge of hope—I was attracted to someone other than Brody. I’d begun to imagine a normal life in suburbia with a husband who devoted his life to caring for sick kids.

“I wanted to,” I said softly, afraid of setting him off. I’d never known him to be violent or aggressive, but he clearly wasn’t himself tonight. Whatever had prompted him to come here was clearly a toxic cocktail of sadness, grief, and something else…

“You wanted to?” he repeated, leaning forward and dropping his head into his hands. “Why couldn’t you? What’s wrong with me that you couldn’t love me, Riley?”

I swallowed my guilt as I tried to decide how best to proceed. I didn’t want him in my apartment, but my conscience wouldn’t allow me to send him away since I’d contributed to his mood. I moved to the sofa and sat beside him, my hand resting on his back. “I’ve been where you are. I know how much it hurts when—”

He turned his head to look at me, and the words got trapped in my throat.

“When the person you love doesn’t love you back? When they don’t want the future you’ve spent every waking moment mapping out?”

“I wanted things to work out for us,” I said, clasping my hands in front of me and leaning forward. “I really did.” If I’d had a choice between loving a safe bet like Stephan and a risk like Brody, I might have chosen Stephan. But my heart wouldn’t let me do that.

“But you couldn’t.” He rubbed his eyes furiously, his hands trembling. “I know.”

“You’re going to find someone amazing. I know you are.”

“I don’t want anyone else,” he said, his voice raspy. “That’s just it, Riley. If I can’t have you, I don’t want anyone.”

I didn’t think we’d dated long enough for him to think I was the only woman in the world for him. I’d spent most of my adult life with Brody, yet I’d still allowed myself to entertain the possibility of a life without him. “You may feel that way now—”

“You don’t get it, do you?” he asked, clutching my hand. “You’re not hearing what I’m telling you. I can’t go on without you. I won’t.”

Oh, God.
What was he saying? That he intended to end his life? Because of me? “Stephan, please—”

The door opened, and Brody rushed in, calling, “Hey, baby.” Then he spotted us on the couch.

“You’re back with him!” Stephan pointed an accusatory finger at Brody, his entire body trembling. “I should have known you left me for him!”

“What the hell is he doing here?” Brody asked, glaring at me.

The last thing I needed was a showdown. I needed to talk Stephan down, to convince him to get the help he clearly needed before he did something we’d both regret. “Brody, you need to go. Please.”

“
I
need to go?” he asked, flattening his palm against his chest. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

I’d known Brody long enough to see every shade of his moods, from angry to hurt and everything in between. Right now he was looking at me as if I’d run over his dog on purpose and he wanted revenge.

“We just need a little time,” I said, trying to reason with him. There was no way to tell him I feared Stephan’s life might be hanging in the balance, so I had to hope Brody knew me well enough to know I’d never ask him to leave without good reason.

“No,” Stephan said, jumping up. “He can stay. I’ll go. It’s him you want anyway.”

“Please,” I said, grabbing Stephan’s arm as I stood. “Don’t go. Not yet. We weren’t finished talking.”

My heart broke when I thought of how Brody must be feeling, but I’d have plenty of time to explain to him later. The next few minutes with Stephan could be crucial. I couldn’t let him go without knowing what he might do when he left. He wouldn’t have let himself into my apartment if he wasn’t desperate. Stephan had been my boyfriend, my lover, and I’d foolishly allowed him to believe we could be together forever. In spite of what Brody thought, I owed him some kindness and compassion now.

“You weren’t finished talking?” Brody parroted. “I thought you were done with him. Isn’t that what you told me? You’re sharing a bed with me! What the hell could you possibly have to say to this guy?”

My knees nearly buckled when I heard Stephan’s anguished cry. He sounded like a wounded animal caught in a trap. One that had already accepted his fate and was waiting for it to be over.

I grabbed Brody’s arms, my eyes pleading with him for understanding. “I am begging you, just go. We’ll talk later. I promise.”

“We’ll talk later?” he shouted and shook me off before he reached for the door handle. “Don’t count on it!”

I could barely breathe as I stared at the closed door. I wanted to go after Brody, to explain everything, but I couldn’t risk letting Stephan out of my sight for even a second. Turning slowly, I said to Stephan, “I’m sorry about that.”

“About what?” he asked, shoving his hands through his hair. “Sleeping with him again?”

I’d never regret sleeping with Brody, but Stephan didn’t need to know that. “Come, sit down and talk to me.” I was trying to remain calm so he would too, but it wasn’t easy.

He allowed me to usher him to the couch, and I smelled the sweet stench of liquor. Stephan had never been much of a drinker, which made me pray he’d had the good sense to take a cab to my place. Alcohol must be partially to blame for his irrational thoughts. A man with as much to lose as Stephan would never take his own life over a failed relationship.