“I did.”
“Why?” Cass asked, her voice whiny as if she were upset about the end of a non-relationship that she’d just learned about two minutes ago.
“I don’t regret it,” I began. “And it started as a mutually gratifying relationship. There was no pressure, no stress, just sex … It was great. But then…”
“You wanted more,” Bronagh guessed, her tone gentle.
“Yes. I wanted more. I’ve always liked him, and I was tired of pretending to be practically strangers whenever we were together at your house, or a party, I wanted things to change. To progress. So, I asked him to go with me to the New Year’s party.”
“He said no?” Cass asked, and I could tell he was being shifted to her bad side.
I nodded. “He wanted to keep things the way they were, said he wasn’t ready to change, and I said I didn’t want things to stay the same. So I ended it.”
“And he just let you?” This came from Bronagh.
“He said something about not wanting it to be over on New Year’s, but then everything happened with Nat, and I didn’t see him again until he came by the office to ask me to take her case.”
“What happened then?” Cass asked, her feet hitting the floor as she leaned in toward me.
“We mostly talked about Nat, then Christian came in and asked me out for drinks. I said yes.”
Finally, Bronagh smiled.
“What did Brady think of that?”
I shrugged.
“He didn’t say anything, he just left. I haven’t heard from him since.”
Cass and Bronagh both frowned.
“I think that’s it, it’s over.”
“I’ll talk to him,” Bronagh said firmly.
“No, Nonie, this isn’t high school, you can’t try and talk him in to wanting to date me.”
“How did it go with Christian?” Cass asked.
“It wasn’t a date, just a group of us going out for drinks. I didn’t talk too much to Christian, although I think if I want to go there, he’s receptive to that. It’s just that…”
Bronagh put her plate down and scooted closer to me on the couch, her hand reaching out to take my hand.
“You love Brady.”
I looked at my friends and agreed sadly, “I love Brady.”
Chapter Fifteen ~ Brady
Since Brock had just hosted New Year’s at his place, Cal offered to have poker night at his and Shelly’s house, even if it wasn’t his turn.
Poker night rotated monthly. There were so many of us now that each of us usually only had everyone over once or twice a year. We’d had guys come and go, but the regulars were me, Brock, Brendan, Cal, TJ, Scott, and Craig. Lately, Carson Brandt had been holding a seat at the table, and we often had whatever guy Victoria’s sister Abby was dating at the time. Luckily, she was in between boyfriends right now.
Tonight, I was bringing Doobie along, or rather, he was bringing me. He’d offered to pick me up since he had something to do in the morning and was only planning on having a beer or two.
Brendan always cooked the food, no matter whose house it was at, and Brock always ordered pizzas. Each guy had to bring a six pack of beer as part of their buy in, as well as fifty bucks to sit at the table.
“So, this game has been going on a while?” Doobie asked as he turned on Cal’s street.