Always(Time for Love Book 4)(25)

“I’m almost done,” he said. “Feel free to share my table.” He wasn’t exactly keen on having lunch with his girlfriend’s ex, but Lance was being friendly. So should he.

Lance readily accepted. “Sure. Thank you.”

They made small, pleasant talk about their work while he finished his food and Lance waited for his order.

Conversing with Lance wasn’t as awkward as he’d feared it would be. The man wasn’t a cold fish after all. Granted, they weren’t talking about Brenna. Maybe the atmosphere would have been different if they were. But right now he was relaxed. Knowing that Brenna was now his, his feelings of antagonism for Lance had gone.

“Do you know if Zach and Rebecca are back from their honeymoon?” Lance asked.

“They’re back this weekend, I believe.”

“Great wedding, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah. It was.”

A pause.

“Did you hear that Brenna and I have broken up?” Lance asked, his face clouding.

Ash was surprised at the question. He thought they’d both been avoiding that topic. Since he had just taken a mouthful of food, all he could do was nod in response.

“She’s back with Darren, isn’t she?” Lance asked in a low voice.

Ash almost choked. He swallowed hastily and took sips from his glass of water.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to surprise you,” Lance said, chuckling mirthlessly.

“I just wasn’t expecting that,” he said, trying to clear his throat.

Lance sighed. “I know you’re like a brother to Brenna, Ash. I was wondering if you could tell her something for me?”

Ash winced at the ‘brother’ comment, but Lance was playing with his cutlery and didn’t notice his reaction.

“She avoids me whenever I want to talk to her,” Lance continued. “Maybe you could tell her I miss her?”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Lance,” he said, preparing to tell Lance the truth about him and Brenna, even as sympathy filled him. But Lance was quick to respond to his statement.

“It’s probably a lost cause, isn’t it?” Lance murmured, looking forlorn. “I’m up against Brenna’s great love. And after seeing them so lovey-dovey today, I really should move on.”

“What?” Ash asked in confusion. “What do you mean?”

Lance glanced at him quizzically. “Didn’t you know they’re back together? She dumped me for him.”

“Is that what she told you?”

“Not exactly. When Brenna broke up with me, she was honest enough to say that she wanted to be with someone else. But she wouldn’t tell me his name. It wasn’t hard to guess it was Darren, though.”

“What made you think it was Darren she was talking about?” Ash asked, his heart hammering.

“Everything she said pointed to the guy being Darren. And like I said, I saw them today when I was leaving the building. They were embracing so tightly in the foyer that Brenna didn’t even notice me when I walked right past them. And their hug definitely wasn’t a mere hello gesture. They were in their own little world. Other people were staring at them. So, yeah, I guess I’m one stupid guy to still be pining for her,” Lance lamented.

Ash was having difficulty breathing, but he kept a calm facade. Lance had to be mistaken. “What did he look like—the guy you saw with Brenna?”

“About my height, really short blond hair, well-built, dimples. Does that sound like Darren?”

Ash nodded, his heart constricting painfully in his chest. It couldn’t be true.

His phone’s soft beeping startled him. It was the reminder he’d set for himself, telling him it was time to go back to the clinic.

“I’m sorry, Lance,” he said, almost in a daze. “But I have to go back to work.”

“Sure,” Lance said, smiling apologetically. “Sorry I rambled. I didn’t mean to. Seeing Brenna today with the man she dumped me for made me feel sorry for myself.”

Ash patted Lance on the shoulder as he walked off, both his mind and heart racing. Brenna couldn’t be going back to Darren. She just couldn’t be.

Ash recalled how blissful the last couple of weeks had been with Brenna. They’d made love countless times. She seemed happy with him. So there had to be a good explanation for what Lance had seen.

Unless Brenna’s recent actions were driven by guilt, and she was overcompensating for breaking his heart in the past.

He shook his head vigorously to erase the crazy idea that Brenna could go as far as dating him to make up for hurting him. It was ludicrous.

Or was it?

And what was with her cancelling their lunch to be with Darren?

Stop thinking about it, Ash. You have surgery to perform.

So he shut the lid on his emotions for the time being. It was the only way he could make it through the day.

*****

Ash slumped in his office chair, staring at the text Brenna had sent him while he was treating a patient.

Don’t worry about giving me a lift home tonight. Have to go somewhere. I’ll explain when I see you tomorrow. xx

He called her. There was no way he could wait until tomorrow.

“Hi, Ash,” she answered.

“Hi, babe,” he said, trying to sound casual.