Page 56 of Chasing Sunsets

Brett and Kelly met his observation with silence.

“Guys, the producers are pushing us to get as much information as possible out of couples. Please don’t think I’m prying.”

“That’s the definition of prying.” Brett grinned when Kelly laughed at his reply.

“Okay, fine, I’m prying. It’s just that, Brett, before the day off, I hadn’t seen you smile. I didn’t think you knew how. Now you smile all the time. Has something happened? Is something different? Did you simply put your differences aside?”

Kelly’s hand rubbed Brett’s arm and squeezed his bicep. “We’re back together.”

“That’s great.”

“It’s everything.” Brett kept his eyes on the road as he spoke. “While we were apart, I felt like a part of me was missing. Kelly’s essential to my life.”

Trent picked up his camera and pointed the lens toward the backseat.

Kelly sat forward and quietly spoke from the door side of Brett’s seat near his ear. Her words were so soft there was no way the microphones could pick them up. “Do you mind if I talk about our problem? I know we’re just starting our sessions with the doctor, yet he’s helped us so much already I feel sure we can overcome this.”

Surprised, he wasn’t sure how to answer. He thought they were on the right track and would stay together, except he couldn’t believe she wanted to share their sexual issues with the world. He whispered back, “You sure you want to reveal everything?”

“Let me rephrase. I’d like to tell people if they think their relationship is worth it, not to give up.”

Brett clasped her hand with his, brought it to his lips to kiss it, and then set it over his heart. “I support whatever you decide. Be warned, I’m sure Trent will try to delve deeper.”

“Yeah, I know. I’m so encouraged though. If I speak about seeking a specialist or a therapist, someone may search until they find the help they need. If it benefits only one person, it will be worth it.” Her words sounded shaky. “I was willing to give up, Brett. I didn’t think anything could be done. I didn’t believe in us enough.”

“You experienced a moment of insanity.”

“A year, you mean.”

He chuckled. “Okay, a year. You’re allowed.”

“I love you so much.”

His heart clutched. “I love you too.”

Trent still aimed the camera at her.

She pressed harder on Brett’s heart, then removed her hand, the position must have been awkward for her to do for so long. He peeked at her in the rearview mirror to see she now sat up with her back straight. “I believed there was no help for me.”

“No help for us,” Brett interjected.

Kelly returned his gaze in the rearview mirror. “For us. Last year Brett lived in a different state.”

“Why, Brett,” Trent asked.

“I needed time. When Kelly requested I move out, it shook me to my core,” he replied honestly. “If I’d stayed in town, I would’ve driven her away by constantly bothering her.”

~

Kelly laughed. “Likehe’s done since the second day of this competition.”

“I had to,” Brett defended, his tone teasing.

Brett was right, Trent would try to probe further into their problems, and she hoped one day she’d be able to share with others about her vaginismus and help other women with the same problem, but not today. Still, her trust issues were the biggest problem.

“Brett and I met the first day of kindergarten.” She relaxed. “I didn’t know anyone and was on the swings by myself. He ran up to me and said, ‘We need a wench to walk the plank.’”

Brett’s laugh warmed her insides.

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