Page 87 of The Nice Guy
Walking back out, I hand him the box. “I bought this.”
He opens it, eyes wide, and looks up at me. “You didn’t.”
“It was like I was under a spell. I didn’t mean to. The store was empty, and it looks like Brynlee. The ring—it was meant for her, man. Next thing I know, I dropped more than I ever thought I would on a ring. And the craziest part? There was no anxiety about it.”
“Anxiety?”
“Remember how I almost backed out of this house when I signed the papers? Same with my truck.”
Handing it back to me, he lets out a long breath. “That’s big. But you guys were only together for a couple of months. Are you sure this is what you should have bought?”
“You mean since the woman I want to make my wife is currently MIA with no way to get in touch with her?”
“You know what I mean.”
“She’s the one, Ev. If she ever comes back and gives me another chance, I’m never lettin’ her go.”
He smiles and leans back. “Damn.”
“You once said you wanted my house. Well, dependin’ on whether I decide to sell it to pay off this ring or not, I’ll let you know,” I joke, trying to shift gears. The air around us feels too heavy.
“I’d buy this in a heartbeat.”
Putting the ring back in the safety of my dresser drawer, I stare at the pink bear on the bed. There’s a reason I’m miserable, and I’m the cause. But Everett doesn’t need to be. He obviously misses Honor, and I walk back out to confront him.
“Get her back,” I say.
“What?”
“Honor. You miss her, and you know where she is. Talk to her and find a way to make it work. Don’t pass up somethin’ like this.”
His eyes don’t meet mine as he stares at the wall. “I can’t. Not unless she tones it down. Brynlee wasn’t wrong when she said what she did, and I hate how she treats everyone. She hated how they made her feel because of her past, but then she goes out of her way to hurt others. She hurt you on purpose for selfish reasons, and it’s bullshit. I’m sick of it.”
“Maybe she’d be willin’ to work on her attitude if she knows you’re willin’ to give her a second chance.”
Shrugging, he just laughs. “I don’t know if anythin’ will get through to her. I want her to change to be a better person, not because she wants me back. It won’t be genuine, and it probably won’t stick otherwise.”
“I’m sorry, Ev.”
“Me, too. For all of it.”
We sit in silence for a few minutes before I turn on the football game. Grabbing us another beer, we both pretend to watchthe game. I know we’re thinking about the women who have our hearts rather than the team winning, but it’s nice to have company.
“This is gonna be our life until one of us moves on, isn’t it? Sittin’ in a room and drinkin’ beer together.”
“Less depressin’,” I offer. “But let’s be real. It’ll be you who moves on.”
He slams his fist on the arm of the recliner and whips to face me with anger blazing in his eyes. “Stop it! You gotta stop this wholeI’m not good enoughbullshit. It’s, well… Frankly, it’s annoyin’.”
Holding my hands up in surrender, I try to wave the white flag. “I didn’t mean it like that. I meant that Brynlee’s the girl for me. The one I want to spend my life with, and I don’t know if she’s ever comin’ home.”
“Maybe Darla can help,” he offers, calming down.
“Yeah, Darla’s not really talkin’ to me.”
“Heard she’s not happy with anyone right now. So…” he says and leans back in his chair, “want me to bring the beer tomorrow night?”
“Sounds good to me.”
