Page 113 of Hate to Love You

Chapter Forty-Five

Brody

“Any thoughts about the last condo we toured?” Dad lifts the scotch to his lips and takes a healthy drink. “Pretty nice, wasn’t it?”

We flew in late last night and met with the Mavericks’ defensive coach this morning for breakfast. He and the old man played together in Chicago before Dad was traded to Detroit. Then we spent the rest of the day with Dana, the realtor who is showing us around Milwaukee. We got back to the hotel about an hour ago and stopped at the bar to have a drink.

I nod, but I’m not really paying attention to what he’s saying.

I thought this trip to Milwaukee would help take my mind off of Natalie. I could focus on the future and put a little distance between us. All I did was sulk around the house. I caught a glimpse of her on campus yesterday, and it nearly brought me to my knees. I just wanted to grab her and…

I pinch the bridge of my nose.

What? What was I going to do?

Shake some sense into her?

Demand that she acknowledge her feelings for me?

No. I couldn’t do either of those things.

Until I can wrap my mind around the truth that her feelings for me don’t run as deep as the ones I have for her, I need to steer clear. And getting out of Dodge seemed like the best way to do it.

But all it’s done is slam home the realization that once I graduate this spring, I’ll be moving on with my life. I won’t see Natalie anymore. I won’t run into her on campus. Or at a party. Or in class.

That chapter of my life will be over.

Someone needs to explain to me how I’m supposed to walk away from her. From the one woman who actually makes me feel alive.

“Brody.”

I jerk out of my thoughts and back to the present. “Yeah?”

Dad eyes me over the rim of his crystal tumbler as he takes another drink. “You need to get your head out of your ass and focus on what’s important.”

I break eye contact and stare sightlessly out the wall of windows overlooking the busy street. It’s been gray and rainy for most of the day, which matches my disposition perfectly. “I am, Dad.”

He raises a brow. “This is exactly why I didn’t want you getting involved with someone at this stage of the game. You don’t need some girl fucking with your head.”

Irritated by his words, I drag my fingers through my hair and snap, “Can we not do this right now?” Dad is the last person I want to discuss Natalie with.

“You’re better off without her, Brody. I tried telling you that before, but you refused to listen.” He stabs a finger in my direction. “You keep it light. No relationships.”

It takes a moment for his words to sink in. My brows furrow. “What are you talking about?”

After our discussion at brunch where he told me to cut Natalie loose, I’ve gone out of my way not to mention her. And I sure as shit didn’t tell him about our breakup because I didn’t want to hear yet another rendition of the I-told-you-so lecture.

I need that like another freaking hole in the head.

“That girl broke up with you, didn’t she? That’s why you’re in such a pissy mood?” Dad places the tumbler of scotch on a coaster. “Listen, the best way to get over one woman is to get under another. Go out tonight and have a little fun. You’re in the perfect city for it.”

Those words send my temper skyrocketing. “How do you know that Natalie dumped me?”

His eyes flick around the bar before settling on mine again, and he shrugs. “I don’t know. You must have mentioned it the other day.”

Even though I shake my head, I keep my eyes focused on his. He’s lying. “No, I didn’t.”

He sits back, putting distance between us. “Sure, you did.”

---