Page 108 of Gabriel & Skye

“And now you know she’s still legally your wife, you don’t like the idea of some guy having his hands on her?”

“Somethin’ like that.”

I chuckle. “And what do you have? Amicable custody of your child and a good relationship. What more could you ask for? It’s inevitable that she's going to remarry eventually, bro, maybe even have more kids.”

“Remarry?” He sputters the words like he just swallowed poison. “More kids?”

It’s like the idea has only just come to him.

“Well, yeah. You don’t think a pretty woman like Eden is gonna stay single and celibate forever, do you? It’s been what, five years?”

“We first separated five years ago, then got back together after two, then split again. I guess we were always better as friends. I mean, we were best friends before we became a couple in the first place.”

“I know but what I mean is, five years is a long time. If you haven’t moved on and had a real relationship in all that time, then there may be a reason behind it,” he says.

“I have had relationships!”

“Boning pretty girls from out of town every other weekend isn’t a relationship and you know it. You haven’t let anyone in. Maybe deep down you don’t want to.”

“What the devil's horns has gotten into you?” he mocks. “Seriously. You been readin’ one of those Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus books or somethin’?”

“Mock me all you like, but you admitted you were jealous of Eden and Kirk.”

“That’s because he’s not good enough for her.”

“And that should be none of your business. She’s a free woman, she can date and screw whoever she wants, just like you can.” I’m riling him up just a little bit. He’s in denial and he knows it.

“Not really. She’s the mother of my child. I’m lookin’ out for her. It’s in her best interests that I make sure she’s not settin’ herself up for a fall. What kind of friend would I be if I just let her drive off a cliff?”

“Uh huh, sure. And since when have you two just been friends?”

“We are friends. We don’t bump uglies. How much more friendly could you get?”

I always admired Brook for how he and Eden handled their split. There is no animosity from either of them whatsoever. They’ve raised Blake together, and she comes and goes between the two homes with no fighting or squabbling over whose week it is. I wish I could say the same, but my wife didn’t want to even be with her own child, let alone me.

Panic rises and I shove it down.

I know I have to stop procrastinating and get to work. Brook is right; I am stalling, and that’s ridiculous.

“Just gotta ask yourself if you could really give it another shot with her, and if the answer is no, then you need to step off. It’s not up to you who’s worthy or not worthy. Your heart is in the right place, but Eden is a grown woman and she’s smart,” I say. “And you have to tell her the truth about the papers.”

“You think I don’t know that? I’m tryin’ to figure out a reasonable excuse aside from ‘I forgot’.” I can just see him pacing around the rickhouse, his cowboy hat in his hand as he tries to figure out a game plan. He’ll realize soon there isn’t one. “And it’ll just reiterate how useless I am and make me look like I’m unreliable.”

“Which you don’t really care about, because you don’t still have feelings for her.”

“I know what you’re doin’, and it’s not helpin’.”

I tip my coffee into a thermal cup and secure the lid. “I’m not trying to do anything. But I also don’t want you to miss your opportunity if you still have feelings before this thing with Kirk gets serious. Think about it. I’ll be in the office in ten.”

“Fine. I’ll be the brother rocking in the corner of the vault, refusin’ to come out.”

I chuckle. “You’re gonna be okay. Just don’t do anything hasty.”

“Thanks Obi Wan. Kiss the nanny for me.”

He hangs up before I can say anything more. I have no idea why he fights it. Eden is a great girl, a little feisty at times, but that’s good for Brooklyn. She kept him on the straight and narrow for many years, and she’s always gotten along with everyone in the family.

I grab my keys, go out to my truck and head off. About halfway down the track, I see Skye’s car coming back toward me. I pull over and wind my window down.

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