Page 49 of Waiting to Love You

“Trust me, she knows.” Selina takes a seat beside me, resting her hand on my shoulder. “I’m sure you know Bristol isn’t the best at telling people how she feels. Sometimes it’s like pulling teeth to get her to admit when she’s worried about something.”

I nod my head in understanding, remembering how hard it was to get Bristol to warm up to me after we first met. At first, I thought it was because of her statement about not liking men in the military, and she hated me on principle, but the more I talked to her, I discovered it was something more. Bristol has always had to keep her heart guarded against new people, a product of being a military brat and being the new kid more often than any child would like. People always wanted to poke fun at the new kid and see how far they could push her before she snapped. After a while, she built a wall around her heart, making people prove to her they were genuine before she let them in. But once you worm your way into Bristol’s heart, you’re there forever. You’re part of her family.

I thought I had gotten past the walls to her gooey center, but I guess I was wrong. By pushing her, I was asking for something more than she was ready to give me. And I broke the promise I made to her, which is an unforgivable offense to Bristol. It’s the same thing she told me her father used to do. He’d make promises she knew he couldn’t keep for any number of reasons, but she always hoped that he’d come through for her. But he never did, leaving her devastated.

“Thanks for trying to make me feel better, but I know she’s pissed at me.” I sigh, running my hand along the back of my neck. “I just wish I knew how to apologize to her.”

“Wait a second. What?”

“Why would she be pissed at you?” Audrey questions, as if the answer wasn’t staring her right in the face.

“I pushed her. Just like I promised I wouldn’t, and now she’s pulling away from me.”

Audrey and Selina share a knowing glance before Audrey takes a seat on the other side of me. “Okay, slow down and tell us exactly what happened.”

“Maybe we can help you come up with the perfect plan to get back into her good graces.” Selina giggles softly, resting her hand on top of the little bump of her belly.

“Congratulations, by the way,” I say with a smile, motioning toward her belly. “Vance hasn’t shut up about how he’s going to be a father since we met. Don’t tell him I told you, but we have a pool going about whether you’re having a boy or a girl.”

“That sounds just like him,” Audrey replies as she and Selina both laugh loudly. “We do, too, because someone won’t tell us what she’s having.”

“And what would be the fun in that? Surprises keep us young, don’t they?”

“Speak for yourself. I may have a fifteen-year-old, but I’m far from being old,” Audrey retorts before turning her attention back to me. “Way to change the subject, but you aren’t getting out of explaining yourself.”

“I should’ve known nothing would get past you two.” I chuckle, looking for the right words to explain what happened. “Bristol and I have been getting closer since we had the date a few weeks ago. Talking on the phone and getting to know each other better, but about a week ago, I asked her something, and I don’t think she was ready to answer.”

“What did you ask her?” Selina asks, cocking her head to the side.

“Where she saw things going with us.” I push to my feet and pace back and forth across the room. “I know I messed up, but it just kind of came out. I promised her I wouldn’t push her, but I broke that promise. I’ve gone on and on about how I’m not like her father, that she can count on me to keep my promises, and I did the exact opposite.”

“I doubt you messed up that badly. Bristol isn’t one to hold grudges against anyone,” Audrey says, gripping my shoulder tightly, causing me to stop pacing and look at her. “She’s trying to work through some things right now. When she’s ready to talk, I’m sure you’ll be the first person she talks to.”

“This is honestly a case of it’s her and not you, trust us. She’ll get things figured out soon,” Selina chimes in, pushing to her feet and coming toward us, gripping both of my hands in hers and squeezing them tightly. “Just keep reminding her you aren’t the enemy. We all know how stubborn she can be. If being with Bristol is what you really want, then don’t give up on her.”

I turn toward the door for the studio, willing Bristol to appear again and give me a chance to apologize to her for pushing. For breaking my promise to give her the time she needed to decide how she felt about me. For being just like her father and breaking my promise. I stand there for a few moments before pulling my hands from Selina’s grasp and sighing.

“I hope you ladies have a good day.”

I stand and head toward the back of the studio but pause. Bristol obviously doesn’t want to see me, but it still feels wrong to just leave without saying goodbye.

“Talk to you later, Bristol,” I call out before turning on my heels and heading out the door.

Neither Audrey nor Selina say anything as I leave. Hopefully, they can at least tell her how sorry I am and that it wasn’t my intention to push her. Bristol looks exhausted—probably working herself to the bone again. Maybe those two can convince her to take it easy for a few days. I’m sure she needs it.

My visit didn’t turn out how I planned, but I should have known she wouldn’t want to see me. I open the truck door and am immediately hit with the delicious smell of my food. My stomach rumbles loudly as I climb into the truck and shut the door behind me.

She can be as stubborn as she wants, but like Selina said, I need to make sure she understands that I’m not going anywhere. If she believes that this slight hiccup is going to scare me off, then she has another thing coming.

Chapter 14

Bristol

My phone chimes from its place beside me in the break room, but I don’t even bother to pick it up. I know it’s Seth asking what’s wrong with me.

I’ve been ignoring him for the better part of the week. I’d love to blame everything on Rebekah being so sick, but that’d be a lie. I need to tell him about our daughter. I just can’t figure out how. I’ve written letters and speeches and even thought about just bringing Rebekah to see him at his place one night. But every time I decide on a specific course of action, I change my mind, allowing my fear to get the better of me for the millionth time. I know the next time I talk to him, there will be no escaping the fact I need to tell him about Rebekah, so I’ve been ignoring him.

“You could have been nicer to him,” Audrey says as she comes into the room, taking a seat beside me at the table and reaching toward the bag of uneaten food.

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