Best Friends Forever (35 page)

Eight

I’m surprised by how comfortable I am with Rome. He’s hot, of course, but I’m not attracted to him that way. He’s with Miranda and I adore her. She’s been so supportive this last week, and I would never do anything to hurt her. Roman actually texts her when we arrive at the Steak N Shake.

“Is she okay with us hanging out?” I ask, worried.

He looks at his phone for a second. “She’s cool with it. I told her you were in grief counseling with me and she understood our mutual need to talk about what’s going on with someone close to the situation.”

I breathe a sigh of relief. “That’s good to hear. And I feel the same way. It’s nice to be able to connect with someone over the loss. I had no idea about your brother,” I lie, not wanting to admit Cheyanne told me.

“Yeah, it’s been a rough couple of years, not to mention being a father,” he comments.

I think about the fact that his son might not even be his son and it worries me. I know I should tell him, but I’m not sure I can. “Right.” I have nothing else to say.

“My brother and I weren’t all that close,” he admits. “I thought he was into Cheyanne, actually, when we were dating.”

He’s so close to the truth that I just nod instead of blurting out what really happened.

“I don’t know, maybe I’m crazy,” he says with wide eyes.

I stare into my glass of Coke. “I don’t know if that’s crazy. Do you have reason?”

“Not really. I’m just skeptical and I have a hard time trusting girls.”

I can relate to that. “Well then it’s most likely all in your head,” I say, even though I know it’s not. “Do you trust Miranda?” I ask, desperate to change the subject.

He takes the bait. “Miranda is like most of the other girls I’ve dated, except she’s not overly jealous. She lets me do what I want and isn’t too concerned. She’s a little over the top sometimes, but I don’t mind. As much as I like her, I don’t really see myself with her forever, you know? I mean, I’m happy with her, and she’s great, but I just don’t feel like she’s the one. Now you probably really think I’m crazy.” He laughs at himself as our food arrives.

Once the waiter walks away, I look at him. “If you’re happy for now, then just let it happen. You don’t need to be with your soul mate so young. When you find her, you’ll know, and there’s nothing wrong with enjoying the time before you find her, especially if you like Miranda.”

“You won’t say anything to her, will you?” he asks. He should have asked me sooner, though I know I’ll keep his secret.

“No, of course not. We’re friends,” I say, hoping it’s true. Roman is a great guy. Misunderstood, sure, but still great.

“Yeah, I guess we are.” He agrees and I smile at him. “So talk to me about Hazel.”

I take a deep breath and shovel some fries into my mouth to stall. When I swallow, he’s still there, looking at me without judgment. He’s not pushy at all. “It’s hard to deal with,” I answer him, feeling more vulnerable than I have in a long time. “I still can’t believe she’s gone. I wish I’d made more of an effort to be her friend.”

“You aren’t alone. I wish I hadn’t dumped her, wish I’d seen how fragile she was. I definitely wish we could go back. Maybe I could change things,” he adds.

“Exactly. I want so badly for things to be different.”

“In time, you’ll start to heal, to stop blaming yourself.”

I scoff. “You’re one to talk. You’re not healed over your brother.” I probably shouldn’t have said it, but I can’t help myself.

“Touché. But there was a time when I couldn’t even say my brother’s name, let alone talk about his accident. So, in a lot of ways, I have been healing.”

I nod, picking up my burger. “Well, that’s good then. I just want the dull ache in my chest to go away.”

“It will. Eventually. You’ve just got to be patient and try to move forward with your life.”

“Easier said than done, my friend.” I’m certain he’s right, even if I don’t want him to be.

“I know what you mean,” he agrees. “I’m here to talk if you need me.”

His words are comforting, something I haven’t felt in a long time, not even from well-wishers at Hazel’s funeral. Maybe he’s right… Maybe, with time, I will start to heal. Who knows…? I might even feel something more than anguish someday.

Author’s Note

After nearly ten months of waiting, BFFs is done. For those of you who have supported and purchased the series as they came out, THANK YOU!!! I debated for week on whether or not to include a novella from Roman’s point of view, and ultimately, I decided against it. Instead of giving him a tiny chapter in this series, I have put together the workings for all the Callahan brothers. Their series will start to come out in the Fall. So if you’re gaga for Roman, never fear- he will get his own, full length novel later this year! Thank you all for your tremendous support and love(and hate) of these characters.

More from Dawn Pendleton

Broken Promises

Broken Dreams

Broken Pieces

Broken Valentine

Best Friends Forever Series

Dreams Series (releasing Summer 2014)

Crazy Dreams

Wild Dreams

Unbroken Dreams

Callahan Brothers Series (releasing Fall/Winter 2014)

(order subject to change)

Roman

Riley

Reece

Ryan

Ryder

About the Author

Dawn Pendleton spends her time between Maine and somewhere warm for the winter, dragging her husband and pup wherever she goes. A lover of travel, an avid reader, and a softie at heart, Dawn writes romance novels that face the dark reality of life, which is that not everyone gets a happily ever after right away.