Page 130 of A Dream for Daphne

He walked in, sat on the couch, and then patted the seat next to him. She sat down. She wanted to lean into him but didn’t just yet.

“Yes,” he said. “With Ella. We’d fight and split, but we never really addressed the root of our problems. It took me a long time to realize that her problems with me couldn’t be overcome. I told her that the last time and she agreed with it.”

“But now that your business is getting bigger she was willing to overlook things?” she asked.

He shrugged. “I have no idea what goes through her mind. I never did before either. I wanted something with her to just have it. I didn’t like the dating games going on around me. I wanted to settle down and have a life like I had growing up. She said she wanted the same, but she didn’t want it with me. I stopped loving her a long time ago. When I met you it made me realize what I felt for her wasn’t that strong.”

“So you don’t look at me or what we have and have it tie back to something negative with her?”

“No,” he said, his face scrunched up. “Don’t tell me you’re doing that. There is no reason for it.”

“I was doing that,” she admitted. “It was hard not to. I just hated myself for our first time together. It took me a long time to move past it and then to think you only did it as a way of mental revenge on her just brought it all to the surface for me again.”

“My mind doesn’t think that way,” he said. “It really doesn’t. I went there because I was lonely and feeling sorry for myself. Ididn’t want to sit at home. I sat down at the slots and next thing I know you’re flirting with me.”

“You flirted back,” she said.

“I did. And I don’t regret one minute of it. Ever. I’m just sorry that I didn’t have the balls to be honest with you and tell you that I saw Ella those other two times. But it’s the truth. She makes me feel like shit and I don’t want to be around her. The way I was on the phone with her is how I was the last two times we talked.”

Which was damn cold.

“Guess she didn’t get the hint,” she said.

“No clue one way or another,” he said. “I only care about you and us and if I can make it up to you. I’m sorry if I hurt you. Seeing you mad was a bit scary, but I’m glad to know you can get there and aren’t afraid to show me.”

“I’m not,” she said. “I told you before I don’t get mad often.”

“Neither do I. It’s the one thing we have in common. But thinking of Ella always pisses me off. It’s not worth it to get worked up. I’m not letting her win in the end because she managed to make me feel like shit.”

“It’s a good attitude to have. One I think I need to adopt more of.”

“We just need to talk to each other more,” he said. “We know I love to talk.”

“That’s right,” she said. “Make sure you do it about the right things though. Not always trying to be funny.”

“I’ll try,” he said. “If you stop beating yourself up over everything too. There is so much in your life that you blame yourself for or worry about. Just stop. You don’t need to do that.”

“Not anymore,” she said. “I promise, I’ll try. And if I drop the ball, you’ll pick it up and give it to me, right?”

“Not the ball I like to give you, but sure. I’ll give you that one too.”

She slapped his arm playfully. “Don’t change who you are, Abe. For anyone.”

“I’d change for you,” he said. “But I’m glad I don’t have to.”

42

A TRUTH FACT

“It was a beautiful wedding, right, Mom?” Daphne asked her mother almost a month later.

Her parents flew in on Thursday afternoon and she picked them up at the airport since Aster was doing other things.

That was what she was going to do.

“It was nice,” her mother said. “Your brother did look handsome and your boyfriend is very good-looking. Wish I knew beforehand that you were dating someone and not just learning it a few weeks ago.”

“We’ve never talked about my personal life much,” she said. “You’ve never wanted to know.”

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