Page 41 of If We Never Met

"Do those expectations encompass everyone around you?"

"No, just me. I don't have a lot of expectations of anyone else. It saves me from feeling disappointment."

Hearing the edge in his voice, she suspected that quite a few people had disappointed him, but probably no one more than his dad. "Your father let you down a lot, didn't he?"

"Too many times to count, and it took me a long time to realize that would always be the result. Finally, I stopped caring or expecting anything."

"Does he let your brothers down as well?"

"He seems to be closer to Danny now. My oldest brother lives near him, and he talks my dad's language. They watch a lot of football together. As for Micah and Paul, I think they have the same relationship with him as I do. But while my dad wasn't there for us, we were there for each other. Sometimes, we were beating each other up, but when it came to the big stuff, I knew I could count on my brothers."

"That's nice. I always wished for a sibling. Although, I did get a lot of attention as an only child, and I didn't have to share."

"Being an only kid does have its perks."

"True. I also had good friends growing up: Hannah, Chloe, and Gianna. We were very tight."

"I like Hannah. She's very direct and seems very loyal."

"As loyal as they come. She's sometimes a little too sarcastic and cynical, but that's just who she is. Gianna and Chloe are great, too. Chloe was married to her high school boyfriend, but they divorced last year, so she's raising their little boy alone. Gianna recently got married to Zach Barrington. He's an architect in town. They're raising his daughter, Hailey."

"Has everyone been in Whisper Lake their entire lives?"

"No. Gianna left for a long time. Hannah was gone for several years, as was I. Chloe has pretty much always been here. She manages the Big Sky Café."

"I stopped in there yesterday to have lunch. They have great food."

"They do."

"What about Lizzie?" he asked. "When did you meet her?"

"A few years ago, when she moved here to open her inn. Her sister Chelsea came shortly thereafter, as well as her brother, Adam. He's a police detective."

Dante nodded. "I think Grayson told me that."

"Lizzie is trying to get her entire family here, and it might happen. She has dogged determination."

"I have seen examples of that. I don't know how she does all she does, like packing us this very delicious dinner."

"I think sometimes she must have a clone, or two or three. I could probably use a couple of clones, too."

"How has your week gone?"

"It's been busy." She was unwilling to admit how much time she'd wasted thinking about him.

"And you like to be busy."

"I do, but maybe not this busy. I'd like to find a happy medium, a good balance."

"I think balance is overrated."

She gave him a thoughtful look. "Why do you say that?"

"Because you can't be all things to all people. Some endeavors require brutal, single-minded focus."

"Like your job."

"Yes. I don't know many successful pro athletes who have a million different things going on. They just can't. And that's not a dig at you," he added quickly. "I know I made you angry the other night. I'm not judging you. I'm talking about myself."

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