Page 95 of The Write Track
“How can you be sure?”
“Just trust me. For once in your life, release the control you’re holding onto and have faith in me. I’m right about everything.”
I wanted to believe her, so I nodded. And realistically, I did feel better. But there was still a small speck of doubt careening through my heart.
What if I wasn’t enough?
25
TWENTY-FIVE
Iliked golfing. It was relaxing, and I enjoyed competing, whether it be over who gets higher on the release charts or who can get a ball into a hole faster. That didn’t mean I wanted to spend my entire afternoon golfing with Brody.
“I miss her,” I lamented as he pulled into a parking spot outside The Shrimp Factory, a historic former warehouse not far from the river.
“You are pathetic,” Brody complained as he killed the engine. “I have never seen you this way before. Aren’t you embarrassed?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Why should I be embarrassed? You set the precedent for all of this.”
“Yes, and you proceeded to give me a hard time over it for an entire year. Do you remember what you said when I told you I was going to propose to Bree?”
“No, but I’m sure it was enlightening.”
“You said ‘better dead than wed’ and then suggested I flee in the night so she couldn’t find me.”
I smiled at the memory. I hadn’t been serious. I just liked winding him up. “I knew you were never going to leave Bree from the second you two started bonding.”
“You didn’t act like it. You said that she was a bad choice because she was moody.”
“Only because I liked watching you get frazzled when jumping in to protect her. That was entertaining.”
“But—”
“I always liked Bree,” I assured him. “More than that, I recognized she was good for you, right from the start. She made you smile and loosened you up. She’s made you so happy.”
“But?” Brody prodded warily. “I know there’s a but in there.”
“Not really.” I shook my head. “I do wish you would stand your ground on the house thing, but you won’t do it because it’s too important to her.”
Brody frowned. “What do you mean?”
“You guys have been back and forth on the houses for months now. She doesn’t want to give up that house because that will mean having to follow the new letter of the law of the HOA. She doesn’t like conformity.”
Brody nodded. “My house is bigger, though. When we have kids…” He trailed off, looking uncertain.
“Do you know what rules Bree hasn’t thumbed her nose at?” I asked, grinning because I couldn’t stop myself. “I’m betting everybody assumes she wouldn’t have a need to worry about those rules because her house is great.”
Brody still wasn’t catching on.
“She has a big lot, Brody. You could add to her house. In fact, I bet you could add as many as three bedrooms if you wanted and still have plenty of yard space.”
His eyes widened as the truth of what I’d said set in.
I leaned closer to him. “That’s kind of like the gift that keeps on giving, isn’t it?”
His smile was full of amazement.
“I looked up the building rules, and she could have a field day with them,” I offered. “Make sure you get everything in order for what you want to do before you pull the trigger, though, because those HOA people are going to swoop in with new rules right after. They’re going to be furious.
