Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Brittany
I shouldn’t have done that. It doesn’t matter how good it felt. It doesn’t matter that Weston looks phenomenal in his nineties outfit.
It. Doesn’t. Matter.
Because this was a bad idea.
I’m standing a few feet away from Weston, still holding his gaze. I run my fingertip along my lower lip, still warm from where his mouth was on mine. The whole thing felt like something right out of a movie.
Until it hit me.
Parker could have walked out here—my brother could have seen us—and the thought alone is enough to make my stomach twist.
But that isn’t even the part that makes my chest tighten.
It’s how easy this felt. How easy it would be to let my feelings take over. To disappear into someone again.
And that scares me more than my brother ever could.
Because I just got myself back.
And Weston … Weston wants love—he’s always wanted it. He’s been searching for it everywhere, with everyone.
“He’s just too desperate to be in love.”
My brother’s words land heavy in my chest. Not as a warning about Weston, but as a reminder.
A reminder that I just survived heartbreak.
A reminder that Weston is running toward something I’m still afraid of.
And I don’t trust myself not to get lost again if I let him.
“I’m really sorry, Brit.” He keeps his voice low, and I can see the guilt etched in his expression. “I didn’t realize that … I didn’t…”
“It’s okay.” I stop him from stumbling over his words.
“It’s just … It’s just that I don’t really want to be in a relationship right now.
And you know how my brother is…” I keep listing off the reasons, unable to stop myself.
“And I know how badly you want to find someone—I know you want to be in love—but I don’t want to get hurt. ”
Weston stares at me, his lips parting ever so slightly. “I don’t even know what to say to that.” His expression hardens. “But if you seriously think I just kissed you because I’m desperate, then I’m sorry you feel that way. That’s not how it is, not with you. You’re different. You’re—”
“Please,” I say, holding up a hand. “I’ve heard it all before, Weston. They’re just lines to get what you want.”
“Wow, okay. You know what?” He blows out a sharp breath. “I won’t bother you anymore. I’m sorry.” With that, he swipes up his cake and slips past me like he’s on a mission. “Good night, Brittany.”
He lets the balcony door slam shut behind him, causing me to nearly jump right out of my high-top Converse. I squeeze my eyes shut, fighting back the tears.
“Happy birthday, Weston,” I whisper, my voice catching in my throat.
I stand there for a few more minutes, batting away rogue tears that think they have a place rolling down my cheeks. Only once they’ve stopped do I bend over to pick up my plate and fork I dropped mid make-out session.
“I was wondering where you went.” My dad’s voice cuts through my racing thoughts. “I was looking all over for you.”
I straighten up and turn to see my dad and Susie, standing like a cute little old couple on the balcony. “Oh, hey guys.” I force myself to sound bright. “I just stepped out to get some air. There’s a lot of people in there; it was a little too much for me.”
“And me.” Dad laughs, guiding Susie over by her hand. “It was good to be invited though.” He gives me a big grin, and I realize in the moment that it’s the happiest I’ve ever seen him. And the way Susie looks at him…
Yeah, that’s love.
“It was sure nice to meet you,” Susie tells me, the lines by her eyes crinkling with her upbeat expression. “You’re a sweetheart. I don’t know where you get that from, though.” Susie gives my dad a knowing, playful look, and I can’t help but laugh.
I’m truly happy for him, and I want it to work out.
“Are you guys about to head out?” I ask, setting the empty plate and fork down on the table.
“I think so,” Dad says, shrugging. “I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty glad the nineties are over. It wasn’t my favorite decade. The eighties were a lot better.”
“I agree,” Susie says with a dramatic nod of her head. “I wish I could go back and just camp out in that decade.”
“Then you could all go to drive-in movies to see The Breakfast Club,” I joke, trying to find humor despite my heart feeling like a ton of bricks. “That would be cool.”
“You know, they have a drive-in movie night back home,” Susie says, leaning against the railing beside me.
“Maybe you could come to Florida again—to my side of the state—and we could go? It would be fun. I even have a truck to take us in. We can back it up and have a movie night in the bed. It’s a lot of fun; I take my grandkids all the time. ”
Grandkids. I glance over at my dad. I wonder if he wants grandkids.
“Maybe I can make that happen sometime,” I tell her, smiling. “The Florida weather wasn’t bad. I don’t think I’d want to go there in the summertime, though. It would probably be too humid for me. I also heard the mosquitos are enormous.”
“All the bugs are bigger in Florida.” Susie cackles. “There’s plenty of snakes, too. It keeps things extra exciting. I like it.”
I giggle, finding the woman’s demeanor refreshing and vibrant in comparison to the grayness I’m surrounded with on a daily basis. “I like you.”
My dad erupts in a proud grin, straightening his shoulders a little. “I like her, too.”
“Well.” Susie blows out a breath. “I’m so relieved. I was worried none of y’all were going to like me.” She then turns to my dad. “You know, before we leave, I think I’d like to have another piece of cake. Would you mind getting one for me?”
“Of course not,” Dad answers her, immediately heading for the door. We both watch him disappear inside, then Susie turns to me.
“I saw who you were out here on the balcony with.” She gives me a sympathetic look. “I don’t want to stick my nose where it doesn’t belong, but you look a little upset.” She leans in. “Do I need to beat the birthday boy up for you?”
I laugh, shaking my head. “I don’t think that’s necessary; I’m the one who caused the drama. But please don’t say anything to anyone. It wasn’t anything important or special. We’re just … friends.”
Or pen pals. However you want to say it.
“I see…” Susie furrows her brow. “Well, I happen to think the best love is the kind that finds us and grows slowly. It’s not always about a quick burn or explosion, it’s about the foundation—the slow burning candle that lasts a lifetime.”
I nod, trying to follow her analogy to the best of my ability. “Yeah, I just hope that, someday, I can find that kind of love.”
“You will,” she says, bopping me on the nose. “You’re too pretty not to.” Just as she finishes, my dad steps through the doors, cake in his hand, and a frazzled expression on his face.
“Is there any way we could take this to go?”
Susie bursts into laughter. “Absolutely, we can. I’m not about crowds either.”
I bid the two of them goodbye and watch as they go, leaving me alone on the balcony once more. The cold city air bites me through my long sleeve, despite us being headed into spring.
I guess I need to go back inside. I frown at the thought, but scoop up my plate. Now that the night has gone the way it has, I’m kind of wishing I would’ve brought Harlee along to keep me company. She would’ve been here to rationalize with me about what happened with Weston.
But of course, her man from Georgia is in the city visiting her. He came through on his word and showed up like Superman himself, ready to spoil her.
“I was wondering where you went,” Parker calls out to me as I step inside from the balcony and head for the nearest trash can.
“Yeah, so was Dad,” I say with a chuckle, tossing my empty plate and plastic fork into the garbage. “Did you notice they left?”
He nods, his face losing a little of its brightness. “I did. They came and said bye. I appreciated it and all that. Susie’s pretty nice.”
“I’m happy for them. He deserves to find someone, and he deserves a fresh start.”
“Yeah, I hope he’s happy.” Parker’s gaze shifts from me to across the room. My curiosity gets the best of me, and I follow it, my eyes landing on Weston. He’s standing in a small group of people, a blonde-haired woman tipping back her head and laughing at something he said.
I wonder if he thinks she might be different, too.
“He’s acting off tonight,” Parker says, his voice now filled with concern. “I don’t know what happened. He seemed really stoked for the party, and now he’s not himself. I wonder if something happened.”
I shrug, ignoring the pang of guilt in my chest. “I don’t know, but he seems to be having a good time with her.”
Parker laughs. “Yeah, that’s his third cousin or something.”
Oops. I feel stupid.
“Oh … I see. I figured she was just another one of his many dates. You told me he’s always out at those dating events and snagging women left and right.”
Parker chuckles and finally looks back at me. “Yeah, he hasn’t been to one of those in months. I think he’s finally given up on it. Some girl we met at a Broadway show recently gave him her phone number, and he didn’t even call her.”
“Maybe he’s raising his standards.” I crack the joke, but it doesn’t really land. It just makes me feel awful for what I said to him on the balcony.
“I don’t know what he’s doing…” Parker’s voice trails off as Weston heads for the door of the apartment, waving goodbye to everyone. “But I hope he finds someone with the same heart as him. As much as he drives me crazy sometimes, he deserves the best.”
“For sure,” I answer.
Just not his best friend’s sister.