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“She was at Lexi’s last night for dinner. She mentioned she’d seen you a few times. I think she likes you.” She waggles her eyebrows.
“What’s not to like,” I reply jokingly, gesturing to myself with a smile.
“Not that type of like. I mean like, like. Her eyes lit up when she talked about you.”
“A woman that pretty must have a boyfriend,” I deflect.
“She doesn’t,” Rory states. “She was dating a guy from Australia, but the distance was too much. They broke it off a few months ago.”
I thought I saw a sadness in Olivia’s eyes.
“That’s too bad.”
“She thought he was the one, but his plan to move here changed midstream.”
My chest tightens at the mention of unpredictability, but couldn’t help but think that my loss was more significant.
“People can be horrible to each other,” I agree, fiddling with my napkin. When I look over at Rory, she is chewing her bottom lip, which makes me frown at her until she realizes and stops.
“Lexi wants to see you,” she says, switching topics. “She said you could have come for dinner last night.”
“The problem isn’t Lexi; it’s Megan. Our break up was nasty.”
“I’m not sure how she feels about you now, but I could ask. She has her fiancé, so I’m sure she’s forgotten what happened.”
“You don’t forget when something like that happens. It just sits and festers.”
Now it was Rory’s turn to scowl. “Why are you holding onto things from your past? You had Cassie, so she must have made you forget.”
“She did, but I’ve had plenty of time to think about the wrongs that have been done to me. I don’t need reminders.”
“Megan is sorry for what she did. She wasn’t ready to commit back then.”
“Or maybe I wasn’t the right guy,” I retort.
“If you can’t let it go, then you can’t join us for dinner. Chase, her fiancé, is very protective. He wouldn’t appreciate you upsetting her.”
“Then I won’t come. I’m not part of the family anyway. I mean, I would be had your father married Lexi, but he didn’t.”
“But you are since you’re my uncle. I’m marrying into the family, and I want you to be part of it. You have to go to my wedding, so why not just get all the bad feelings out now before you see everyone?”
I open my mouth, but giving in, I ask, “Will you talk to Lexi?”
“Why don’t you talk to her? You can have lunch with her anytime. I’ll text you her cell number.”
The waiter brings our food, and even though the burger with sautéed onions sitting before me looked delicious, I am no longer hungry.
“Is there something wrong with your food?” Rory asks.
“No. I shouldn’t have ordered this. I ate a big breakfast, and I’m still full.”
“You’re upset, aren’t you?”
“No.”
“Daddy told me that you’re a brooder. I thought he was crazy, but now I see it.”
“I’m not brooding. Just not hungry right now.”
