Ballad of Love (Utah Lovin’ Book 1)

24. Madison

Braydon painted my front door. Braydon freaking painted my front door! It shouldn”t be that big of a deal, but it kind of is. Braydon and Iris came over two Saturdays ago so Braydon could fix my broken front door, and Braydon brought a can of paint to paint my front door. And might I just add that he looked extremely sexy in his faded jeans, an old sweatshirt, and a freaking tool belt. I mean the cowboy boots were a nice little cherry on top. I push the thought out of my mind as I pull into the venue for Braydon’s concert tonight. Braydon invited me to sit backstage with Iris, and I am still a little giddy at the thought. I even forced Adalynn to help me pick out a pair of cowboy boots to buy just for tonight. I grab my flannel and purse from my passenger seat and hop out of my Jeep. I instantly spot Braydon leaning up against his truck watching Iris play in the grass. Iris spots me first, and she runs at me full speed and jumps into my arms.

“Maddie, I missed you!” Those four words have completely melted my heart all over again for this little girl, and I wouldn”t have it any other way.

“I missed you too, Iris.”

“Hey Boots, I am glad you found it ok.” Braydon says pushing off of his truck walking over to Iris and me.

“Boots?”

Braydon points down to my brand-new cowboy boots that Adalynn helped me pick out. I spent the last week breaking them in, but they are still extremely stiff.

“Right, these old things. I have had them forever.”

Braydon throws his head back and lets out a hearty laugh. Now that”s a laugh that could make a girl”s knees go weak.

“Adalynn already told me that you dragged her out shopping for three whole hours.”

“Hey, she wasn”t supposed to tell you. Plus, I bought her Mexican for lunch, so she shouldn”t be complaining.”

“Daddy, is Maddie going to watch your show with me?”

“Yes, sweetheart. Is that ok?”

“Yeah, I really like maddie.”

“Well that”s good because I really like her too.”

Iris looks up at me with a serious look on her little angel face.

“Daddy said he loves you.”

“Oh, did he really, now?”

Braydon’s face immediately turns as red as a fire truck, and if I weren”t trying really hard to school my emotions, I am sure my face would be just as red.

“Ok, that”s enough of that. We should probably head in.” Braydon scoops Iris out of my arms and turns towards the entrance. This conversation is far from over, and I will bring it back up later.

Braydon is playing a local music festival with smaller name artists. Braydon checks us in and introduces me to his manager, Sarah. She seems a little intense, but she seems to be good at her job.

“Y’all can sit back here. Let Sarah know if you need absolutely anything,” Braydon says reassuringly.

“I will.”

Braydon walks on to the stage, leaving Iris and I backstage. His show doesn”t last too long, but all of his songs tell a story. A story I feel like I have heard a hundred times before. Braydon walks backstage all sweaty and a little unkempt. I like him like this. Who am I kidding? I like him all the time.

“It was really good, Braydon.”

“Thanks. It wasn”t my finest work, though.”

“Daddy.”

“Hi, sweetheart. Did you have fun?” I watch Braydon pick up Iris and settle her on his shoulders.

“Yeah. I even got Goldfish.”

“You did? That’s exciting. Do you want to hang out with Aunt Adalynn for a little bit?”

Iris shakes her head enthusiastically.

“Ok. I will go call Aunt Adalynn. Boots?”

“Yes?”

“Would you like to go to dinner with me?”

Is Braydon asking me out on a date? Or is he just being nice? I am going to let myself believe it is the first one.

“I would love to.”

“Great. I am going to drop Iris off with Adalynn. Then I will pick you up at your house in about an hour.”

“Sounds great.”

I barely make it into my front door before Adalynn”s name lights up my phone.

“Are you seriously going on a date with my brother?”

“I have no clue what you are talking about.”

“Well, I just want to say that if you are going on a date, it is about time. This is six years overdue, and I am happy that y’all are reconnecting.”

“Thanks, Adalynn. I am happy about it, too.”

“I love you, M.”

“I love you too, Adalynn.”

I am too nervous to sit still, so I organize. I am a stress organizer, and I am not afraid to admit it. A knock on my door startles me out of alphabetizing my spices. I open the door, and Braydon’s big goofy smile greets me. It is my smile, and I didn”t realize how much I missed seeing it until this moment.

“Hey, Boots.”

“Hi. Do I need to change? ” I look at Braydon’s outfit, and he seems a little more bundled up than I am. Braydon is wearing a nice pair of jeans, and a thick looking light blue flannel.

“Nope, what you are wearing is perfect.”

Braydon grabs my hand and pulls me out the door. I lock it behind us before we head towards his truck. Braydon opens the door for me and helps me inside the warm cab of his truck.

“So, where are we going?” I ask Braydon, as he is backing out of my driveway.

“It”s a surprise.”

“You can”t give me a little hint?”

“Nope, no hints.”

“You know how I feel about surprises, Bray.”

“Just relax, Boots.” Braydon says, resting his hand on my thigh. That does anything but make me relax, but now I am nervous for a whole different reason. This reason I am ok with, though. Braydon doesn”t pull his hand away for the remainder of our drive. It makes me feel safe, so I am ok with it. Braydon pulls off the dirt road we were driving on and into a field.

“Oh, I know what”s happening.”

“Oh, really? What is happening?” Braydon asks, throwing his truck in park.

“You are going to murder me.”

“How did you know, Boots?”

“I am just too smart.”

Braydon hops out of his truck and practically sprints to the passenger door to open it for me. He helps me out, then opens the door to his backseat. I watch him pull out a mound of blankets and pillows and he starts handing them to me. After he hands me what looks like a department store”s worth of pillows and blankets, he pulls out a picnic basket and a small cooler.

“Are you taking me on a picnic, Bray?”

“Maybe.”

I follow him to the bed of his truck, and he pulls down his tailgate.

“Throw it in,” Braydon instructs, motioning towards his truck bed. I toss the blankets and pillows in just as Braydon is setting down the picnic basket and cooler. He helps me in, and we get all the stuff situated. We both settle in.

“There is meat and cheese in the cooler. As well as Dr. Pepper and cheesecake. There are three different kinds of crackers in the basket and Goldfish. Those were thanks to Iris. There are also some chocolate covered strawberries. If you are still hungry, I can also order us a pizza.”

“And get it delivered all the way out here?”

“You never know.”

“I think I will be ok. This is amazing, Braydon. Thank you.”

“Anything for you, Boots.”

My heart warms at the new nickname. Braydon wasn”t kidding about the three different kinds of crackers. We begin to eat, and we fall into a comfortable small talk. Catching up for the years we missed. Even though, technically, that was my fault. Braydon starts clearing some of the food out of the way and scoots towards me.

“Madison, I didn”t just ask you to dinner because I wanted to hang out with you under the stars. Although that is definitely an added bonus.”

“So why did you ask me here?” Braydon’s tone piques my interest.

“I wanted to talk to you about something.”

“I am all ears, Bray.”

“I know you haven”t been back for very long, but I don”t think that you can deny that there is still something between us. At least I hope not. I want to give us a second try, but there are some things you need to know about high school.”

“Ok…” My mind is racing.

“The day you broke up with me I had just picked up an engagement ring. Your engagement ring to be exact. I had sold my truck a couple days before.”

“Braydon.. Why?” I am in utter shock. That”s why he sold his truck. To buy me an engagement ring.

“Because spending the rest of my life with you was more important. Although after that day, it didn”t even matter. And Stephane didn”t really appreciate being proposed to with another girl”s ring.”

Wow. I don”t even know how to form words right now.

“Wow, Braydon.”

“I know. It is a lot.”

“Well, first of all I didn’t need a ring to prove to me that you wanted to spend the rest of your life with me. Second, your ex was right to be mad about you proposing with another girl”s ring. However, she is wrong for leaving you and Iris.”

“I know that it might not be fair for me to ask you to give us a second chance. Especially when I come with a few more accessories now. But I am, Madison. I am asking you to give us a second chance. I am putting my heart out there, and I am only a little bit afraid of the consequences. But I am willing to face them if they come. I understand if you don”t want this because of Iris. I wouldn”t blame you.”

“Oh, Braydon, you”ve got it all wrong.”

“Oh…” I watch Bradyon”s face fall in disappointment.

“Not like that. Let me explain. I want this. I want us. I want all your accessories. I want all your mess. And your best days. I love Iris. I love Iris because she is the sweetest little girl in the whole world, and every time I am around her, she makes my heart melt a little more. But I also love Iris because she is part of you. And I love you. Quite frankly, I am a little offended that you would think that I wouldn”t want Iris.”

“So, you are saying yes?”

“I am saying yes. Yes, I want us again. Yes, I want to love you and Iris so fiercely. And yes I will be your girlfriend.”