Page 32 of Final Chance At Love (Chance At Love Duet 2)

“Yes,” she confirmed fast. “I’ll talk to you after you and Rick talk. Ok?” I nodded forgetting she couldn’t see me, but as if she did see my nod, she added, “I love you.”

“I love you too,” I sniffed.

“Hello beautiful,” Rick’s strong voice reached me and a tear ran down my cheek.

“Hello,” I barely got the words out through my tight throat.

“Don’t be sad, Gem,” he mumbled. “It kills me on the inside when you hurt.”

“I missed you,” I whispered into the phone. I wished they were both here with me.

“I missed you more,” he replied simply. “I thought you’d never speak to me again.”

“I couldn’t.” I started and then added on a sigh. “I could never give up on you all. You, Betty, or the boys.”

“I’m happy to hear that. It’d hurt if you could. Damn it,” he cursed. “I wish you were here or I was there. I want to explain.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked softly, almost scared.

The silence stretched and I thought he wouldn’t answer. “It’s a long story,” he started and asked hesitantly. “Can we meet for lunch one day?” Before I could answer, he quickly added, “I would never try anything, Gemma. Please believe me. I wouldn’t do that to you, nor Betty, my kids, or your girls.”

“I know, Rick,” and I really knew that without a doubt. “Lunch sounds great. Can we do it next week, maybe Monday?”

“Yes,” he answered quickly, and then he added. “Darn, I am on business travel for the next two weeks. How about when I get back? I’ll call you and we’ll meet up right away.”

“Sounds good,” I replied.

“I love you, beautiful,” he told me softly, just like he always had ever since I’d known him. And it didn’t feel wrong.

“Love you too,” I replied. “I better talk to Betty now.”

It felt good having this conversation with him. I know we left many things unsaid, but we’d tackle them all when we had lunch. I meant what I said. I didn’t want to lose them. Betty was back on the phone and she tried to be her old chippery self.

“Betty,” I interrupted her talking. “I want to know your feelings and thoughts. I love you all and don’t want anything to ruin our friendship and our family.”

“I was stupid,” she replied. “It’s all my fault, getting too drunk...”

“No,” I stopped her. “This is nobody’s fault. No blame. But it must be something that has been heavy on your mind. I don’t want any secrets between us, anything eating up at our friendship. I don’t want to wonder how you'd feel if Rick and I have lunch.”

She stayed quiet for a moment, and then she answered with a sigh.

“Yeah, I’m good with you two having lunch anytime. I trust you both. Honestly, I don’t know what got into me that night. It's just... seeing Rick and you on the dance floor... you two have something I wished to have with him. You always fit together, like two pieces of a puzzle. Even when you set me up with him, I wondered why when I knew he was head over heels in love with you. When you guys were together, it's like a picture perfect couple. Remember, everyone always said that?”

She took a deep breath, like she just got a confession off her chest. And in a way I guess she did.

“Yes, I remember those comments,” I answered quietly. “I think Rick and I fit great together, but only as friends. He loves you.”

“I know,” she stated simply. “We talked about it the next morning after the night club. I was stupid.”

“You are not stupid,” I objected. Then I added for ease of tension over the line. “So no more dancing with Rick, hmm?”

And just like that we both burst into laughter.

“You can dance with him anytime,” she chuckled. “I'll just bone him senseless before the dance.”

“Ewww,” I cringed laughing. “That is not the vision I needed.”

“Speaking of boning, how are things going with Kristoff Baldwin?” Betty asked cautiously. “Is it ok that I ask?”

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