Lost Me, Gained Regret (Jane and Bryant Ferguson) novel Chapter 16

When I first met Mark and Bryant, I thought they were much alike. Both had that calm, reserved, and steady vibe.

But boy, I was so wrong. Mark's composure and gentleness came from deep within, but Bryant was a different story.

Take the present as an instance. Mark dropped a subject out of politeness, not wanting to pry into personal matters, while Bryant? He didn't ask because he genuinely didn’t care. Bryant's heart wasn't in it.

We were at the party that lasted till nearly midnight, and Steven was already rallying us for round two.

Knowing I was pregnant and shouldn't be up late, Christine insisted on taking me home. That was when Steven suggested, “Let Mark drive her. He's not much of a night owl, either.”

Christine agreed.

But I was worried about her and tried to refuse.

“Come on, get in the car,” Christine said, reading my mind and nudging me toward Mark's car with a meaningful look. “Don’t worry. I can handle myself. Men are like the fish in the sea, and I'm not about to start fishing. I want the whole ocean!” she declared with a laugh.

I pinched her radiant cheek. “Fine, call me if you need anything.”

Mark got into the car, too.

Feeling awkward, I said, “Mark, I live on Grand Peace Avenue. Is that on your way? I can take a cab if it's not.”

“Since when are we so formal?” he joked, handing me his phone. “Could you set up the navigation? I haven't been around for years. Not too familiar with the roads.”

“Sure.” I took his phone.

RiverCity never slept. Even at this hour, downtown was still brightly lit.

I worried the long silence would be awkward, but Mark always knew what to say to keep the conversation going. Being around him was like a breath of fresh air.