“She isn’t an ex. We’d only dated for three months. You must have seen the Page Six article.”
“I didn’t. My student Devon told me.”
“I see. Well, Claudia wasn’t a nice person, and I was done with her. Besides, relationships aren’t my thing.Maybe for a short period of time, but I don’t believe in forever.”
“Care to explain why?” My brow arched as I ran the tips of my toes down his chest.
“My grandfather was a chronic cheater, right up until the day he passed away. One of his mistresses showed up at the funeral, and I had to escort her out before my grandmother saw her.”
“How did you know about his cheating?” I asked.
“I was sixteen and home for the weekend from school. It was a Saturday, and he was at the office, like he always was. I went to see him because I needed to talk to him about a situation at school. When I approached his office and opened the door, I saw him and a woman going at it on the couch.”
“What did he say to you when you caught him?”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Weston
“He said, and I quote, ‘If you decide to tell your grandmother or anyone, every advantage you have and that has been given to you will disappear. Your fancy school, trust fund, and all the privileges I’ve given you over the years will vanish into thin air.’ And after that, he didn’t even try to hide it from me anymore.”
“I can’t believe he threatened you like that,” Sam said.
“You would believe it if you’d ever met the man.”
“You can’t let what one man did shape your views, Wes.” Sam stood, turned around, and sank back into the water, her back resting against my chest. I willingly wrapped my arms around her, pulling her closer.
“My grandfather cheated on the woman he was supposed to love and protect for years. My father died before he had the chance to disappoint me.”
Sam slowly stroked my arm. “What was their relationship like?”
“Happy. They were happy all the time, and they loved each other deeply. You could feel it every time you walkedinto the room. Then one day, they got on a plane and never came back.”
“Tell me this,” she said. “Why is it easier for you to believe your grandfather’s version of love than theirs?”
I glanced out the window and stared at the night sky as I thought about her question.
“Forever is a cruel joke because nothing lasts forever. Not marriages. Not families. Not people. Not happiness,” I said. “I’ve loved, and I’ve lost in my lifetime.”
“Everybody has,” Sam said. “But we can’t let our losses define our views for the rest of our lives.”
“Really?” I chuckled. “Who’s the one mourning the loss of a relationship six months later? You let that define your view of men and relationships.”
“Temporarily. There’s a difference.”
“Is there?” I asked.
“Yes. I got hurt. I questioned my judgment and took time to heal. I swore off dating for a while because I needed to figure myself out. That one relationship doesn’t predict every relationship I’ll ever have, and I know that. Forever was never promised to any of us, Wes. That’s not a reason to avoid loving someone. It’s a reason to love them while you can. You witnessed the love between your parents while they were still here.”
“And that alone is supposed to make me believe in forever?”
“It’s the moments, Wes. The moments you choose to share with someone you love every day. And one person or a loss doesn’t get to decide what the rest of my life looks like.”
I pressed my lips against the top of her head. I had never been vulnerable with someone. She was dismantling the walls I’d built many years ago. I loved my parents more than anything else, and they were taken from me.And another father figure in my life showed me that love wasn’t enough to stay faithful. Sam saw heartbreak as something to survive. I’d always seen it as something to avoid.
After another round of sex, I held her in my arms as her naked body snuggled against mine in bed. I was terrified of the feelings I’d felt for her. What started as one date for charity to improve my image turned into something far more than I bargained for.
I awoke the following morning and noticed Sam wasn’t in bed. Rolling over, I glanced out the French doors that led to the terrace and saw her sitting in one of the chairs with her legs up, gripping a cup of coffee. Climbing out of bed, I slipped on a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt and stepped outside, the crisp air waking me more than caffeine ever could.