Chapter 39 39
Ryan responded to Brooke’s statement with a nod but said nothing. Even though that was not what he wanted to hear, he had no choice but to respect her decision.His shoulders rise and fall as he takes long breaths.
"I know whichever decision you make will be the best one. I am sure you have thought this through and arrived at your final decision." Ryan sought.
"I did." Brooke confirmed. She had just told him that she was going to keep the baby after a long contemplation within herself.
Silence fell between them as the sip on their beverage.
"You know, back then when you graduated college, I wanted for you to pursue medical school then. I know that is what you always wanted." Ryan began to speak again.
Brooke chuckled lightly. "I wanted that too. But then, I wanted to spend more time with... You know who." She said, referring to Nathan. "But then, Keren appears again. I didn't want to give her any opportunity to take a chance with him in my absence. So all my dreams of medical school went down the drainage. I wanted to spend more time around him just to make sure he doesn't leave me for her."
Brooke shook her head at the thought of her actions in the past.
"I followed him around to make sure he was not going to her. I will use the excuse of taking lunch to him at the office just to be sure he was not spending time with her." She shook her head.
"One time, I even went to him in a restaurant, thinking he went with Keren. The client was not pleased by my interference. That was how Nathan never got in contact with the potential client."
"From that time, that was when arguments began between us and that led me to where I am at this moment. Can you imagine!?"
Ryan nodded in affirmation. "That is love for you Bee. It can make you do bizarre things."
Brooke's eyes grew wide.
"Did you just speak of love as if you are some love expert?" She chuckled. "What does a playboy like you know about love?" She teased.
Ryan shook his head. "Bee, you should know that every playboy has his own side of the story. In most cases, a past that might have something to do with his present behavior or choice of action." He explained.
Brooke leaned forward, using her hands to support her chin. "Oh really! Well then Matt, tell me yours."
Ryan looked at her for a few seconds as if he was thinking. He then looked around them to make sure no one was close to them or listening in on their conversation.
"There was once a girl I had my eyes on. She is a bit younger than me but I really wanted her. Unfortunately, the girl has her attention on someone else." Ryan began.
"I tried to get her attention in so many ways. Acting as the sexy boy next door and all. But she never saw me. I even went ahead to act as if I was dating another girl just to make her see me and to make her jealous. But it all went in vain."
"Three years ago, she finally broke my heart completely." He said in a sad voice.
"What happened? Did she reject you?" Brooke asked.
"Yeah, something like that." Ryan said through a chuckle.
"Oh! I think I remember that time. Was that the time you left Silverbrook for two months without a word!" Brooke asked.
"I recalled Nathan kept complaining about it and cursing." She added.
"He was doing that during your honeymoon?" Ryan asked.
Brooke chuckled. "Yes. He was furious about the children's hospital back in Silverbrook." She knitted her brows because she didn't know a lot more about the issue at hand then.
"Oh that. It was about some insurance claims and I took care of it all after I returned. Nathan was just being so dramatic about it back then." Ryan waved off.
They went back to the comfortable silence. Each of them has his own private thoughts.
Brooke knew a little only about the insurance that Ryan just explained now. But Nathan never mentioned any girl breaking Ryan's heart. It was it that Nathan also did not know? She wondered.
"Do I know her? What is her name?" Out of curiosity, Brooke asked.
Ryan chuckled and shook his head. "No ... No you don't. Maybe someday I might introduce her to you. Although, I don't know if that day will ever come."
Brooke chick. "I can't wait."
"So, after that, that was when I ..." Ryan began but couldn't find a nicer way to identify what he does.
"You became a heartbreaker." Brooke completed the sentence for him. She chuckled and continued.
"I was sure you used to date back then. But in the three years that passed, I could say the number has tripled. Maybe more."
Ryan raised his hand in surrender. "In my defense, I was trying to forget her. Even though I knew my methods were wrong and I will never have a place in her heart." He sighed. "The things we do for love, right! Just crazy."
Brooke laughed hard. She pointed at Ryan. His words were so hard to believe, knowing the kind of person he is. "I can't believe this, Ryan. I can't believe you are talking about love like that. It doesn't suit you at all."
Ryan laughed also. "Hey. You asked about my past and that is what you got. How dare you make fun of me?"
They laughed more together. The two continued to laugh and chat at the table. While they were at it, Ryan's phone began to ring.
The phone is on the table so it was easy for Brooke to see who was calling. It was Nathan. She quickly took her eyes off the phone, pretending not to be affected by the call.
Ryan picked the phone and then excused himself to where he parked his car to receive the call.
After a few minutes, he returned to Brooke and said.
"Bee, I am sorry, but I need to leave. I have to drop you off now." Ryan said in a rush tone.