Blossom Street Brides Read Online Free PDF

of them any good.
    “Do what?” Todd asked.
    “You’re leaving me no option.”
    “What?” he demanded.
    “Todd, I think it would be best if we ended it now.”
    “End it? Is this a joke?”
    “No joke.”
    “You’re just upset because your sister is pregnant,” he insisted.
    “I’m not upset. If anything, I’m disappointed in myself. I hung on to this relationship far longer than I should have.”
    “You’re serious. You actually want to break up with me?” Todd asked, with what sounded like utter disbelief.
    “Yes.” She couldn’t make it any more clear than that. She didn’t offer excuses or explanations. She was finished. End of story.
    “Let me make sure I’ve got this straight. This is all about you and your sister?”
    “Not entirely.”
    “But that’s what led to your decision?”
    “In part, yes.”
    He sounded exasperated. “This. Is. Ridiculous.” Each word was carefully enunciated.
    “To you, it probably is. This is my life, Todd, and I want to marry and have children. I’m sure you do, too, but not with me, and it’s time I accepted that.”
    “Hold on, let’s talk this out.”
    She should have realized he wasn’t going to make this easy. “I can’t talk now, and it’s pointless. Besides, I’m at work and I know you are, too. Let’s leave matters where they are. Like I said, I’m not upset. Really, I’m not. I would have rather done this face-to-face than over the phone, but you had to cancel our dinner plans.”
    “That isn’t what I said,” he argued. “I said I
might
have to cancel. I called because I wanted you to know it was a possibility.”
    “We’ve had a lot of fun together over the years, Todd. I’m sorry it didn’t work out.”
    He hesitated, and his voice dipped. “Is there someone else?”
    That he would even ask was an insult. “No. At least not yet.”
    “Not yet?”
    “I haven’t met the guy yet, or maybe I have and simply don’t know it.”
    Again he paused. “I don’t feel good about this.”
    “I’d rather have done this over dinner. I’m sorry to spring it on you.” Lauren did feel bad that she was forced to break up over the phone. It seemed a bit heartless, especially after a three-year relationship. Todd deserved more than a quick call. “Like I said, I would have preferred we did this in person. I’ve had a couple of days to grow accustomed to theidea and you haven’t. But when you’ve had time to sort through your feelings, you’ll realize this is for the best.”
    “Meet me.”
    “Todd, no. Talking this over isn’t going to change my mind. It’s clear to me we aren’t meant to be together.”
    “Keep our dinner date.”
    “You have a lead on a breaking story, remember? You had to cancel.” One would think with all the leads he’d followed he’d have been sought after by a national news outlet by now.
    “I said I
might
need to cancel,” he snapped. “I’ll give the story to someone else. This is more important.”
    “Todd …”
    “Come on, Lauren, hear me out. You owe me that.” His voice took on a husky, pleading quality.
    Lauren vacillated, unsure what was best.
    “If I hadn’t phoned, you would have followed through with the dinner, right?”
    He had a point. She’d fully intended to be at The French Cafe Thursday night. She sighed. “Yes, I would have been there.”
    “Then just pretend I didn’t call. I’ll meet you at The French Cafe at six o’clock just the way we planned, and then we can talk. I don’t want to lose you, Lauren. I love you.”
    Lauren was convinced she was going to regret this. “All right,” she reluctantly agreed, “but you should know right now, my mind is made up. I’d like for us to remain friends, if possible.”
    “Of course it’s possible, but you should know something, too.”
    “What’s that?” she asked.
    “I don’t intend to let you go without a fight. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. See you Thursday.”
    They ended the call,