“Earlier, you said you had a rough day? Was it just the phone call? I thought you were meeting your brother.”
The corners of her mouth turned down. “I want him to call Declan to talk about something, but he’s refusing to. I’m sick of them being so stubborn; it’s stupid!”
“Why aren’t they talking?”
Cara’s face shuttered, and Wes didn’t think she would answer. She looked down at her hands in her lap. “Do you remember when I said things changed when my dad died?” He nodded. “That wasn’t strictly true. Everything changed when my dad got married.”
“I thought you said he was a ‘confirmed bachelor’?”
“You remember that?” Her eyebrows lifted in surprise, her eyes on his.
“Of course.” Wes held her gaze.
Cara exhaled a sad breath. “He was. Then he met Courtney. At first, it was the same as it had always been when he had a girlfriend. I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about him. He was kind and generous, and he was always upfront with the women in his life about how he lived. I actually thought from things he had said that he was close to ending things with Courtney, but then suddenly he announced they were getting married. We were shocked, but my dad refused to discuss it. Declan was furious—he never liked Courtney, and it only got worse when Dad gave her oldest son, Matt, a job in the company. That company was Dec’s life, and Matt was in no way qualified. I think Luke and James were more hurt than angry. There was already tension between them and our father, but this was the final straw. After that, they were done with him. Their mom Anne married someone else eventually, but she always loved our dad. I think the twins were upset forher.”
Cara was quiet for a minute. “It did hurt if I’m honest with myself. My mom never had a real relationship with him, but it was kind of like why was Courtney worth marrying if our mothers weren’t? I’m never getting married. It doesn’t mean anything. It’s just a status thing.”
“What?” Wes was stunned. “Of course, marriage means something! It’s a promise that you will always be there for each other. Someone to lean on when you need them!” He took a breath trying to slow his pulse.
It didn’t matter to him that Cara didn’t believe in marriage, he told himself. What she does with her life is her business. Wes’s heart pounded painfully in his chest.
Cara lifted one shoulder. “I’ve seen a lot of relationships, my dad, my mom, my friends’ parents. Romantic love that lasts a lifetime isn’t real. It’s just lust mixed with familiarity. My dad understood that. He enjoyed his relationships, and when they weren’t fun anymore, both parties moved on.” Her lips firmed. “Look at what happened when he finally got married. My mother’s been married six times, and I just got the invitation for her seventh! Each time she insists that ‘this is the one’ and ‘I’ve never been so in love.’ She believes it. I’m not saying I don’t believe in love. Of course, I do. I just don’t believe love lasts.”
“Maybe you’ve just never been in love?” Wes had to stop grinding his teeth to answer.
“Maybe.” Her violet eyes held his. “Is that enough of a deep dive into my life for today? I want to heat up dinner and then go to bed.”
Wes was too caught up in his thoughts to reply. For the first time since they met, they ate their meal in silence.
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
The paste gloopedoff the wooden spoon into the bowl. Cara gave the concoction one more stir before peering at the mixture and making a note in her binder on the counter. She wanted to make this unexpected day off count! Just before dawn she’d gotten a text.
Skye: Lia has the flu. Production is shut down for the day.
Cara felt bad for Lia, but she was thrilled to have the day off in the house by herself. For once, Wes was actually out of the house, meeting clients with his partners, Jin and Nina. Cara planned on taking full advantage.
Cara carried the bowl and spoon to where she had spread a towel over the sofa. She pressed the button on the remote with only the tiniest twinge of guilt. It’s not like Wes hadn’t seen them all before, she reasoned.
She pushed a terry cloth headband back over her forehead to protect her hair and used the wooden spoon to scoop a large amount of the homemade mask into her hands, before smearing it liberally over her face. Wiping her hands on the towel, she set the timer on her phone and leaned back ready to see what wisdom Captain Picard would dole out today.
The mask had just begun to sting, indicating the enzymes were working, when she heard Wes’s key in the door. Cara grimaced. She didn’t need a mirror to know how absurd she looked.
It doesn’t matter. He’s just my roommate.
Looking gross and foolish in front of your hot roommate was totally acceptable.
Wes set his computer bag on their kitchen counter and circled around the furniture to gape at her. “What the hell is all over your face?”
Cara’s tongue snuck out to catch a piece of pineapple that had migrated to the corner of her mouth, not missing how Wes’s eyes followed the action.
“Honey, oatmeal, and pineapple mask.”
“Are you watching without me?” he accused, when she pushed pause.
“Please, you could probably recite all the lines.” Her words caused more of the mask to slide onto her mouth. Her tongue flicked out again to catch it.
“Should you be eating that?” His voice was slightly breathless, and Cara made a point of taking another taste.
