“It seems like just yesterday that I met your cocky ass coming across the driveway,” I said, my mind racing through reels of memories that included our neighbor since then. Things had changed so fast—and I found myself wishing we could go back to beers on the patio and easy conversation.
“Now look where we are,” he said drolly. “A picture of bliss.”
“Are you truly sorry about what happened?”
“I already told you this, Ryan. I’m sorry about how it hurt you. Are we doing this again?”
“Liv’s not doing so great,” I said quietly.
“What do you mean?” He pulled his body forward, so he was now sitting on the chair’s edge.
“You saw how she was Friday night.”
“Yeah? So? I thought she’d just gotten nauseous again.”
“What do you mean ‘again’?”
“Uh.” He ran his hand over his blond hair. The summer had been kind to him, lightening it from the first time I’d met him and making him look even more like a walking Adonis.
“Kerrington?”
“I’m sure it’s nothing. She just—the day of your fundraiser, she was finishing up her punch list over here. And she went a little pale, then got sick in my bathroom. She said she hasn’t been eating enough, and the anxiety of everything just got the better of her. You don’t think it’s something worse, do you?”
“No. It’s more emotional than physical. I dragged her to the fundraiser last week, and it was taxing for her to be around all those people asking about Laelynn and how she was doing. Then Friday night—I don’t know. I thought she was getting so much better. But she saw a young family at the open house. They had kids who were around the same age ours would’ve been, and she freaked out a little bit. She’s been in bed all weekend. She says she just needs a few days, but she hasn’t done this in a long time. Maybe since the car accident this summer.”
“Do you think it has something to do with the fact that she opened up to you about what happened with us? That maybe the weight of everything is crushing down on her? When is her next appointment with Dr. Paul?”
It felt weird talking to Brighton with so much concern for the same woman—for my wife. Yet, somehow, it also felt right. We both loved her.
“Tomorrow.”
“Make sure she goes,” Brighton said.
“I plan to. Think I’m going to call in and take a day off to be with her. I’m worried.” I glanced down at my dirty shirt, stained from all that was once trapped inside. It was a visual reminder that even though it had broken, at least now it could be fixed. All things could be, eventually.
“Do you ever think of staying here? Instead of selling?” I asked cautiously.
Brighton’s head snapped up, his clear green eyes drilling into mine. “Why would you ask me that?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. It just feels like your home now,” I said, looking around. “It’s hard to imagine another family filling this space.”
“I can’t, man. I’ve got nothing to tie me here. It’s too hard, you know? Being here next door to you guys. I think it would be best for us to get some distance. Give you the space you need to make things right once and for all. Looks like your journey got waylaid a little on a speed bump named Brighton,” he said, chuckling. “This summer might’ve slowed down your progress, but you guys are well on your way, and it won’t stop you from finishing up your trip together.”
He shook his head, looking out of one of the large, floor-to-ceiling windows. It had been drizzling all morning. Even though the sun was trying to surface, little rivulets of water covered the windowpanes, leaving sad, little trails as they slid down the glass.
“What if you weren’t just a speed bump, Brighton?”
He swallowed, then cracked his knuckles. “I can’t do this, Ryan. I can’t play these games anymore. You think this was all just fun and games for me? Some sick, twisted fantasy to come between someone’s marriage?”
I knew it wasn’t. That’s not what I’d meant.
“I’m not as strong as I pretend to be. I told you before this started that I wouldn’t jeopardize my own heart to save Olivia’s. That if feelings got involved, I would leave.” Brighton cleared his throat. “You know it’s time for me to leave.”
My chest tightened, like I had the weight of the world crushing down on it. I clenched my jaw, nauseous at the thought of him not being around. Maybe Olivia was right—I hadn’t thought through all the down-road consequences of him leaving yet. I just knew I wasn’t ready to say goodbye, and I didn’t even love, love him the way my wife did.
What the hell had I done to everyone because of my own selfishness?
“Not before I apologize, too,” I said low. The surprise on Brighton’s face was evident. He closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath as he waited. I knew what needed to be said, once and for all, to start fixing things.
“You were right,” I admitted.
“Excuse me?”
“Look, I’m only going to say this once. You were right that I didn’t think about you enough in all of this. How it would affect you when all was said and done. I was so worried about Olivia that I was freaking willing to share her with you. I would’ve done anything to make her happy again, but I didn’t stop to really consider the collateral damage it was going to cause along the way.”
“And I’m the collateral damage.”
“So am I, my friend. So am I. But I never meant for you to be.”
Neither of us said a thing. I tried to figure out where we could possibly go from here. What did I want from Brighton? What did I have any right to ask for? And more importantly, I needed to find out what Olivia wanted—what she really needed.
I stood up, angry at myself. I needed to make this right somehow.
“Where are you going?” Brighton asked, standing up with me.
“To call a plumber. Then I’m going to have a heart-to-heart with Olivia.”
He shook his head. “You’re not calling a plumber, Ryan. I was just chopping your balls. I got a kit down in the back of my truck. It’ll take me ten minutes to fix. How about I come over when I finish my meeting.”
“What meeting?”
“The meeting I was in the middle of with my sister when you barged into my house unannounced.”
“You didn’t answer,” I said lamely.
“I’ll be over in a few. Shut the water main off at the street so we don’t turn one problem into two.”
I nodded, then headed toward the library door.
“Hey, Wells?”
I stopped, gripping the door frame. “Yeah?”
“I forgive you,” Brighton said, then cleared his throat. “It was worth it.”
I grinned, letting his words sink in. As I left the room, so many confusing emotions flooded over me. But one thing was for certain—it didn’t feel right to say goodbye. Not yet. Things felt unfinished.
I turned back around, catching Brighton’s eye. “Hey, Kerrington?”
He grinned, shoving his hands into his pockets like he always did. “Yeah?”
“Maybe you weren’t just a speed bump. Maybe you were supposed to be our destination.”