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"What are you talking about? You're always saying how at least if I marry him, he'll take care of me if my author career implodes. You don't like that I decided to be an author, and you've always wanted me to marry him because he has a stable career," I say, trying to keep my voice down.
"That's what you thought I meant? Why would I send you flowers for each book release if I wasn't proud of your career and your accomplishments?" he asks.
"I don't know… I—"
I hear him sigh on the other end.
"I'm sorry if I ever let you believe that, Brynn but that's never what I meant. I've always been proud of you. And I have only ever said those things about Daniel having a stable career because it's his only positive attribute. I think the kid is a pompous, arrogant asshole, but I've tried to be supportive and believe that at least he'd take care of you if something happened to your career. Maybe I harped on that point too much, but it was only because I had nothing else good to say about him."
Relief floods through me and I start laughing.
So much of the reason I wanted to make things work with Daniel was because I thought that marrying Daniel was the only way to make my father proud of me. Now that I know that he doesn't even like Daniel, I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
It's not the only reason I've been holding onto Daniel but it's certainly one of them.
"Really? You wouldn't care if I didn't marry him?"
"Honey… I'd be relieved."
Oh my God… I want to break out in tears.
"Do you think I'm a terrible person for breaking up with him after he followed me to Seattle? He gave up a spot at his father's firm to move to the west coast for me."
"No, Brynn, you're not the terrible person. When he got the job at the law firm out west, he was bragging to me that he was happy he wouldn't have to work at the mom-and-pop law firm where his father is a partner. He said that his talents were made for bigger things. He was trying to impress me. He knows I don't like him all that much."
"Thanks for the call, Dad. You just helped me make a really big decision."
"Hey… if I make a trip out to Seattle, any chance you can get me tickets to watch your new boyfriend play?"
My ears heat at the word's new boyfriend.
"How did you—"
"I saw the way Wrenley looked at you when we surprised you at Scallywag's. He looks at you the way that I look at your mom," he says. "I don't know all the details of what was going on between you and Daniel at the time, but for how hard he was pushing your mom to convince you to book a wedding date at the hotel, I suspected Daniel was on his way out and he was desperate to hold on."
"Thanks for calling dad," I say.
"I'm glad I did. We should talk more. And while I have you on the phone, roses or orchids this time? My florist is asking."
"Surprise me," I say.
"You got it, kiddo," he says, and then we hang up.
It's right then when he calls me the same thing that Seven calls Cammy, that I realize that Seven and my dad are so much alike. They both have a hard time showing their feelings, but at the end of the day, they both show love in the only way they know how.
My dad sends me flowers and Seven shows it with acts of service.
I didn't see it before, but I do now.
I get out of my rideshare a couple blocks away since traffic is a nightmare tonight.
Getting a little fresh air to think through how I'm going to start this conversation with Daniel isn't the worst idea.
Walking up to the bar hours after getting off the phone with my dad, my heart is racing, and my palms are sweaty.
After all, giving up eight years with Daniel requires that I do this in a way that we can still be friendly towards one another.
The conversation with my father makes this breakup so much easier, though. I've given Daniel loyalty because of the things in our past, but I've always let those moments cover up all the things in our relationship that weren't right.
