Denny was already sitting at the table waiting for me when I arrived at the restaurant. I sat down as the waitress came over and smiled at me.
“May I get you something to drink?” She smiled as she tilted her head.
“I’ll have a double scotch.” I said without as much as a grin.
Denny was glancing over the menu when he said, “A double scotch, huh?”
I picked up the menu from the table and opened it. “It’s not like it’s too early or anything.”
“I didn’t mean anything by it Connor,” he said.
“I know you didn’t Denny,” I said still looking down at the menu.
“Do you want to talk about what happened?” Denny asked as he closed his menu.
The waitress came over and set down my double scotch in front of me. Denny and I ordered as she took our menu and walked away. “Not really,” I answered as I took a sip.
“She loves you Connor and I’ve known you long enough to know that you’re in love with her.”
I picked up my glass and lightly swirled the liquid around. “If she truly loved me, she would have told me she was sick.”
“And if you truly loved her, you would have told her about Ashlyn, because I know damn well you didn’t.”
I sighed as I took another drink. “You sound like my therapist. I saw Ellery today,” I said as I looked up at him. “I was on the treadmill at the gym and she stopped in front of the window.”
“Did she see you?”
“No, she stopped to pull out her phone and look at it. She looked frail and sad.”
“Of course she did Connor, she loves you and you walked out on her. You left her all alone in a hotel room in Michigan,” He spat.
I leaned across the table. “I know what I did and I regret it. I was in shock by what I had just found out and very angry. The only thing I saw was my future dying and I couldn’t deal with it, so I left. Do you think it was easy for me just to leave her there? Do you know how many times I almost turned around to get her?”
“I understand how hurt you are, but it’s time to be a man Connor because she needs you. Regardless of what she did or didn’t do, she’s sick and she’s alone,” Denny spoke.
“I know that, but I need time as well. I’m not that much of a heartless bastard.”
“That has yet to be decided,” Denny smiled.