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The situation will get less complicated when Jess and I officially get back together. It won’t be easy. It never was with Jess. But it’ll be clear where we stand, which’ll be a big relief. All this waiting is wearing on me.
Brett and I step out onto the stone walkway. Up ahead, Corinne watches nervously as Ophelia and Jasmine hang over a wooden railing, waving their arms toward the dark green waters below. They must see the dolphins swimming there, or maybe the sea turtles this resort is famous for. There’s wonder painted on both girls’ smiling faces.
It’d make a great social media post, actually.
It sucks that right now, I can’t focus enough to take out my phone and snap photos of my awesome nieces. I’m too caught up on whatever bad news Brett’s about to break.
Brett’s being quiet.
Too quiet.
This news must be awful if he’s having this much trouble spilling it.
“Come on, dude.” I pause to let a peacock pass in front of us. “Quit dragging it out. Whatever it is, I can take it. I’m tough. I didn’t cry when I broke both my legs, so I think I can take a little gossip or whatever.”
“It’s about Jessica.”
Even hearing her name aloud revives the old sting I felt when she walked out of my life. My heart still hasn’t healed. “Yeah, what about her?”
I try to keep my tone light because, what the heck, I just put on the song and dance about how tough I am.
“She’s in Moab.”
I narrow my eyes. Moab is the little town in Utah that Brett and I both grew up in. It’s the town—not more than a handful of urban blocks tucked between rocky red hills—where we both now live. I’ve always considered it home.
Jess and I had a life together in Salt Lake City, four hours from Moab. I moved back home after we split.
What’s she doing in my town?
I swallow hard and try to digest the info.
Is she there because she wants me back?
The budding hope must show on my face because Brett claps my shoulder. “Don’t get excited, dude. I know how you wear rose-colored glasses when it comes to Jess. I don’t know why, but you do. But she’s there with a guy. They’re getting married in, like, a couple of months. Corinne heard it from Jasmine’s teacher yesterday afternoon. We weren’t sure if we should tell you this week.”
“Wait—what?”
I shake my head… because it doesn’t make sense.
My ex, Jessica, can’t be in my town to marry someone else.
Impossible.
I’ve been waiting patiently for her to see that leaving me was a mistake, and now she shows up in my town—to tie the knot with another guy?
“No way. That can’t be. I would’ve known. She would’ve told me.”
“I know it’s a tough pill to swallow. But for real, this is a good thing. Me and Corinne both think so. Now that she’s getting married, you can finally move on. She was never right for you. The complaining, the rude vibes… how she treated you. You always had blinders up, but I’m telling you, I saw it clearer than you did. Lots of people did. She never respected you, man. She took advantage of you. You could do so much better.”
My head’s spinning.
I can barely hear my brother.
This just feels so abrupt. I didn’t know she was serious about a guy.
“Who? Why?” I ask.
“Well, I don’t know the guy’s name. And why does anyone get married? She probably loves the guy, whoever he is.”
