Page 34 of Third Time's the Charm

“No, no. I wasn’t asking if you liked him for yourself. I meant...do you like him for her? Is he a good man? Is he stable? Will they have a good life together?”

I squirmed. “How should I know? All I know is that he’s my complete opposite. So that means he’s there for her. He cares about her. And she’ll be bored to tears once she realizes she’s made a mistake.”

“Bored? Because of the whole fire and ice business?”

“Well yeah. She’s just as wild as I am when I’m not a dick. He’s too normal for her. One day not too long from now, once she realizes she was just running away from me, she’ll be just as lonely and bored as she was when I checked out.”

“And you’re sure?”

Why was she pushing this? “Yes. I am.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Then you’re doing it wrong.”

Erik and Ma’s eyes ping ponged back and forth between us as Zoe and I sparred. “Say what now?”

“As an expert in tearing couples apart and putting them back together, I can tell you for a fact, you’re going about this the wrong way. Berlin doesn’t need you. And she doesn’t need Ryker. She can hold property and even have her own bank accounts. It’s not like we live in the dark ages.”

And now I was really confused. “What?”

“She. Doesn’t. Need. A. Man. Shewantsa partner. You’ve made this about you. Again. But it’s not about you. It’s about Berlin. If Ryker is the right partner for her, then great. Wish her all the luck in the world and move on. But if she’s just running away from you, then sheismaking a mistake.That’swhat you should tell her.”

I stared at Zoe. I think my mouth was hanging open. I might have caught a fly in there. “So you’re saying…”

“Stop trying to make her choose you and instead ask her to choose no one. Your goal is just to stop this wedding, right? You don’t need to get married right now in order to inherit or something?”

Oh my god, I was an idiot. I ran my hand down my face. “No. I don’t need a marriage of convenience.”

“Then stop trying to make one happen. Give Berlin space to choose whomever she wants. If you stop making yourself the center of attention, she might even choose you.”

* * *

I neededto clear my head so I went for a walk. What should I do? Zoe was right. About everything. I was such a jerk, thinking I could, and should, ram my way through every problem. That I could bend anything to my will with enough determination.

The main square was pretty quiet today. There was a busker right in the middle of the grass playing Christmas music. I wandered that way.

I could go to Berlin’s and talk to her, but that seemed like a terrible idea. Try to talk to her right in front of her fiancé and family?

No. Bad move.

I could write her a letter explaining things.

No, that wouldn’t work either. She might even light it on fire before ever reading it.

I was leaving in the morning. Headed back to reality. And for the first time I could ever remember...I was dreading it. I normally hated being away from the team. The ice. The thrill of the next win coursed through my veins, driving me right back to work every time.

Butthistime I had something more important. And I couldn’t leave until Berlin knew I wasn’t chasing her anymore.

She could stop running once and for all.

The busker played “Away in the Manger” and I dropped cash in her bucket. The rendition haunted me as I continued on to the footpath, past the shops, away from the restaurants, and even away from most of the houses.

I didn’t realize where I was going at first—just somewhere else—until I passed the post office and looked up at the sightseeing tower. From the top you got a decent view of the island and the water around it.

And just past that were the foundations of the old 19th century houses where Berlin and I used to take a picnic blanket and a cooler of beer to watch the sunset and makeout.

I hoped the memories would give me some insight into how and when to talk to Berlin. I didn’t realize the ruins would serve me up the answer herself.

Chapter 11

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