Forever You by Lynn, Sandi (e novels to read txt) 📕

wondered if she was ok. I heard footsteps enter the kitchen, and I turned around to see Denny standing

there. I ran my hand through my hair as I looked at him.

“She told me everything, Connor,” he said.

I sighed. “I can’t talk about this right now, Denny. I have an appointment that I have to get to. Let’s

have dinner tonight.”

“Dinner sounds good. Do you need me to drive you to your appointment?” he asked.

“No, I’m driving myself. Let’s meet at The Pier around 6:30 pm,” I said as I grabbed my keys and

headed towards the elevator. As the doors opened, I stopped and turned to Denny.

“How was she?” I asked, not knowing if I really wanted to know the answer.

Denny looked at me sympathetically before he responded. “She was a total mess, Connor. How did

you think she was going to be?” I shook my head and stepped on the elevator. I rubbed my forehead as

the doors shut, and Denny stood there looking at me.

***

“I thought you were on a road trip to Michigan?” Dr. Peters asked as I walked into his office.

“Let’s just say that the trip got cut short,” I replied as I stood in front of his large office window.

“Judging by the way you look and the way you’re talking, something bad must’ve happened. Sit

down, and let’s talk about it.”

“I don’t want to sit down; I’m fine standing here.” I took in a deep breath, “Ellery dropped a bomb

on me.”

“Continue,” he said.

“She has cancer, and she’s known about it before we even met. She didn’t tell me, and she’s

refusing to get treatment, so she’s just going to let herself die and to hell with everyone and anyone

who loves her.”

“What did you do when you found out?” he asked.

I turned around and looked at him. “I yelled and said some really nasty things to her, then stormed

out. I put her on plane back here while I drove back alone. There was no way I could be alone with

her in a car for 10 hours.”

“I can understand that. Just a few days ago you told me you were just friends taking a simple road

trip. Did you sleep with her?”

I walked over to the chair across from him and sat down. “Yes, we slept together, and I wish we

wouldn’t have because it wouldn’t be this hard.”

“It wouldn’t have mattered if you slept with her or not. You’re in love with this woman, and don’t

you dare try to deny it,” he said as he pointed his finger at me.

“You’re right; I’m in love with her. I gave myself to her after I promised I would never give myself

emotionally to any woman, and she took what I gave her, then ripped it to pieces. How do I ever get

over the fact that she lied and hid a huge secret from me?”

I got up from the chair because the more I thought and talked about it, the angrier I became. “I told

her about Amanda and everything that happened. I told her about how I use women for sex and then

throw them away.”

He took off his glasses and looked at me. “Was that before or after you slept with her?”

“Before I slept with her; why the hell does it matter when I told her?”

“You told Ellery what kind of man you are, and you warned her. You told her about your past,

which you’ve never shared with anyone besides me, and she still wanted you. She obviously loved

you enough and saw something inside you to continue the relationship.”

“Damn it, Dr. Peters. This is different; I’m not dying!” I snapped.

“I’m not defending what she did was right, Connor. She should have told you from the beginning

about her illness, but she had her reasons; just like you had your reasons for keeping quiet about your

past. Please tell me you told her about Ashlyn.”

I started to pace back and forth across the room. “No, I didn’t tell her about Ashlyn. She kept

asking me, but I kept putting it off. I wasn’t ready to tell her yet.”

“Interesting,” Dr. Peters said as he rubbed his chin. “You weren’t ready to tell her about Ashlyn,

and she wasn’t ready to tell you about her illness. You two have some serious issues to work out.”

“We have nothing to work out. We’re not together anymore. I just want the pain to stop so I can

move on with my life.”

“Pain is a part of loving someone, and it’s something that just doesn’t go away. I don’t believe

you’ve given up on her. I know her secret hurt you, and I know you’re in a lot of pain, but I think the

two of you can work through this. My professional opinion is that you and Ellery need each other in

more ways than one. This is the first girl since Amanda that you’ve let into your life. Have you

stopped to ask yourself why that is? Why Ellery Lane? Of all the women you’ve seen and been with

over the past 12 years, you chose her. You saw something rare and special in her, and you couldn’t

stay away. Her keeping this secret from you is a big deal, and I’m not condoning it, but I wouldn’t let

it completely ruin you. Take some time to think