Page 97 of Unsure in Love

“And you made it to the top, man.” He swiveled his chair around. “You’re running the multibillion-dollar empire that all the bigshot investors told you that you couldn’t.”

I listen to Ken with mild amusement. “Are you trying to boost my ego or give me relationship advice? Because I don’t see what my business prowess has to do with my issues with Cassandra.”

He glowered. “The point is, you don’t go down without a fight. You’re a determined, stubborn bastard.”

I snorted.

“Keep fighting for her, for both of you.”

It wasn’t that I wasn’t willing to keep fighting for us. The last thing I wanted was to give Cass the impression that I was pushing her into anything she wasn’t ready for. Yes, she’d told me she loved me but she still had a long way to go before she felt completely comfortable in a relationship.

“Look, I don’t know Cassandra,” he said. “But the few interactions I’ve had with her—I like her. She’s fucking perfect for you, down to the humor, snark, and all.”

I smiled. “That’s what Aunt Lucia said.”

“See? You should listen to your aunt. Lucia knows a thing or two about romance.”

“Yeah, maybe a little too much,” I snapped. I still couldn’t get over the new fiancée. She’d probably have another one by next month.

Ken chuckled. “That woman is a hoot. You gotta love her. And if she knows Cassandra’s story, I bet she’d agree with me.”

I folded my arms over my chest. “On?”

“Being abandoned as a kid will mess up anyone.”

“I’m aware but, I seem to be doing just fine.”

He nodded. “But you had Lucia and Luis. I know all about Cassandra’s family history. It wasn’t just her father who abandoned her. Her mother did in a way. She emotionally checked out.”

I hadn’t thought about that.

Ken held his thumb and index finger together. “Maybe exercise a little more patience with your woman before you give up.”

Ken took my silence to mean I didn’t agree with him, so he continued his campaign to save my relationship. “Come on, Damian, cut the lady some slack. Your mother abandoned you too. Sure, you’ve never shown a shred of emotion concerning the fact, but don’t tell me it didn’t hurt you as a kid.” He pointed an accusing finger at me. “Don’t tell me you don’t think about it sometimes as an adult.”

“Ken—”

“Hey, I totally get where Cassandra is coming from. I’m traumatized too. After my disastrous divorce, I still break out into hives just thinking about commitment. It’s going to take me some time to recover, but I wouldn’t like for Mrs. Right to give up on me because I’m emotionally scarred from my previous nightmare marriage.”

“Are you done?” I asked, all the while fighting back my smile.

“Are you going to take my advice?”

“Firstly, my momentary doubts doesn’t mean I’m giving up on my woman. And yes, I’ll take your advice. That’s what I was going to say before your whole speech about Mrs. Right and your nightmare marriage.”

“Oh.” A hint of pink filled Ken’s cheeks.

I pursed my lips to swallow my laugh. “Thanks for caring. You’re a good friend.”

He gave me a shit-eating grin.

* * *

My apartment felt empty. It had felt that way since sharing the space with Cass for a few weeks. I sat up and blew out a breath as I looked around my enormous bedroom. What I’d give to have her in bed with me now… Reaching for my phone, I stared at it with my thumb hovering over Cass’s name because I wanted to hear her voice… even though our conversations lately had been strained.

I think she was waiting for me to mention something about the talk she said she’d have with her sisters and Nic. However, I wouldn’t because I promised her space and time. I stared at her name on my screen a while longer, but I didn’t press send because it was almost eleven. She was probably asleep.

Just as I was about to put my phone down, it rang. My heart jolted with hope, thinking it was Cass reaching out. Nic’s name flashing across the screen drew me up short.

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