Page 138 of The Best Thing He Never Wanted

“And we’d probably both be happy with it at first.” He sat back, finally putting words to the thing that had been bothering him since he left. “But sooner or later we’d both know what she gave up. Not just Crete. The chance to build a life because she chose it. To be her own person in it.”

Brooke’s expression softened.

“I’m not saying people don’t make sacrifices for each other,” he went on. “Of course they do. But this would be different. She’s only just gotten that freedom. I can’t be the man who asks her to hand it over.”

“Even if she wanted to?”

“Especially then.”

Brooke looked down at her hands for a moment. “Don’t people do things like that for each other all the time?”

“Yeah. And sometimes it works.” He leaned forward, forearms on his knees. “Sometimes it turns into resentment. I don’t think Bea would resent me. That’s almost worse. We’d both know what she’d given up, and it’d sit there between us.” He let out a breath and sat back. “So there you go. That’s what’s going on with me. Is that pizza ready yet?”

Brooke shook her head. “Not yet. And I can see what you’re saying. I really can. But I don’t think you should give up.”

“I’m not giving up.” He looked toward the kitchen. “Best thing I’ve come up with so far is maybe taking some teams out there to train this winter. Cash and I are still talking about it.”

Brooke’s eyes widened. “Oh my God. Can I come?”

That made him smile. “Yeah. Bea said I should bring you.”

Brooke narrowed her eyes at him. “I like her for saying that. But I’d like it better if you wanted me there too.”

“I do.”

“Good.”

“That part didn’t need Bea’s help.”

She smiled. “Even better.”

The oven timer went off, and she got to her feet.

“Before I forget, I brought you something.” He went back to the kitchen and picked up the little grocery bag he’d left on the counter.

“What’s this?”

“Baklava.”

Brooke opened the package and looked at him. “Since when do you go around buying pastries with fancy names?”

“Since Crete.”

That earned him another look, but she took a piece and bit into it.

Her eyes widened. “Okay. I officially approve of Crete.”

He laughed. “Figured you would.”

Later, after dinner, he sat in his truck for a minute and pulled out his phone before starting the engine.

Blane: Hey, darlin’. Had dinner with Brooke tonight. We finally talked about some stuff we should’ve talked about years ago.

He paused, then added:

Found some baklava in town and brought her some. She loved it.

A smile tugged at his mouth.