Page 33 of Broken Dreams
When she finally had something worth doing. I didn’t have that initial crash after Lisa. The navy still needed me to take an assignment to fly and when I was up there, I was hyper-focused on my job. I couldn’t let myself go down that path.
“It’s called grieving.”
“And you would know what that looks like, which brings me around to this next question, why the change of heart?”
I blink, surprised this is coming from him. “What?”
“You know what, literally two weeks ago Brynn and Phoebe teamed up and you were a fucking dick about it. Not that they didn’t deserve it for ambushing you, but you went on and on and on about being single and never wanting Jett to have to worry about losing a mother, and now you’re dating Addison Davis?”
Fuck. I did say all that, and I meant it. I’ll do anything, and I mean anything to protect Jett. He lost his mother, growing up with a father every day, coming home and running to me. All of it was ripped away and somehow I endured that hell, but the idea of him actually knowing, loving someone like a mother and then her dying or leaving...
Nope.
Not on my watch.
While that may be my truth, there’s no way I can say that now. I have to backtrack.
“I’m dating her, Rowan, not marrying her. I don’t think that’ll change for me.”
I know it won’t.
“So when a few months go by, your big plan is . . .?”
“None of your business,” I snap back. “What’s your big plan for Charlotte? Have you gotten her to stop telling everyone you’re a bastard who cheated on her sister?”
He flips me off. “No, and she can keep saying whatever bullshit she wants. I didn’t do it. I have never cheated on a woman because I’ve never been in a serious relationship where that’s possible.”
Ah, Rowan, the eternal bachelor.
“Have you told her this?”
Rowan laughs once. “Of course I have. But the rumors live on. Anyway, are you bringing Addy over for the cookout?”
Crisis averted.
“If this date goes well, I’ll bring her around you assholes and see if she can handle you in large doses.”
He laughs. “Hey, Phoebe was able to withstand this family.”
“I’m not sure if that says more about her or us.”
We start walking toward the house, which is more like a cottage, and sit in the lawn chairs he has out, watching Jett run around in the sunset. A lightning bug flies past him, flashing right where he can see, and he yells.
We watch him chase them and I remember my childhood, doing this same thing in the backyard with my brothers.
“Boys?” Brynn’s voice calls out from the side of the house.
“We’re back here,” Rowan answers and she comes around wearing a pencil skirt, button-up shirt, jacket and heels.
“Jesus I’m going to break an ankle.”
“Maybe don’t wear those shoes,” Rowan suggests.
She glares. “You think I planned it, dummy? I just left the office and came to make sure you didn’t need help with Jett since you’re not known for your babysitting skills.”
“I did just fine with Olivia.”
Brynn laughs once. “Please, Olivia takes care of you.” My sister turns her attention to me. “And I’m mad at you.”
