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"She said that you have a list of things to check off before you get back together with Daniel." I glance over at her, finding her turned halfway towards me and a guarded look in her eyes. "That's what this is all about, right?"
She clears her throat, still slowly reeling in her line.
"It's not all about him. I know that there are things about me that I can improve on. And there's nothing wrong with wanting to try new things and become a more open person who is adventurous and wants to experience new things."
"You're right. There isn't anything wrong with wanting to try something new, but be honest with me. Did you make this list strictly because it was your idea, or did you start it because Daniel made you think you need to improve something about yourself before you get back together?"
She doesn't respond immediately, and the silence is the answer I hoped isn't true.
"It's a bucket list. That's all it is," she says but we both know that it's more than that.
"You named it the "Fix-Me" list, Brynn," I say, my voice sterner with her than before.
"I know what I named it. And that was private. You were never supposed to know about that?" she argues.
"Why? Because if other people knew that your future husband manipulated you into giving him a hall pass, convinced you that your lack of orgasms isn't his incompetence in the bedroom, and made you believe that there's something wrong with you that you need to fix, that you'd have to finally face the truth?"
I can see the fire burn in her eyes. She doesn't like that I'm calling out her relationship, and maybe I shouldn't have.
"The truth?" she asks. "What's the truth then, Seven? You seem to know everything about Daniel… about me… about our relationship. For a guy who hasn't had a long-term, meaningful relationship for most of his adult life, please enlighten me with your holy hockey wisdom, and whatever you do, don't leave anything out."
Every word she speaks drips with sarcasm.
I don't answer. There's nothing I can say in response that will defuse this situation and get her to see where I'm coming from. I want her to see that there's nothing wrong with her. He's the one with the issues.
If those daggers in her eyes weren't pointed at me, I'd probably applaud her for standing her ground, but instead, all I want to do is shake her until she wakes up and sees that Daniel is using her. But this is her life and her relationship—I should have left it alone.
Besides, what difference does it make to me if she ends up with Daniel?
She's staying with him because he's promised to marry her. Based on that information alone, I can assume that Brynn wants the one thing I've been avoiding giving any woman for the last two decades, —a relationship.
There was a time when I wanted that more than anything… more than hockey. Then I learned how painful it can be when you give someone access to one of the most vital organs of the human body—your heart—and they decide to take a chainsaw to it.
I reel in my line and set my fishing rod in the plastic holster attached to the inside edge of the boat. Somehow, I'm no longer in the mood to fish.
She shakes her head with irritation and then turns back towards the ocean, continuing to reel in her line.
I head up the stairs towards the cockpit to grab my phone and check the time. But mostly, it's just an excuse to get a little space between us. We both need to cool off.
"I got something!" I hear Brynn yell behind me as I take my first step up the stairs.
I turn quickly to see Brynn fighting against the line and digging her feet in as whatever fish she has on the line is pulling her closer and closer to the edge of the boat. Whatever fish it is, it's large enough to have the fishing rod practically bent in half.
Before I can react, the fish forces Brynn to take two large steps forward in a game of tug-of-war that Brynn has no chance of winning.
"Brynn! Let go of the rod," I yell.
"I can get it. Just give me a chance!" she argues.
"It's going to pull you in. Let go!" I yell once more.
When she doesn't listen, I jump off the stairs and head straight for her. She's determined to reel in this fish, and though I would appreciate her determination at any other time… this fish is about to take her overboard, and if it does, I'll have no choice but to jump in after her.
If Brynn doesn't come back up for air, neither will I.
I won't go home without her.
"No it won't, I almost have it," she yells back, her eyes locked on the fishing rod, trying without success to move the reel forward.
