“Well, some people don’t understand that either.”
“So you really think it’s just time she needs?”
“Wouldn’t hurt you to let her see your vulnerable side.”
He groaned.
“Don’t go making that noise,” Archer told him. “You’ve made breakthroughs in talking to me.”
“Breakthroughs, gag.”
“Must you always act like a child when I try to speak to you about your feelings?”
“Hmm, let me think about that…yep. Pretty much.”
“And how are you going to help her with her issues around trust and being vulnerable if you don’t get hold of your own?”
“Aww Christ.” He had a point. And he knew it. Bastard. “Fine.”
“You both have a lot in common. You were both hurt and rejected by people who were supposed to love you unconditionally.”
Yeah, except for him it had been just two people. And he was a big guy.
She’d only had Dave. And Isaac wasn’t convinced he’d been good enough for her. Driving under the influence with her in the car? He’d kick the other guy’s ass just for that.
“You think talking about that with her will really help?”
“I do. And I think it will also help you.”
“You always did like talking. Even as a kid, you wouldn’t shut up.”
“Not all of us prefer to pretend that we are emotionally shutoff.”
He wasn’t pretending.
Well, mostly.
“It will help her understand that you’ve experienced what she has. And it will help her see that you’re willing to open up to her. Trust her with your issues. So she can trust you with hers.”
“Right. That’s all.”
“That’s all.”
“You make it sound fucking easy.”
“I know it’s not, Issy. I do. But I know that Caley is special. It’s only been a few days, but I can see that. She lost part of herself when Dave died. She’s smothered her needs, her desires since then. Work has become her everything. She needs to know that it’s okay to be that vulnerable with someone else. To allow herself to open up to someone else.”
“What if she decides she can’t? She defends him, even when he’s in the wrong.”
“We didn’t know him. We can’t determine what sort of man he was. Caley loved him, though. And he’s not here to defend himself. My advice, don’t say anything to disparage him. It will only hurt her. And there’s no point to it.”
He took a deep breath, let it out slowly knowing that his brother was completely right.
The door to the bedroom opened. “Umm, Issy? I’m done.”
Archer grinned as the door shut. “See that nickname is taking off.”
Doc shot his brother a look. “You’re an asshole.” He reached out to squeeze his brother’s shoulder. “But thank you. Your advice is actually okay.”