Always Have (Always #1)

I‘m pretty sure I know what I have to do, but I decide not to do it in Leavenworth.

A week goes by, and I avoid Aubrey. I don’t pick up when she calls, and I procrastinate answering her texts. I’m not just going to blow her off, but I need some time to get my fucking head on straight.

Monday afternoon I’m done training early, so I go visit Mr. Winters. It’s a clear day, the breeze keeping it from being too hot. I find him out in the garden behind his building when I arrive. His nurse hovers nearby, and she gives me a nod.

“Braxton,” he says. “I didn’t expect to see you today.”

“You mind?” I ask.

“Of course not,” he says. “You’re welcome anytime. You know that.”

There’s a bench next to him, and I take a seat. We sit in silence for a while. The sun feels good on my skin.

“So, what’s going on?” he asks, breaking the silence.

I consider denying that anything is going on, but the truth is, I came here so I could talk to him. “Do you think I’m doomed to be alone?”

Mr. Winters snorts. “I think you know my answer to that. Why? Things not working out with Aubrey?”

“No,” I say. “I think I need to break things off with her.”

“Are you wondering if it’s the right thing to do?” he asks.

“Not really,” I say. “I think she likes my money more than anything, but that’s not even the real problem.”

“What is the real problem?” he asks.

I almost say it. I almost tell him that I’m in love with his daughter. That I’ve loved her since we were kids, and it’s killing me that I can’t be with her.

But I don’t.

“I don’t love her,” I say. “I like her, I suppose. She’s beautiful and we have a good time. I know I haven’t been with her long, but I don’t see that ever changing.”

“Then you’re right to end it,” he says. “Being with the wrong person is never a good idea.”

We both go quiet for a while. I wait until his nurse goes inside, then hand him the flask I sneaked in.

He takes a pull and hands it back to me. “Love is a shit show.”

I can’t help but laugh. “It really is.” I take a drink and put the flask on the bench next to me.

“You probably think I’m a cynic,” he says. “I’m not. I can’t regret marrying Kylie’s mother—without her, I wouldn’t have Kylie—but she was a bad decision. A series of them, if I’m being honest.”

“Did you ever think about getting remarried?” I ask.

“I did,” he said. “But I was always too worried about Kylie. I didn’t want someone to interfere with our relationship. Plus I worked too much. I put everything I had into my practice and my daughter. I didn’t have much left for someone else.”

“Do you regret it?” I ask.

“A little,” he says. “These days, it would be nice to have someone to share my life with. I have Kylie, and you, and even your sister. But you three have your own lives, and I want you to focus on living them.”

I hand him the flask again and he takes a drink.

“Braxton, do you want me to tell you what you need to do?” he asks.

I lower my sunglasses and raise my eyebrows. “Do I?”

He hands me the flask. “You do. You’re the sort of man who makes things happen. That’s why you have such a successful business.”