okay. I just forgot some last minute things I wanted to bring for Issy.”
Brayden appeared in the doorway. His hair was neatly brushed back and still a little damp from his shower. He had on a cotton button-down shirt and a pair of khaki pants. As always, he looked perfectly put together.
After two years of working together, Brayden and I started dating. Then a year ago, he proposed and I moved into his Napa Valley estate. Things were good between us, but after his pushing to get married and my pushing to keep things the way they were, we decided we were better off as friends.
“Is Issy home?” he asked.
“I’m not sure, but I figure I’ll leave it with her mom just in case. I know she’ll be home for Christmas sometime after her graduate exams. She was telling me how she and Simon were dividing their time between their families.”
I regretted the words as soon as they came out of my mouth.
“See, they’re not married, but they’re splitting their time between families,” he said. “I never understood why you wouldn’t meet my family. They’ve heard a lot about you.”
“I…I know. It just didn’t feel right,” I said. “And now it would just be weird.”
“Weird? You know if I thought things could work out between us, I’d do anything for you. Why can’t you do this one thing? We’ve been living together, we were engaged to be married, what more is there?”
I looked at the ground as I searched for the answer. Ending our relationship didn’t change much between us. We still lived together, we just didn’t share a bedroom anymore. With Brayden so busy, he was rarely in the house anyway. Unfortunately, there were times when Brayden acted like we were a couple still and not just friends.
“It’s him, isn't it?” Brayden’s voice was harsh. He was usually very mild tempered and laid back, except when Jagger came up.
“I’m sorry, I can’t explain it. I know he’s gone, but I…”
Can’t give up hope.
“It’s ridiculous. I can’t compete with a ghost,” he said.
“I know, that’s why we ended things,” I said softly.
Brayden stormed out of the room
I finished packing my bag and looked around the room to make sure I didn’t forget anything. The room was bright as the sun streamed in through the balcony. I looked out the sliding glass doors and saw Brayden loading the car. Behind him were acres of vineyards.
It had been a long time since I had been back to San Diego. Brayden had transitioned his popularity into a cable network show, which required him to travel to New York City a lot. He didn’t have the time to manage everything else, so I took over the catering part of Bleacher Enterprises.
“Is that everything?” he asked as I came downstairs.
“Yes. Sorry I’m running behind.”
“And I’m sorry I can’t manage this event for you. I know how much you’ve avoided going back home.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ve been running from my memories long enough.”
“I can always find a stand-in for you. Then you could come out with me to the East Coast. You’ll love New York at Christmas.”
“You know how much I hate the cold.”
“What if I promised to keep you warm?”
I smiled at him, but my heart wasn’t in it. It had been a long time since I had come to terms with what happened to Jagger. I couldn’t explain why lately everything started flooding back.
I couldn’t ignore that he had been gone for five years. Five years was the magic number, he was my five-year bad luck charm. It was funny how things had changed. Back then I never imagined there would come a day when I wished he’d come back into my life. Now, my life was empty without him.
The flight from Napa to San Diego was quick. Just before I got off the plane, Brayden reached for my hand.
“I’m sorry about earlier. You know how much I hate rushing.”
“It’s alright. I understand,” I said.
“You sure you don’t want me to stay in San Diego with you? With the event tomorrow, I
Brayden appeared in the doorway. His hair was neatly brushed back and still a little damp from his shower. He had on a cotton button-down shirt and a pair of khaki pants. As always, he looked perfectly put together.
After two years of working together, Brayden and I started dating. Then a year ago, he proposed and I moved into his Napa Valley estate. Things were good between us, but after his pushing to get married and my pushing to keep things the way they were, we decided we were better off as friends.
“Is Issy home?” he asked.
“I’m not sure, but I figure I’ll leave it with her mom just in case. I know she’ll be home for Christmas sometime after her graduate exams. She was telling me how she and Simon were dividing their time between their families.”
I regretted the words as soon as they came out of my mouth.
“See, they’re not married, but they’re splitting their time between families,” he said. “I never understood why you wouldn’t meet my family. They’ve heard a lot about you.”
“I…I know. It just didn’t feel right,” I said. “And now it would just be weird.”
“Weird? You know if I thought things could work out between us, I’d do anything for you. Why can’t you do this one thing? We’ve been living together, we were engaged to be married, what more is there?”
I looked at the ground as I searched for the answer. Ending our relationship didn’t change much between us. We still lived together, we just didn’t share a bedroom anymore. With Brayden so busy, he was rarely in the house anyway. Unfortunately, there were times when Brayden acted like we were a couple still and not just friends.
“It’s him, isn't it?” Brayden’s voice was harsh. He was usually very mild tempered and laid back, except when Jagger came up.
“I’m sorry, I can’t explain it. I know he’s gone, but I…”
Can’t give up hope.
“It’s ridiculous. I can’t compete with a ghost,” he said.
“I know, that’s why we ended things,” I said softly.
Brayden stormed out of the room
I finished packing my bag and looked around the room to make sure I didn’t forget anything. The room was bright as the sun streamed in through the balcony. I looked out the sliding glass doors and saw Brayden loading the car. Behind him were acres of vineyards.
It had been a long time since I had been back to San Diego. Brayden had transitioned his popularity into a cable network show, which required him to travel to New York City a lot. He didn’t have the time to manage everything else, so I took over the catering part of Bleacher Enterprises.
“Is that everything?” he asked as I came downstairs.
“Yes. Sorry I’m running behind.”
“And I’m sorry I can’t manage this event for you. I know how much you’ve avoided going back home.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ve been running from my memories long enough.”
“I can always find a stand-in for you. Then you could come out with me to the East Coast. You’ll love New York at Christmas.”
“You know how much I hate the cold.”
“What if I promised to keep you warm?”
I smiled at him, but my heart wasn’t in it. It had been a long time since I had come to terms with what happened to Jagger. I couldn’t explain why lately everything started flooding back.
I couldn’t ignore that he had been gone for five years. Five years was the magic number, he was my five-year bad luck charm. It was funny how things had changed. Back then I never imagined there would come a day when I wished he’d come back into my life. Now, my life was empty without him.
The flight from Napa to San Diego was quick. Just before I got off the plane, Brayden reached for my hand.
“I’m sorry about earlier. You know how much I hate rushing.”
“It’s alright. I understand,” I said.
“You sure you don’t want me to stay in San Diego with you? With the event tomorrow, I
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