Page 48 of My Promise To Keep

‘You are fun, Leo. Single man Leo Bennett is the best man I know, but I don’t know a woman who could be in a relationship with a man who’s never home.’ My heckles rise, and I glare at him over the top of my bottle. ‘Don’t look at me that way. I love you, but I’ve known you too long. I want you to meet someone, but put it this way, if one of my sisters was dating a man who put his work ahead of everything else the way you do, I’d kick his ass.’

‘I can’t change?’

‘Yeah, you can. I just think you need to consider whether you want to. How much are you willing to give up or expect the woman you meet to give up to be with you?’

It’s what Fi said: that someone would have to give up something they love. Are they right? Is it selfish of me to pursue Zoe, knowing that despite how I feel about her, my life in the city is important to me?

‘Imagine you fell for a woman here or in another small town like this one. Could you leave the city behind? Leave your shop?’

‘I could commute.’

‘You could.’

‘Can you really not see me happy with someone?’

‘Brother, I want that for you.’ I grind my teeth and flare my nostrils as I wait for the punchline. ‘Look, what I have with Cara, I want you to have that, it’s just, I was ready, you know. Our lives had space for each other. Unless you fall for a tattoo artist whohappens to work for you, I don’t know where you’re making time for someone.’

‘Fuck,’ I hiss. ‘Who needs enemies.’ I put down the bottle and stand.

‘Dude, come on, I’m not trying to be a jerk.’

‘Well, it seems you perfected the skill then because apparently you don't need to try,’ I snap, and Doug leans back in his seat. It’s not often we argue, and when we do, it’s never all that serious, but he’s pissed me off, and I can’t sit here and take it.

‘Leo, come on,’ he laughs, and I shake my head, lowering my voice.

‘Fuck you.’ I reach for my hoodie and turn to walk away, then stop and turn back. ‘You got to be an asshole for years. You were a jackass, and I had your back always. You get to fall in love and become the perfect fucking boyfriend, but I don’t? I live like a single man because I am one, but people can change, Doug. I thought you were proof of that, but it seems you’re still a fuckin’ asshole.’

I turn and walk away, stopping only to drop a kiss to Bowie’s head and pet Harley before storming out of the yard and back to my dad’s house.

Doug:Dude, I’m sorry! You’re right, I was an asshole. I just know how hard you worked for the life you have, and I’m proud of you. You are the best man, Leo, and I hope you find what you’re looking for. I really do!

I don’t reply to the text. I am still pissed when I make it back to my dad’s and need time to cool down.

‘Oh, Leo, hey. I thought you were seeing Doug.’ Lucy, my dad’s fiancé, is reading on the porch when I make it back after walkingthe long way. ‘You okay, sweetie?’ She puts down her book and looks up at me concerned.

Lucy’s been a part of our family for a long time. She and my dad were seeing each other for years before they made it official, and she’s always been the sweetest. She never had kids of her own, so she mothers me whenever she gets the chance. It’s nice, and I love knowing Pop has her. I shake my head and sit. ‘Is there something wrong with me?’

‘What in the world… Why would you ask that?’

She drops her feet to the floor and sits up, reaching for my hand.

‘I told Doug months ago I wanted to settle down, meet someone,’ her eyes sparkle with the distant idea of grandkids, ‘yet, he pretty much just told me I don’t have space for a woman in my life and that if one of his sisters was dating a man like me, he’d kick his ass.’

She tuts loudly and shakes her head.

‘I should go over there and give Douglas Campbell a piece of my mind.’ I smile slightly, and she squeezes my hand. ‘Either of those girls would be lucky to have you, Leo Bennett,’ I raise my gaze to meet hers. ‘Besides, they’re tiny — they don’t take up a lot of space.’

I smile wider now, and she leans back in her seat, tapping my knee.

‘Maybe he’s right, maybe I’m a fool for thinking it could work.’

She leans forward and smiles, lowering her voice to an almost whisper.

‘It can work, honey. I’ve never seen two people more perfect for each other. I don’t know what’s taking you so long.’ I narrow my gaze, and she winks. ‘When you spend a lot of years hiding a relationship, you get pretty good at spotting things people are trying to keep hidden.’

‘My best friend thinks I’m not good enough for her without even knowing it’s her I want.’

‘Well, then he’s an idiot, and he’ll have to just get over it.’ I laugh, and she smiles. ‘Is she on the same page?’

---