Page 108 of Nice Guys Don't Kiss Like That At Christmas
I stop petting Rocky and stand back up."I'm working on it."
"Work faster," he advises."That woman deserves to know where you stand.Don't repeat old patterns, man."
I can't argue with that, so I don't try.
Because I want her.I want Eve Foster.
Faye sits by the window at Rosie’s, her dark hair shorter than I remember, her smile easier as she waves me over.
"You look good," she says as I slide into the booth across from her."Less..."she gestures vaguely, "rigid."
"Therapy helps," I admit."How's Liam?"
Her entire face lights up at the mention of her son."Starting Kindergarten, obsessed with dinosaurs, and absolutely convinced he's getting a real velociraptor for Christmas."
I laugh, the awkwardness I expected diluted by the genuine warmth in her expression."Sounds reasonable."
"About as reasonable as expecting things to work out in DC," she says, stirring honey with honesty into her tea."I've been thinking about that a lot lately."
I brace myself, but again she surprises me.
"We were good together," she says."Just not great.Not what either of us deserved."
The truth of her words hits home.We'd worked on paper—similar backgrounds, compatible goals—but we'd never challenged each other in the ways that matter.
"I wanted someone who would put my dreams first," she continues."But I never stopped to think about what that meant for yours."Her smile turns rueful."I didn't even really know what your dreams were.That's not love."
"I should have been honest," I admit."Instead of promising to try long-distance when I knew my heart wasn't in it.I was afraid of being the bad guy."
"And ended up being exactly that," she finishes for me."We were both young.I knew you got heartbroken in Pittsburgh and I thought I could be the one for you.You thought I needed you.We were both still figuring out the difference between compromise and sacrifice.And I knew you didn't care as much.You loved the idea of us, but you didn't love me the way I deserved.You didn’t show me any of the parts of you that may need help or weren’t as shiny."She pauses."You didn't tell me missing on an internship.You didn't tell me when your dad got sick.You didn't let me help you.Ever."
Her words land with uncomfortable accuracy, like finding a hidden fracture on an X-ray I've been staring at for too long.I flinch, not from the accusation but from its truth.The worst part is, she's right.While she had invested her heart, I'd invested my sense of duty.
"I should have let you go sooner," I say quietly."You deserved someone who felt the same way you did."
The irony doesn’t escape me.Held onto Faye like it was noble, like loyalty made up for everything else.Let Eve go like that made me some kind of martyr.Plot twist: Back then, Lady Grey would’ve written me as the side character who gets killed off in Chapter 10 for emotional depth.
Eve lied.But I waited too long to write back.Left her hanging when she was trying, because I was hurt.And maybe she waited, too.And when I hid things from her this time, we tackled it together.Because we’re older.Maybe a bit wiser.
Faye nods, a flash of old pain crossing her features before settling into acceptance.“I spent a lot of time being angry about that.That you stayed when you weren’t all in.That you let me build dreams around someone who wasn’t building the same ones.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I know.Because you’re a good guy, Adam.But even good guys make mistakes.”
The waitress delivers Rosie’s peppermint hot chocolates, topped with whipped cream mountains and crushed candy cane dust.Outside, children build snowmen wearing Santa hats, parents helping place smiles and carrot noses.
“I’m sorry about Brad,” I say, meaning it.
She shrugs.“He turned out to be exactly what I thought I wanted.Someone who loved me loudly.But loving like that isn’t enough either if you don’t make time for each other.Sucks, right?”Her smile is sad but healing.“Enough about my failed marriage.I hear you’re leaving Pine Creek?”
“Teaching position and vet office,” I confirm.“On the Cape.”
“Pine Creek’s loss, Cape Cod’s gain.”Her sincerity catches me off guard.“That sounds perfect for you.You always were a better teacher than you gave yourself credit for.”
“I’m trying to be better at admitting what I want,” I say.“Not hiding behind what others need from me.”
“Good.”
