Page 26 of Wrong Place, Wright Time
“But?” he repeats, a little more forcefully this time.
“I’m fine.”
Placing the cork and the bottle on the counter, Darren looks at me in a way that tells me he isn’t buying a single thing I’m selling. And rightly so, these days, I’m struggling with it too. Over the last six months, I’ve spent every day falling harder and faster in love with Isla Wright, and I want to make her my wife.
“That’s a load of shit and you know you can’t put that past me. I’ve known you all your life Banks Johnson. Hell, we were raised in the same house for the most part. I know you, and I also know you’dneverbring a woman here for me to meet if she didn’t mean a hell of a lot to you. So fess us, or I’m gonna march right out there and ask her.”
Chewing on the inside of my lips, I run my fingers along the edge of the counter as I consider my words. While I do, a montage of every moment with Isla goes running through my head. All the laughter, the comfortable quiet, the slow walks and the long talks. Everything about her turns me on—her looks, her mind, her sense of humor, and the way she lives her life. I feel like I’ve genuinely found the one person in this world I align with completely, and even though we’re more compatible that most couples could dream of being, she’s put a major roadblock in our path. If I continue following her rules, this is it. This is as good as it gets. And I’m not sure I’m OK with that.
“I’m in love with her,” I admit, causing Darren to smile cautiously.
“But that’s amazing. Why are you acting like it’s a bad thing?”
“Because that’s not what this is supposed to be.”
He frowns and moves his eyes like he’s trying to work this out. “What exactly is it supposed to be?”
“At most, I suppose we’re FWBs.”
“Friends with benefits?” He takes a steadying breath and straightens his stance, hands crossing over his middle. “Was this her idea or yours?”
“Hers.”
“And now you’ve caught feelings and you don’t know how she’s going to take it?”
“Pretty much.”
“Have you discussed what happens if one of you wants more and the other doesn’t?”
“Not really. It was more of an agreement that we entered into a relationship without the option of moving it forward. She doesn’t want to get married again, and because of that she also doesn’t want kids.”
“And you want all of that?”
“Yeah.” I flash him a sardonic smile. “After the way grew up, I kind of never thought I would. Then I met her and…”
“Everything changed.”
I nod.
“Same happened when I met Theo. I thought I’d be bed hopping from here to eternity, but that boy—thatman—turned out to be the greatest thing that happened to me. But do you know what made it so wonderful?”
“You became best friends too?” Because I already know that’s why I can’t see myself letting go of this woman.
“Yeah. But the real reason is honesty. We’ve always been upfront and honest about what we want from each other.”
I take in a deep, heavy breath. “So what you’re saying is that I need to tell her regardless of the consequences.”
Darren nods. “I know you to be a man who never backs away from a challenge, Banks. You’ve been a risk-taker all your life. This is just another instance where you need to risk something big to get what you want.”
“That’s the problem. Normally when I take a risk, I’m willing to accept the consequences. But here, I’m not. I don’t want to lose her.”
“Well, cousin,” he says, stepping forward and placing a hand on my arm. “Think of this this way, if you keep going the way you are right now, you’re going to end up miserable and you’ll lose her anyway. But that’ll be long and painful instead of sharp and fast. And I really don’t want to stand by and watch you go through that.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
Darren smiles. “You know I am.” He turns his attention to the other room when laughter erupts and Theo calls out asking if we need any help. “We’re fine, baby. Won’t be long!” he calls back before meeting my gaze again. “Ready to go back out there?”
“Of course,” I say, picking up the snack bowls and following him to where Theo and Isla are sitting on the floor and Isla and rolling about cackling.
