Simple Perfection

whole. He could love me. I was safe to love. But had I burned that bridge?
    “I don’t know,” I replied.
    Tripp bit his bottom lip. He did that when he was thinking. Finally, he let it pop free. “Listen. I can’t say much because it isn’t my place, but go back. If you want to go back. Be brave and go back.”
    I wish it was that easy. “What if he doesn’t want me back?”
    Tripp shook his head. “Not possible. Trust me.”
    “I left him. All I left was a note. He hasn’t looked for me. He must hate me.”
    Tripp stood up and paced back and forth in front of the fireplace while biting his bottom lip again. What was he so worked up about?
    I watched him, waiting for him to say something.
    Finally, he stopped and ran his hand through his hair, pulling on the ends a little, like he was having a hard time with something. “Tripp, what’s wrong?” I asked.
    He stared at me hard a minute. He knew something. Is Woods dating someone else already? Surely not. Oh, God. I’m going to be sick. Could he move on like that?
    “The money, it was all—”
    “All because he was a good friend and wanted to help you, Della. Wasn’t it, Tripp?” Braden’s voice startled me as she interrupted Tripp.
    He swallowed hard, then nodded. “Yeah,” he finally said.
    That wasn’t what he was going to say. Braden knew what he was going to say and she had stopped him. She was keeping something from me. What was it?
    I stood up and spun around to look at her. “Is he with someone else?” I asked. Just saying it ripped me into pieces. If she said yes I would crumple to the floor. I wouldn’t be able to deal with that.
    Her eyes were determined. I could see she wanted to tell me but she wasn’t going to. “I think you need to go back to Rosemary and take back your man, if that’s what you want. I think that if you love Woods Kerrington, then you need to be brave enough to put your heart on the line and go after him. You need to stop fearing things, Della. This is your last obstacle. Face it.” Her voice cracked. “Please, Della. Go get him. If you want him. Go get him.”
    He had moved on. I sank back down on the couch. “Oh, God,” I gasped as the pain started filling every inch of my body.
    “No, Della—”
    “Shut up, Tripp,” Braden snapped. She wanted me to know the truth. Tripp was trying to ease my pain because he was a good guy but Braden loved me enough to be honest.
    “How do I go after him? He doesn’t want me,” I said, my voice no more than a whisper.
    Braden knelt down in front of me. “You are beautiful, smart, kind, and selfless, and you’re the best friend I’ve ever had. I love you like a sister. You are my family. I’ve watched you hurt and I’ve watched you hide from your fears as if they really were those monsters under your bed that your mother threatened you with. In two days I’ve seen you face life with a strength I knew was in there but I’d never seen you use. If you want Woods Kerrington—if he is your forever—then go get him. Don’t doubt yourself. Don’t doubt your importance. People don’t love you and forget you, Della. You’re unforgettable.”
    I covered my mouth to smother a sob. Braden didn’t reach for me and hug me. She didn’t offer words of comfort. She just knelt there and watched me. She was waiting on me to decide. She was betting on me. When the rest of the world thought I was hopeless, she bet on me. She believed in me.
    So had Woods.
    “Can I have one last ride?” I asked Tripp as I raised my gaze to meet his.
    “You know it,” he replied.
    Braden let out a loud sob as she stood up and wrapped her arms around me. “I’m so proud of you. You did it, Della. You did it,” she said into my hair as she cried in my arms.
    I smiled over her shoulder at Tripp, who was getting a little teary-eyed himself.
    He gave me a thumbs-up and winked, then he turned and walked out of the room.

Woods
    I walked into my house and went for my suitcase. Della had four hours left to come back to me. I was packing. I was going after her. She wasn’t going to come back. She was scared, and I’d be damned if I was going to continue to let her think I didn’t want her. Whatever reasons Braden had could go to hell. I was going to get my woman. I was going to make sure she damn well knew I loved her with all my heart.
    My phone rang and I froze. It could be her. She could be coming back. I was almost scared to hope. I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. It