Page 72 of Romantic

“Yeah, I think a big part of why she wanted to go home was to really figure out what she wanted. She spent two months in the states before asking for a divorce.”

“How did you take that?”

“Honestly, it was a bit of a relief. She said I could have primary custody of Pepper, and at that point, that was all I cared about. Also, I wanted Daphne to be happy. And I wasn’t making her happy, so it made sense. But yeah, I also felt like a failure. Her parents didn’t want us to get a divorce. They suggested she wait a little longer before making a drastic decision. She decided to go on a solo backpacking trip to think it over. There was a flash flood, and she never came home.”

Even though I’ve read the articles, hearing this directly from Brandon is so gut-wrenching. I feel heartbroken thinking of Brandon receiving this news.

“I’m so sorry, Brandon. But in case you need to hear it, it wasn’t your fault.”

“I guess I do still need to hear it. You’d like my therapist—she frequently says the same thing.” Brandon chuckles wryly. “By the way, she’s a big fan of you.”

“You’ve talked about me with your therapist?” I don’t know why, but I’m a little bit honored by this new piece of information.

“Well, yeah. I’ve wanted to ask you out from the beginning, but I had to make sure I was really ready. I haven’t dated for the past decade because I was . . . I am afraid of ruining another woman’s life.”

“You didn’t ruin her life.”

“Maybe not exactly. But that fear was still there. And I had to think about Pepper, too.

“Is this why you told me in the Narnia closet that you don’t date?”

“Yes, although honestly, I had already made up my mind to take the leap and ask you out—but then you started dating Jack . . .”

So many things are making sense now. It’s amazing how much time we both wasted by being afraid.

“Brandon, I have a confession.”

“This sounds serious.”

“Well, you’ve been so open, so I feel like I have to say it . . . for a long time, I’ve been jealous of Daphne.”

“Jealous?”

“Yeah, well, I thought she was this ‘great love’ that you would never get over. How could I ever compare? I’m not proud of it, but I just wanted you to know.”

“Annie, you have no reason to be jealous. I will always be grateful to Daphne for giving me Pepper, but our relationship was over long before she was gone. And even in the beginning, when things were good—well, that wasn’t anywhere close to how I feel about you.”

I don’t know what to say. If Brandon were here in person, I’d kiss him. But since we have a mountain range between us, I just utter an inelegant, “Oh . . .”

Brandon clears his throat, “I suppose it’s time to finally take that leap. So . . . um . . . what do you think?”

“Wait a minute!” I sit up in bed. “Brandon James, are you finally asking me out?”

“If you have to ask I must have fumbled that,” he says with smiling eyes. I used to admire his tragic eyes, but Brandon’s smiling eyes are infinitely better; they are pure joy. “Annie, would you have dinner with me this weekend?”

“Yes! Wait! No, I can’t. I have plans.”

“Don’t tell me you’ve met another Pampas Grass.”

“No, no. Nothing as bad as that. And trust me, I really want to go out with you. What about next weekend? Or maybe we shouldn’t wait that long?”

“Yeah, two weeks apart is too long. How about Monday?”

“Yep, Monday works.”

“Then it’s a date.”

When we wind up the phone call (two hours later—we had a lot of nothing to talk about), I run into Elinor’s room and flop onto the bed next to her. “Brandon asked me out!!!”