about it, hold her, love her, and let her do the same for you. You don’t forget it. You learn from it. Then you can let the guilt go, because it’ll only eat away at all the goodness you two have to look forward to. You have a chance at a real future together, and that’s what you should be focused on.”
“You’re absolutely right, and I am learning from all of my mistakes. It’s time to set them on a shelf and move on more carefully. Thanks for listening, Beau. I appreciate it.”
“Hey, I’ve been there. I get it, and I’m here any time you want to talk.” Beau leaned back, clasped his hands behind his head, and said. “What else can I fix for you?”
“Settle that ego down, unless you have some answers about how to blend our lives together. I offered her a partnership in my company, but she said she needed to think about it.”
Disbelief rose in his brother’s eyes. “You asked her to be your business partner?”
“It’s a commitment to us.”
“How’d she react?”
“She needs time to get comfortable with logistics. I get it. It’s a huge commitment, but that was the point. To show her I’m committed.” He gritted his teeth. “Leaving her this morning sucked the life out of me. I asked her to come with me, and here’s a shocker,” he said sarcastically. “She said no.”
“Aw, man.” Beau looked shocked. “I’m sorry.”
“It wasn’t a fair position to put her in, but I just couldn’t hold back. I know she needs more, but I’m not going to give her empty promises. I offered all I can for now. And, man, I get where she’s coming from. I know how much her business and her friends mean to her. I can’t expect her to uproot her life. She’s not that same whimsical girl she was, and that’s okay. I adore the person she’s become. But I definitely need to learn how to navigate calmer waters. Her life has become as steady and stable as the mountains, and my life ebbs and flows like the fucking tide. She needs concrete plans, and I’ve got nothing but good intentions.”
“I wondered when you were going to get around to that. She probably feels like you put her life in a blender.”
“No shit, man.”
“I’d say slow down, but that’s not who you are. What I can tell you is that I changed my entire life for Char, and I’ve never regretted it for a second.”
“I can’t exactly walk away from the Pride. That was our dream. Knowing how badly she wanted to find it is what has driven me to search for it for all these years. But on the flip side, how the hell am I supposed to walk away from her for weeks at a time?”
Beau shrugged. “I guess I’m better at fixing houses than relationships, because I’ve got nothing. Our lives are so different, I can’t even begin to imagine how you two can coordinate schedules. I think those answers have to come from you and Carly.” He stood up and walked off the patio without saying anything. He rubbed the back of his neck, pacing, and then he set a serious stare on Zev and said, “Can I ask you a hard question?”
“Might as well.”
“Given your propensity for traveling on a whim, are you sure you can be the man she needs? Are you sure you’re not setting both of you up for broken hearts?”
Zev pushed to his feet, eating up the space between them, his hands fisting. “I am the man she needs. There’s no can I be in the equation.”
Beau held up his hands and took a step back. “I’m just asking, man. You’re about to get on a plane and leave her again.”
“Are you trying to fuck with my head?” Zev seethed through gritted teeth. “You don’t think I’ve been battling those demons every damn second since I drove away from her?”
“I’m just trying to understand where you’re heading.”
“That’s what I’m telling you,” Zev seethed. “I’m heading for forever with Carly, but we’re not carefree kids anymore and I don’t have the answers we need. It’s fucking killing me that I don’t, but I’m not running away or abandoning her. We just need to figure shit out.”
Beau cocked a grin.
“What’s that shit-eating grin for?”
“Because I was testing you, and you passed.”
“You’re an asshole.” Zev shoved him away with an incredulous laugh.
“I’m the asshole who told my brilliant wife that we needed to get