Page 96 of Take Me
“At least you realized it before it was too late.”
“I suppose.”She keeps petting my dog as her gaze drifts out the window.“I feel silly, in hindsight.I’m way too old to get caught up in infatuation.I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“Happens to the best of us.”It takes a lot to admit that what I felt for Annabelle was never love.Infatuation, sure, with maybe a strong mix of lust and delusion.
But being with Erika showed me what real love is supposed to feel like.
“I’m taking a little time to myself,” Annabelle tells me.“I’m going to a week-long veterinary conference over in Joyner.I also signed up for this yoga retreat at Ponderosa Resort.”
“I’ve heard it’s nice there.”
“I could use the break.A chance to reconnect with myself, you know?”
“Yeah.”I clear my throat.“Good luck.You deserve wonderful things, Annabelle.I hope you get them.”
“Thanks.”Her hand stills in Scrumpy’s soft fur.“Can I give you some unsolicited advice?”
“Sure.”I nod to my dog.“Why do I get the feeling it isn’t about not giving him table scraps?”
She doesn’t laugh, which sobers me up in a hurry.
“Don’t let Erika get away.”She’s the second person to say it tonight, and my heart skips a beat.Not for the reasons it used to when Annabelle looked in my eyes.“I’ve wondered sometimes,” she continues, “how things would have been different if you’d put up a fight when we split.If you’d stopped kidding around for one minute and told me you loved me too much to let me go.”
The eye contact grows heavy, and I order myself not to break it.But I can’t leave any lingering doubt how I feel.
“I didn’t,” I murmur, hating how cruel it sounds.“I’m so sorry, but I didn’t feel that way.”
“I know,” she says softly.“Just like I know you love Erika more than you ever loved me.”
“I’m sorry.”I’m not, though.I know, without a doubt, that I don’t belong with Annabelle.Somebody does, but not me.“I had a great time while we lasted.”
“So did I.I mean it, Mason.I learned a lot from you.You’re a great guy and a good friend.”
“Thanks.”
“So I’m telling you now, as a friend—fight for her.”
Scrumpy stands up and barks sharply.Maybe because we’ve stopped petting him, but I’m not sure that’s it.His posture is stiff, ears pricked in soft points, as he looks at my face and gives another tight yip.
“Okay, okay.”I pet him again, but he doesn’t calm down.“You guys are ganging up on me.”
“That’s gotta tell you something, right?”
“Right.”
Scrumpy barks one more time, then sits his ass down and relaxes.His tail swishes softly as he licks the back of my hand.
“Good boy,” says Annabelle, and I smile.
“Thank you,” I tell her.“I’m trying to be.”
The officiant smilesat my sister and Peter.“I now pronounce you husband and wife.”She tips her head toward my new brother-in-law, making Peter stand up a bit straighter.“You may now kiss your bride.”
Lucy lunges, dropping her bouquet on the ground at her feet as she pulls Peter in for a lip lock.He handles the kiss with a bit more finesse, cupping the back of her head as his other hand rests at the small of her back.
The congregation applauds, and Erika bends down to grab the bouquet.A Taylor Swift tune blares through the sound system, and Harper breaks into a grin.The recessional song is her doing, and she smiles as we file out in pairs to the upbeat lyrics of “Paper Rings.”
I link arms with Erika, taken aback by how stunning she is.“You look great,” I murmur as we start down the aisle.
