Page 124 of The Breaking Point

I felt silly that I hadn’t realized that. Silly, and naive, and sheltered.

Of course Brady would see relationships as transactional. And because of that, he’d do anything my dad asked to still be part of our family.

All my anger toward Brady was slowly being siphoned away. Regret was all I could feel at that moment.

Regret that I’d been so closed-minded. Regret that I’d made assumptions and decided not to have them challenged. Regret that I’d shown Brady his belief that relationships were transactional was true in his case.

“And I would bet Brady never told you that your dad also threatened him with trading him to another team if he didn’t stop dating you.” Mom sighed. “Did I mention your dad can be overbearing? And a hothead who drives me insane?”

I smiled, but it was a sad smile. I swiped at the tears that had gathered in my eyes. “I was so angry with Brady. I said horrible things. I just couldn’t believe he hadn’t told me about Ben. It felt like a betrayal. Now I don’t know how to feel.”

“Did you know that Brady called your dad’s bluff? Told him to trade him if he wanted because he loved you too much to care about his career.”

Now I was really crying. Mom pulled me into her arms and held me as I wept.

How could I have been so oblivious? How could I have ever thought Brady didn’t love me? I’d let my own fears and other people’s opinions overshadow what I knew about him.

“Even if he still loves me,” I said quietly, “how can we ever get back to where we were? I don’t think he’ll ever forgive me. I wouldn’t blame him either. He probably just wants to move on from everything.”

Mom was silent for a long moment, then she sighed. “I never told you about this, but I was actually engaged to another man when I met your dad.”

I blinked. “What? I thought you and Dad were high school sweethearts?”

“Kind of. We dated briefly in high school, then I broke up with him. I dated another guy in college, and when he proposed, I said yes. His name was Daniel. He was a good guy and from a good family. My family loved him, and I knew they wanted us to get married.”

Mom’s expression turned wry. “My parents never liked your dad. They said he was too wild. It didn’t help that his job prospects weren’t so great at the time. He was playing hockey while working at a grocery store. He hadn’t started coaching yet. While Daniel already had a good job at his dad’s insurance business.

“But then your dad moved into the same apartment complex I was living in. We reconnected.” Mom smiled fondly. “He was respectful. I told myself we were just friends, but I found myself missing him when I was with Daniel. Every time Daniel said or did something, I wondered what Mike would do.”

Mom blushed a little now. “I’m not proud to say this, but your dad and I kissed before I broke things off with Daniel. I realized that I didn’t really love Daniel, at least not in the way he deserved. Marrying him would’ve been more about security and pleasing our families. When I took them out of the equation, I knew I couldn’t stay in a relationship that had nothing to do with my own feelings.”

It took me a second to fully comprehend what Mom was telling me. It was hard to believe that my mom had once been a young woman, caught between two men and breaking off an engagement to be with my dad.

“I even moved out of that apartment building. I only had six more months on the lease and was going to move in with Daniel after the wedding, of course. So moving didn’t make sense. ButI knew I had to do it. Even then it wasn’t enough. I couldn’t let your dad go.”

“How did Daniel take it? When you broke up with him?” I asked.

“He was kind about it, which, honestly, made it worse.” Mom chuckled. “I wanted him to yell at me so I’d have a better reason to break up with him. But no, he just said that he understood. And that was that. I gave him back the ring he’d given me, and we called off the wedding.”

Mom’s mother, my grandma Annie, had died when I was young, my grandpa not long after. “Granny must’ve freaked out,” I said.

“Oh, your grandma was so mad at me. She didn’t speak to me for six months, especially when she found out it was because of Mike. She threatened to cut me out of her will and everything. Fortunately, your dad is so charming that he eventually won her over.

“I guess what I’m trying to say is that time will allow you to forget about Brady doing something stupid like handing keys to your brother that night. But time will not allow your heart to heal from losing the love of your life. Believe me. I almost made the worst mistake of my life in marrying Daniel instead of your dad.”

My heart was pounding. I wanted so badly to believe that Mom was right. Would Brady forgive me? And could I forgive him?

There was so much between us, so much hurt, betrayal, and anger. It felt insurmountable.

“What if love isn’t enough?” I whispered.

Mom shook her head. “Love is always enough. You just have to be brave enough to embrace it when it comes your way.”

I didn’t let myself think too hard about what I was about to do. I knew it was reckless, and I knew it was a gamble. But Mom’s words pounded in my brain.

How could I let the love of my life go without a fight?

I drove over to Brady’s, my palms sweating with anticipation. My mind went through all the scenarios of how he’d react to me showing up on his doorstep.

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