Page 45 of Coincidentally Kismet

“What am I going to do about, Cam? Thatch, she’s all I’ve ever wanted, but I’m scared to hurt her. I don’t want her to see me shaken and scared after a bad dream. She doesn’t deserve to have to take care of my ass when I come home broken or maimed, and I couldn’t bear it if she walked away when I became too much.”

“Have you ever asked her what she thinks about those things?” Bri speaks softly beside me, scaring the crap out of me and also stunning me with the question.

“Bri, holy shit, where did you come from? I didn’t even hear you walk up,” I wrestle out.

Bri chuckles at me, putting a hand over her mouth softly. “I really did scare you. You should be more aware of your surroundings, William.”

“Oh sure, laugh it up. I wasn’t exactly expecting anyone to talk back to me here, Bri,” I say, eyes practically bugging out of my head as I gesture to the ghosts we are surrounded by.

Bri’s amused, and I have to admit, it’s really nice to see her smile. I haven’t seen much of her recently. We all took turns checking in on her when Thatch first passed, but after a couple months, she kindly told us to get a life and quit hovering. She knew we were dealing with our own grief and that it was weighing on us more than we let on. She’s perfect that way, knowing what others need and always helping where she can.

“You gonna answer my question?” she prods.

“No, I haven’t asked her. I think I’m afraid of the answer,” I admit.

“Afraid because you think she won’t be up for it, or because she will?”

“I-I don’t know. Maybe both.”

“It seems to me that this girl has been on your mind for quite a long time. Thatch used to tell me how you pined away for her. Will, no one can predict what the future will be. If she’s half as smart and amazing as you’ve always said, she will make the right choice for herself. The kicker is, you my friend, have to be willing to accept that choice, whatever it is.”

“Did you make the right choice?” I ask, knowing that I shouldn’t. I’m fully aware it’s not really a fair question seeing as she would never admit regret over a dead man.

“For me there wasn’t ever a choice. Thatch was a foregone conclusion. We came on strong and quick and loved with all we had. I never stopped to think that hard about it. I’d like to say if given a choice, I would do it all over again, but I’m not there yet. I know I miss him with every breath and fiber of my being,” she says, sounding sad and remorseful.

“Thanks, Bri. Really...I appreciate you telling me. We don’t just miss Thatch, you know. We miss you too. You need to come around more,” I say trying to be encouraging but also sounding a little sterner than I had hoped.

Bri wraps me in a hug. It’s fierce despite how little she is, and I feel the warmth of a true friend. She’s one of the strongest people I know, and I wasn’t lying when I said we miss her. She laughs softly and hoists herself up on tippy toes to ruffle my hair.

“I’ll make you a deal. I’ll come around when you get the girl. Now give me two of those beers and get outta here. I’m trying to have a date with my husband.” She smirks and raises a stern eyebrow at me.

I oblige by giving her the remaining beers. “I don’t take orders from you, but I know he would want the alone time.” Inod toward Thatch’s headstone, laying a hand on it and willing myself not to cry.

I begin walking back to my car when Bri shouts, “Hey Will!” I turn to look at her. “Call your therapist, work it out before you go get her.” I give her a salute and continue on.

Plopping down in the driver’s seat, I grab my phone and call Tina, my therapist. She answers on the first ring. “Will, what’s wrong?”

“I-I need help. Can we meet?”

“I’m at the office, come on by.”

“I’ll be there in ten.” I hang up and put my truck in drive. Time to do the hard work, time to make some decisions.

CHAPTER 22

CAM

“THIS FEELING” - THE CHAINSMOKERS & KELSEA BALLERINI

Will is applying a full-on takeover mission this week—the dating kind.I practically hauled ass out of the rental Sunday morning, running like my life was on the line. In some ways, it was. My heart has never been more unsure of something: Do I see what happens and risk it all, or do I draw inward and ensure my safety? When I left, I had essentially made my mind up. And my mind told me to get the heck out of dodge, pretend the kiss never happened.

Will has other plans, though. I didn’t hear from him yesterday, but this morning when I opened the door at six to head to the gym, there were a dozen bouquets of peonies, a protein shake, and a note letting me know it was game on. I almost couldn’t believe my eyes; it was early and I hadn’t had coffee. If it weren’t for nearly tripping over everything and slamming my arm into the doorjamb to catch myself, I would have thought I was dreaming.

The note was simple.

Cam-

A couple of things for the most beautiful girl in the world. I’m all in, I want to see where this goes. Meet me at Amore at noon if you do too.

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