Page 73 of Second Chance Wedding
“No, I mean it, Quinnie,” Ana said, lowering her hands to glare at her best friend. “I never should have left Ben in Cole’s care. It sends the wrong signal. It says he’s wearing me down and— I love you, but I shouldn’tbehere. I should be home handling my life.”
Quinley snuggled up to Ana’s side and laid her head on Ana’s shoulder, and minutes ticked by in silence.
“You know we’ll always be good, right?” Quinley said. “I mean, if you hadn’t come with me, yeah, it would’ve hurt but only because I can’t imagine doing all of this without you. If you want to go home, I won’t stop you or guilt you.Buthere’s some unsolicited advice,” she said, drawing back to look at Ana. “You’re already here. Ben’s with Cole. The decision was made, and it’s only a short weekend. We fly back first thing Sunday morning. Is thereanyway you can give me tomorrow and not leave me stranded with the sisters? I love them, but they’re not you.”
Quinley did love her sisters, but they were both quite a bit younger than her and they didn’t always get along.
And Quinley was right. It was Friday night. Ben would be asleep soon and working all weekend at Blackwell’s anyway. Why end the trip and go home to sit at the house or work at the boutique when she could be having a rare weekend of fun with her bestie?
Ana’s groan turned into a laughing nod. “IsupposeI can stay in this magnificent hotel another day if I have to.”
“Yes! Thank you for not abandoning me.”
“You’re welcome,” Ana said softly, leaning her head back against the cushion with a bounce. “Quinnie,whydoes life have to be so complicated?”
“Are you sure you’re not making this thing with Cole more difficult than it has to be? That night when you got ready for the ball… I actually thought maybe… You seemed excited and…hopeful.”
“I suppose I was,” she admitted. “For a moment, I thought Cole and I were finally going to get that happily-ever-after I used to dream of. And then the truth smacked me upside the head when I heard what Cole did.”
“So you’re giving up?”
Ana’s smile fell at the words. “Some might say a brand-new boutique, a handsome son, and living at the beach is enough. I can be happy with that. I mean, Cole and I can find a way to be friends but…keep it at that? Right? I can play it safe for all our sakes?”
Quinley leaned forward and scooped up Ana’s half-empty glass, shoving it back into Ana’s hand.
“Is Cole the type to play it safe?”
Ana stilled and then slogged back the champagne like it was a magic elixir she needed to right her world. “No… He’s kind of an all-or-nothing guy.”
“And what about you?”
“What about me?”
“What doyouwant, Ana? Because a man like Cole isn’t going to stay on the shelf. You know Cole’s past and, yeah, it’s heavy, but that chapter is over. He’s put it behind him, and he’s obviously ready to try again. Why can’t you?”
“I justtoldyou.”
“You’re scared that if it doesn’t work, he’ll go to that place again,” Quinley said.
“Of course I am! Wouldn’t you be?”
“Maybe. I mean, Ana, I get what you’re saying. That time in your life was traumatic for both of you, but maybe it’s time to hear some tough love,” Quinley said, setting the flute down to stand and move to the windows.
“What do you mean?” Ana asked with a wary tone.
“Look, we’ve all got some kind of baggage we’re lugging around, but from the sound of it, Cole’s dealt with his. You haven’t.”
“That’s not fair. I have built a really good life for Ben and myself. I have dealt with things. What I can’t do is ignore how Cole reacted. He could have been killed. How can Inottake that into consideration?”
Quinley swung around to face her. “Because even though he could have been, Cole’s still living. He’s ready to take the risk and love you even though there’s a chance he’ll get hurt again, but you? You’re hiding behind one excuse after another.”
“IabandonedCole even though I loved him. Then Ben’s father abandoned him, and my parents abandonedbothof us,” she said, surging to her feet only to stand there trembling, fists clenched at her side and around the stupid empty glass she fought the urge to throw. “You don’t think that’s payback for how I hurt Cole? Because I sure see it as such. That’s why I’m trying to do the right thing here. I don’t want to hurt Cole again. I don’t want tobehurt. I just— Ican’tgo through that again.”
Quinley’s expression softened and lost the battle-ready sternness it had held moments earlier.
“Oh, Ana. I get it. I do. But what if that’s the difference between existing and living?”
ChapterSeventeen
