Free Missed Connections: Stepping Out by Marie Harte Page B

want what my parents had before Mom died. I want what a few of my friends have. Love to last. I don’t want a man to be with me for my baby, but because he loves me. And I need him to be faithful.” She blew her nose. “I tried to overlook Aaron’s flaws. He loves me, I know he does. But he’s…he’s selfish. Not intentionally cruel, but mean all the same. It’s all about him and what he wants.”
    “You can’t turn off love.” Gwen sighed. “When Perry ditched me for my friend, I was hurt. I’d loved him. He used me and lied to me, but I couldn’t stop caring. And I kind of hated myself for that.”
    Lisa nodded.
    “I mean, I’m a strong woman. I’m smart, independent. Like you. So why hadn’t I seen what he’d been doing sooner? Why couldn’t I just hate him and move on?”
    Lisa brushed her cheeks. “Exactly. I do my dad’s books. I’m a CPA with stock in our family stores. I’m smart.”
    “Pretty.”
    Lisa smiled. “Pregnant too.”
    “There is that.”
    Lisa laughed. “I should just kick him out and be done with him. But something holds me back. My friends don’t understand it. I don’t understand it.”
    “You need time. All this just happened. The question you need to ask yourself is what you want for you and your baby. Do you want a selfish person in your lives? A man who will teach his son or daughter that dishonesty is something to aspire to? I don’t know Aaron. But I know he tried messing with my cousin at a party with you right there. That’s not cool, Lisa.
    “You have to make up your own mind about him. Just make sure you can live with what you decide. Screw everyone else. Be strong for you. Because don’t you deserve what your parents had?”
    “I do.” Lisa shuddered on another sob. “I really do.”
    Gwen circled the table and hugged Lisa when she broke down. After some time, she sat back in her chair while Lisa calmed.
    “Please do me a favor and forget all this. I can’t believe I cried all over my brother’s brand-new girlfriend’s shoulder.”
    Gwen fidgeted. “Well, I don’t know that Conlan and I are that tight.”
    “Oh?” Lisa raised a brow.
    “Your brother and I met over less than pleasant circumstances. We’re both writers, we’ve both dealt with cheating exes, and we both give relationship advice.”
    “Sounds to me like you’re made for each other.”
    Gwen forced a laugh, ignoring the longing she had no business feeling. “Yeah, well, we’ve known each other a grand total of seven days.” Yet she felt like she’d known him for much longer.
    “That’s all? Hmm.”
    “What?”
    Lisa smiled. “Conlan talked to me about you, and he doesn’t usually share about his personal life until he’s well into something serious. Now maybe it was to take my mind off Aaron or to show me how much of an ass my ex-fiancé is. Either way, you’re different.”
    “I don’t know…”
    “You gave me some sound advice. Let me give you some too. My parents fell in love at first sight. My cousin did too. My friend Sara met her husband, hated him, and met him again years later. They’ve been together for fifteen years. Love happens when it happens. Now I’m not saying you and Conlan are soul mates after a week of knowing each other, but to deny the possibility because it’s too soon is wrong.
    “You got over a man who broke your heart. Trust me, I’m taking note. If you can do it, then so can I. And my God, so can Conlan. That man moped like crazy when Ally screwed him over. Frankly, I was glad. I didn’t like her. But he thought she was terrific. Until the end, then he couldn’t stand her. He wasn’t like me or you.”
    “I’m just glad I’m over Perry.” For the first time, Gwen truly believed she was. She didn’t want to cry or scream at the thought of Perry Warrington. She didn’t wish him well, by any means, but she no longer wanted him to be run over by a large bus.
    “I don’t know if you and Conlan will still be together past the