Page 16 of Be My Reason

He walks over and sits down a couple of feet from me. “Well, in no particular order, I’m not stalking you but I did want to talk to you today and I remembered that you like to run in the morning. And, yes, I’ll probably hit the afternoon sessions but I hate these conferences. I only go because my dad wants me to try to drum up more business.”

I vaguely remember he said his dad was an architect.He must work for him. I decide not to ask about his dad or his business as that might seem like I’m interested in conversation, which I’m not. I settle for, “How exactly do you know I like to run in the morning?”

“Back in high school, I would see you run the track every morning before school.The baseball team had some morning practices and you were always there. It didn’t matter if it was freezing cold or raining, you always showed up. I was impressed.” He takes off his shirt again, throws it over his shoulder and stretches his arms over his head.

Holy God, look away. He may attract every single lady within eye-shot but this isn’t going to work on me. And there is that tattoo again, on his right bicep. I dare not stare at it but it looks like script that goes all the way around his arm. The script is printed over the outline of something on the underside of his arm but I can’t make it out.

Well since he brought it upfirst, I say, “Speaking of high school—”

“That’s not what I came here to talk about.I want to talk about Emma and Graham.”

Geez.Deflect much?“What about them?”

“Well, I’m assuming Emma has talked to you about Graham, and Graham sure as hell won’t shut up about Emma. You know I’m not for all that two-people-together-forever crap, but Graham had a pretty bad relationship end last year and this is the first I’ve seen him really interested in a woman. Hell, he’s only known her for a day and he is already talking about what business he could do down in Savannah.”

I throw my head back and sigh.It’s worse than I thought. I know Emma is into Graham but I thought maybe she would just sleep with him and get over it like she always does. But then after dinner last night I realized she actually feels something for this guy. I know that because she didn’t sleep with him last night. Why does this have to be happening with Nate’s best friend and partner? How many other men are at this stupid convention that are gorgeous and available and don’t have a man-slut for a friend?

“Okay, so they are into each other.So what about it?” I know I must sound like a bitch, but he pretty much did just blow me off when I started to talk about high school.

“Listen, I get that you hate me.I’m a dick. I don’t like myself most of the time either.” He closes his eyes and shakes his head. “But Graham is a great guy. He has been there for me through some pretty terrible things and I owe him.”

Terriblethings? I wonder what he means. Maybe it has to do with those scars that he mentioned last night. Or maybe his ex-wife.

“What does any of this have to do with me?” I’m getting irritated.

“Well, Graham really wants to spend time with Emma this week. However, he says that she won’t socialize outside of the conference because you refuse to be a third wheel and that you won’t go if I’m there.”

Yes, that about sums it up.Wait, how does he know this?

“Um, how do you know this?”I ask.

“So, you didn’t hear them talking on the phone until three in the morning last night?”

No, I was drunk and apparently dreaming of you. “No, I actually slept pretty hard last night. I wouldn’t have heard a freight train.”

Emma was on the phone until three in the morning.With a guy. I’m floored by this news.

“So, I was thinking that you could put your. . . dislike of me aside.” He winks at me. “And suck it up and hang out with us for the next few nights. You know, for them?”

I would do anything for my best friend.Anything but this. She will understand. I’ll talk to her again. I could always just leave and go back to Savannah. I could even fake an emergency at the bakery.

“Brooklyn, before you say anything,just think about it. Graham told me some stuff that Emma told him last night about how she never really dates and hasn’t had a serious boyfriend. He told her about his past relationship. They talked for hours. They are really hitting it off. You need to do this for her. Wouldn’t she support you if the tables were turned?”

Now he has hit a nerve. Talk about friends being there for support, Emma has been through some pretty awful things with me. The dayheleft . . . that was awful. She stayed up with me for nights when I was crying until the tears ran dry and my body would just convulse. She comforted me all those times I wished I had a boyfriend but was afraid to get too close to anyone again. She was my biggest cheerleader when I took the plunge and called Michael after that wonderful care package he sent me. She has helped me plan my wedding. She’s given me a place to live. And, most of all, she helped me with my dream of opening Brooklyn’s. I can never repay her for what she has done.Damn it! Oh, curse the gods of doing the right thing.

“Fine,” I acquiesce. He releases his breath and looks just a little too happy. “With two ground rules.” The smile drops from his face and he raises his eyebrows at me. “One, this is not, I repeat not, a double date. I am engaged to be married and I am in love with Michael. I will do this to support Emma and that is the only reason I will do this.”

“Okay, not a date. What’s your second condition?”

“No touching.You will not touch me, hug me, dance with me or even catch me if I trip and fall. Understood?” As those last words tumble from my mouth I can’t help but remember a time when he did catch me when I fell into him at the age of seventeen. I fell into him and then I fell hard for him.

“Whatif you are crossing the street and a car is about to hit you and I have to run out and pull you out of the way? What if you are trapped in a burning building and I have to carry you out to safety, can I touch you then?” He laughs.

“Not even then.Let the car drag me along the road. Let me burn in the fire. Got it?” I stand up and turn away to finish my run back to the hotel.

“You hate me that much?”are the last words I hear come from him before I turn the corner.

No, I loved you that much.I’m not willing to risk everything I have with Michael to re-live what would surely be a repeat of the nightmare that still haunts me after all this time.

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