I thought I explained this," Luke said, sounding annoyed. "She's a beautiful young girl. She might be a chronological twenty-five, but subtract a few years of her being tied to an invalid. She would be carded in most bars. I was almost her first flirt! She should do things! Experience things! She's been patient and dedicated a long time-she has to get out there and…" "And not take a chance on you and then realize in a couple years that she was hasty," Aiden supplied. "Aw, what the hell," Luke said, standing up and running a hand across the back of his neck. "She's not ready to make that kind of choice. She might think she is, but she's not!" "Because you weren't?" "She's too young!" "Because you were?" Luke didn't respond. He turned his back on his brother. Aiden stood up and approached Luke's back. He put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. "You weren't too young when you married Felicia. You weren't too naive or inexperienced when you were twenty-five. You had it all-you were sharp and loyal and you knew how you felt. You had enough passion and commitment to never change your mind. You got screwed up by someone who wasn't your match. I'm sorry, buddy, but it wasn't your fault. Jesus, will you ever let yourself off the hook for that? You didn't cheat on her! She went out on you!" "She wasn't enough," he said. Then he laughed ruefully and shook his head. "That's what she said to me…." "Felicia?" Luke turned around. "Shelby. She said she knew she wasn't enough…." "Oh, Christ," Aiden said in a breath.
( Robyn Carr )
[ Temptation Ridge ]
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