Page 72 of This Memory
“Fight with Brystol?” he asked, motioning for me to hold the bag while he took his turn.
“No, not at all. Things with me and Brystol are fantastic. It’s Evelyn.”
He stopped. “What’s wrong?”
I looked around to make sure we were alone in the gym.
“It started with Evelyn wanting to announce the pregnancy only a few weeks in.”
“Yeah, I remember that.”
“Then she suggested maybe Brystol not work at her own damn store.Then, she wanted to be in the room during the entire first exam, but Brystol had to get undressed and deserved some privacy. Evelyn nearly threw a fit that the doctor spoke with Brystol alone for a few minutes. All they talked about was how Brystol was feeling. Nothing about the baby. And Evelyn actually thought Denny was going to be in the room for a fucking vaginal ultrasound. Of course, he said inno waydid he want to be back there. That he could wait for the abdominal ultrasound.”
James looked horrified.
“Right? And when they left, Evelyn threw a fit, basically demanding she be included for every second of her future appointments. Even threw it in Brystol’s face that they’re the ones paying for the doctor visits.”
“Ouch.”
I sighed. “But this morning is what broke Brystol. I stayed the night last night.”
His eyes went wide. “Holy shit, Gavin.”
I couldn’t hide the smile on my face. “It was fucking fantastic…and I don’t know, James. I’ve never felt that way with any other woman. It was…so different, but in the best way possible. I can’t honestly imagine being with anyone else after this.”
“Wait, are you saying you’re in love with Brystol?”
I let out a laugh. “I’ve been in love with that woman for as long as I can remember. You always told me I was, and now you’re surprised?”
“Well, no, but at the same time, yeah. I’m happy for you, Gavin. I’m happy for you both.”
“Thanks,” I said, trying to get the smile off my face.
He cleared his throat. “Okay, what does your staying the night have to do with whatever broke Brystol?”
“After dinner last night, we walked into her house, and let’s just say things moved quickly. Brystol left her phone in her purse. Apparently, Evelyn had been trying to call her last night and this morning. She came rushing to the house at seven a.m., jumped on Brystol for making her worry, noticedmethere, and flipped her lid.”
Confused, he asked, “Why? Everyone knows the two of you have secretly had a thing for one another. Evelyn should definitely know since she’s best friends with Brystol. What was her problem?”
I nodded. “She didn’t like the fact that we’d slept together. In her mind, Brystol should abstain from sex until after the pregnancy.”
My brother’s mouth fell open. “What? What if you guys had been married, and she’d agreed to this? Did shereallythink Brystol wouldn’t have sex the entire pregnancy?”
“Yep. Was pretty adamant about it too. And when that little issue got worked out, she flippedagainafter Brystol mentioned going to the Turkey Trot, which she’s done every year since high school. It’s like Evelyn has become this person I don’t even know anymore. Denny texted me just before I got here, said Evelyn’s been changing daily. She’s insanely jealous Brystol is carrying the baby and she’s not. I told him she needed to talk to someone about it, a therapist. The worst part is, Brystol told them she regretted her decision to be the surrogate.”
“Oh hell. Damn, man. Did she mean it?”
“I think so,” I said with a solemn nod. “At the time, at least. She doesn’t now, of course. But she’s just fed up with how Evelyn treats her, and I don’t know how to help.”
“You do what you’re doing. Stand by her, be there for her. That’s all you can do until Evelyn gets her shit worked out.”
I blew out a breath. “I feel bad for Denny. I’m not sure how he’s handling it all. I asked him if he wanted to grab a few beers later, and he said he couldn’t. Evelyn’s having a bad day after what Brystol said. It’s like neither of them can see what they’re doing to Brystol. I mean, thelastthing I would want to do is stress out a pregnant woman.”
He squeezed my shoulder. “Try not to worry. It’ll all work out. I’m sure Evelyn is just stressed about things. Once Brystol gets past the first trimester, and Evelyn starts to see signs of the baby, I’m guessing things will get better.”
“From your lips to God’s ears.”
“Let’s say to hell with our workout, invite Declan and Kian out for some beers, and talk stupid guy shit.”
