“If I was married to her, I would too,” Evan said with a grin very similar to Josh’s. It didn’t stick around. “Have you heard when the custody hearing will be?”
“There isn’t going to be one. Naomi changed her mind. She no longer wants sole custody.”
The man’s smile returned. “Congrats. You must be relieved. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It happened this afternoon, and I didn’t want to discuss it with Mom here.”
“Does she even know?” Evan asked.
“No. Half the time, I do not think Mom remembers she has a granddaughter.”
Evan laughed sarcastically. “As far as Adalynn is concerned, I’m not sure that’s a bad thing. Are you going to go through with the wedding as planned or what?”
Josh glanced at her before answering. “We haven’t figured that part out yet. Courtney and I were talking about it when Mom and Shannon got here.”
“My advice, make an announcement saying you’ve decided to wait until the summer. Then in another month or two, have Courtney call off the engagement altogether. She can make up a reason. Maybe one of you wanted kids right away and the other didn’t. Something that doesn’t reflect poorly on either of you.” Advice offered, Evan stood up.
Please say you’re leaving. A week ago she wouldn’t have cared if Evan stuck around and visited for another two hours.
“Do you have any beer in the kitchen? Or some vodka?” Evan asked instead of saying goodbye. “After a few hours with Mom, I need a drink.” At dinner, everyone but Evan, who disliked wine, had at least one glass of it.
“There are a few different kinds in the refrigerator. If you want vodka instead, there’s some at the bar,” she answered. Although she didn’t use it often, the penthouse contained a bar, and she kept it stocked for anyone who visited.
“I’m going to grab something too. Do you want anything?” Josh asked, standing as well.
“All set.”
She watched the two brothers walk toward the kitchen. Once they were no longer in sight, she slumped back against the sofa. She liked Evan, and while Josh denied it, the brothers most certainly shared some personality traits. And Evan willingly shared details about Josh’s past, such as the fact he’d slept with a bedroom light on until the age of nine because he hated the dark. Regardless of all that, she wished the man would leave so they could get back to the elephant in the room. Or more precisely, the elephant in the room before the doorbell rang and disturbed them.
Alone and with no other distractions, their earlier conversation replayed through her mind. The next words out of Josh’s mouth after admitting their upcoming wedding had nothing to do with Naomi’s decision has been “looks like you’re off the hook.” Not long after, he’d offered up a solution almost identical to Evan’s suggestion.
The doorbell had cut off Josh’s second idea, but she expected it would be something along the same lines. Would he view the situation differently if she told him how she felt? Based on his past relationships, Josh preferred to keep his romantic entanglements short and sweet. That wasn’t to say he didn’t care about the women he got involved with, but he never fell in love with them. And while she believed he cared about her, from an emotional standpoint, nothing suggested he viewed their relationship much differently than all his past ones.
But if given enough time, could she change that?
You can’t make someone love you. A person either fell in love with you or they didn’t. So it might be in her best interest to go along with Evan and Josh’s suggestion. At the same time, she could ask Josh to move back into a guest room and put an end to their physical relationship.
Sometimes the more time two people spend together, the more likely it will happen. Her conscience sent a counterargument to its first statement.
With a groan, she closed her eyes and wished Josh had never sat down at her table. If he’d joined the women next to her, she might never have met him.
“Too bad Naomi didn’t find out about Reggie weeks ago,” Evan said after Josh finished filling him in on his conversation with his ex. “At least she told you before the wedding. And the storm gave you the perfect reason to postpone and decide on a way to get out it.”
Get out of it? He didn’t want to get out of it. If not for the incoming nor’easter, he’d marry Courtney this weekend as planned. Then he’d keep trying to prove he married her because he loved her, not because an agreement existed between them.
“Although I’m not sure you want that,” Evan added. “You don’t take anyone up to Bar Harbor except Adalynn. Except for me, Dad, and Shannon, you’ve invited no one to visit you there. But you brought Courtney for the weekend.” His brother crossed his arms and leaned against the counter. “You’re not acting, bro. This is real for you.”
Josh nodded. He saw no point in denying it.
“What are you going to do?” When it came to being nosy, Evan could be worse than an eighty-year-old town gossip.
“I’ve got an idea. And that means I need your ass out of here.” He hated kicking his brother out, but he’d endured enough torture already tonight. Every minute his brother remained only prolonged it.
Pushing off the counter, Evan put his almost empty beer bottle down. “Shoot me a text later and let me know what you two decide to do.”
Courtney remained in the same spot, her head tipped back and her eyes closed, when he walked back into the living room. A night with his mom was an experience. If she needed a few minutes to regroup, he didn’t blame her.
“Evan said goodbye.” Although he had his choice of places to sit, he retook his spot on the sofa beside her.