Chapter 9
Brad
As I pull out of theparking lot in my truck, everything inside me screams at me to stay. Go back to her. Take her with you. Fuck everything else.
I can’t believe I walked away without telling her how I feel. I’m such a dumbass.
I know I love her. I’ve loved her since I first laid eyes on her. I want her to be mine. Call it stupid, call it not possible, but it was love at first sight. Plain and simple.
But it’s not simple. It’s complicated as fuck. I have baggage, she has baggage, neither one of us wants a relationship. She lives in Savannah, Georgia while I’m in Pensacola. That’s seven hours apart.
What the fuck am I supposed to do?
I merge onto the highway and I’m sick to my stomach. The road in front of my swirls and I grip the steering wheel tight. I need to pull over. There’s an exit close ahead so I flick on my blinker and pull off. A gas station sits directly across the street, and I drive into the lot and park.
What should I do? What should I do?
My phone rings through the speakers in my car and my brother’s name, Chuck, flashes on the screen.
How does he have the worst timing ever?
“Hey,” I answer.
“Yo, bro. You headed home?”
“Since when do you keep track of my schedule?”
“Mom told me. I figured I’d check in. See how Key West treated you. Since you decided to ignore your family who loves you all week.”
“No guilt trips allowed. I was enjoying my activities and fucking my life up even more.”
“Uh, I don’t think that”s possible.” Chuck teases.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“Are you gonna leave me hanging? What happened?”
“I fell in love with someone.”
“Whoa. I wasn’t expecting that.”
“Yeah, me either.”
“What’s the problem? Shouldn’t this be a good thing? It’s been long enough; there’s nothing to feel guilty about.”
“She lives in Savannah, she has baggage, I have baggage, it’s not the right time...” I trail off.
“Those are all excuses. Love doesn’t happen at the right time. There’s no right time. If you love her, you make it work.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
“You know it’s fucking not. But it’s worth it.”
“What if I fall out of love with her like I did with Allison?” There I said it. My biggest fear of all.
“We could all worry about that with every relationship we’re in. But what fun is that? The good kind of love- it’s rare. When it comes along, you need to hold on.”
“Fuck, bro. When did you become so wise?”
“I’ve always been. You just never listened before.”
I snicker. “Good one.”
“So should I tell Mom not to expect you today?”
“Yeah. I’m gonna go get my girl.”
* * *
I can’t wait to touchher. To hold her. To kiss her. To tell her I love her.
I don’t waste any time speeding back to the hotel. I race inside and don’t bother stopping at the front desk nor do I wait for the elevator. Taking the stairs two at a time, I’m on her floor in less than a minute. Once I get to her door, I raise my hand to knock but I hear voices and stop.
Stepping forward, I listen closer and hear a male voice. No, it can’t be.
There’s no way...
I hear Zara’s voice and then the male voice again.
It’s definitely male.
I take a step back as my stomach free falls.
No...no...
Do I knock on the door? Give her a chance to explain? Or walk away?
I should walk away. This is stupid. What the fuck am I even doing? How could I think I love someone I’ve known for only a week?
My heart beats wildly in my chest.
I do love her. I know I do. I feel it in every inch of my bones.
Before I can make the decision, it’s made for me, as the door opens and there stands Zara, with an angry looking man behind her.
Who the hell is this?
My eyes dart between the two of them.
“Brad? What are you doing here?”
“I came back to tell you something. But, uh, I guess you’re busy. Sorry, I’ll be on my way now.” I take another step backwards and Zara reaches for my hand.
“No, wait, don’t go. Neil was just leaving.”
His name rings a bell. And then it dawns on me.
Neil. The Neil.
He came here?
“Goodbye, Neil.” Zara says.
He opens his mouth to say something, but Zara shoots him daggers and he immediately closes it. Damn, Z. I’ve never seen that look before.
Neil turns to go but then turns and opens his mouth anyway. “Whatever. Be ready for a dull life with a lame bitch.”
Zara’s face turns red. I tug on her hand and whisper. “Ignore him.”
I clear my throat. “Only pussies speak to women like that. Speak to her like that again and there’ll be a problem.”
Neil scoffs but walks off to the stairway.
“Good riddance.” Zara says. “I can’t believe he came all the way here. The audacity and—”
I take her face in both of my hands and kiss her lips. God, I missed her taste so much already.
“I’m so sorry I left without telling you how fucking much I love you. I’m so in love with you, Z. I don’t care about our baggage, the distance, whatever else. We’ll figure it all out. All I know is I want you. I want you now, tomorrow, a year from now, forever. I want it all.”
“Oh, Brad...” Zara’s eyes fill with tears.
“If it doesn’t work, we go our separate ways. But I can’t go on living my life without taking a chance on us. I’ve never felt about someone the way I feel about you, Zara. I love you so much.” I kiss her again and taste the saltiness of her tears.
“I love you too. So much. But...but...I’m so scared.”
“I know, baby. So am I. Let’s be scared together.”
Zara reaches up and places her hands over mine. Her eyes search mine for so long I’m afraid she’ll say no, she’ll walk away, and I’ll be left with a broken heart. “Okay. Let’s do it.”
“Woot!” I cheer as I wrap my arms around her waist and lift her off her feet, spinning her around in a circle.
When I put her down, she’s laughing and wiping her tears away.
“This is crazy!” She kisses me all over my face. “We’re crazy.”
“Crazy in love, baby.” I smack her ass and throw her off my shoulder. “Now it’s time to get crazy in bed.”