Perfectly Pink - An It's Always Been You Romance (Complete)

Chapter 39

Simon tried to keep busy, take his mind off the looming deadline. He hadn't seen or heard from Mary since she'd walked out of his office.

Every morning, he dragged himself out of bed after yet another sleepless night. Hours in the dark spent regretting his decision to push Mary, weighing the pros and cons of taking the deal to sell the Waterfront and wondering where he should go when he was finally free to leave Bridgetown.

Freedom. Such a lonely word.

The best option was as far away as he could get from Mary Montgomery. If she didn't choose him, them, he knew his heart couldn't take seeing her with another man. Mars felt too close, but most likely he'd try Europe. Maybe he'd do the whole Eat, Pray, Love thing and not settle down for a year or two, but travel. Experience the life he should have led had he not wasted time waiting for Mary to walk through the doors of his restaurant.

As if on cue, the front door swung open and Simon turned with the same hope he had in his heart all week. Instead of the blond he longed to see, a tall man with hair genetically similar to his own ambled in.

"Hey Finn." Simon looked at his watch. "It's a bit late for lunch and too early for dinner, isn't it?"

"Em and Sophie kicked me out. Girl stuff." Finn plopped down on the end bar stool. "Thought I could hang out here for a bit if that's ok?"

Simon placed a coaster in front of his brother. "Always. I could use the company."

Finn surveyed the empty tables and chairs. "Guess with tourist season over, it's quiet in here."

"Might pick up tonight. Locals celebrating the end of summer and all. But yeah, things are winding down."

A loud pop followed by a fizz sound echoed in the room as he opened a bottle of Finn's favourite beer and handed it to him. Simon cracked one open for himself and took a sip.

"Why do you like Mary?"

The cold alcohol caught in his throat and Simon coughed to force air into his lungs. "What?"

"Mary. Why her? What is it you actually like about the woman?"

His heart rate increased. Finn never wanted to talk about his sister-in-law. "Where's this coming from?"

Finn shrugged. "Just curious."

Alarm bells rang in Simon's mind. "Did something happen? Is Mary okay?"

His brother now took a long sip of his beer, as if delaying his answer. "I'm sure she's fine. Haven't seen her for a couple days. She went back to Washington."

The alcohol in Simon's stomach turned. She was gone. He'd driven her away, and this was the end. He'd have to sign the deal now. Sell the bar and run away. Leave Finn. Again.

A decade ago, to save himself, he'd fled Buffalo, leaving his little brother behind. Then he'd been escaping the haunting memories of his dead parents, constant reminders of what had been everywhere he looked. Now he'd be dodging a very alive Mary and constant reminders of what could have been.

"You didn't answer my question?" Finn's words interrupted Simon's pity party.

"Right. Why do I—" it was weird saying her name around his brother "—like Mary. To be honest, I'm not sure."

Finn raised an eyebrow. "Sorry?"

"It's like my life is split into parts. There's before Mom and Dad died and then after. My world changed so drastically, I changed." Finn nodded. "The same thing with Mary. I remember vividly the day I first met her here. I walked out of the kitchen, a tray full of burgers and fries for table nine and I saw her. Everything from that moment on was different."