Chapter 28

28

Brenner

M y cell rings, and I tug it out of my pocket, exhaling a sigh of relief when I see Taylor’s name on the screen. He must be back in the room. “It’s him,” I call out to Dad, with whom I’m making a second trip around the property. My fingers are trembling when I answer the call.

“Are you okay? Did that motherfucker do something to you? I swear to God, I’ll kill him if he hurt you.”

“He didn’t hurt me, Bren. I’m fine. How did you know I was with him?”

“Mila saw you with a man, and when she described him, I knew who he was.” Dad rushes over, watching me as I talk to Taylor. “Are you okay?” I ask again.

“Yeah, I just…need you.”

My heart stumbles at hearing him say that. I don’t want Taylor to ever be hurt, but I want to be the person he knows will always have his back, the one who soothes the aches of the world for him. “I’m coming. We’ll be right there.” We’re already heading back toward the resort. Luckily, it will only take us a couple of minutes to get there. “Your mom. She knows too, and she’s worried. Do you want Dad to message her and let her know you’re okay?”

“Shit,” he replies. “No, I’ll do it.”

“Okay. See you in a minute.” There’s a slight sting in my thighs from how fast I’m walking. I know how much everything with the Piece of Shit hurts him, and the last thing I want is for him to have had to deal with that today of all days.

“Is he all right?” Dad asks.

“I think so,” I answer as I shoot a group text to everyone else, letting them know Taylor is back. “I just need to see him.”

“You’re really in love with him, aren’t you?” Dad smiles.

“Yes…and it’s scary as hell.”

“Love is always scary. I was scared when I fell in love with your mom, and felt the same with Nicole, but it’s also the best thing that’s ever happened to me—both times.”

I chuckle, wanting to ask him a million questions, wanting to make sure everything will be okay. But the truth is, he can’t promise that. None of us can. We just have to enjoy the time we have when we have it. “Come on. Let’s hurry.”

I pick up to a jog, Dad right beside me as we hurry back to the hotel. Just as we’re getting on the elevator, I get a text from Taylor to meet him in our parents’ room. “He’s with Nicole,” I tell Dad, who hits the button for their floor.

I’m practically bouncing on my toes, unable to stay still, heart racing. I need to see Taylor so bad, need to make sure he’s okay.

Dad uses his key card, and as soon as I step in, I see Nicole and Taylor hugging, his mom crying as he tells her it’s okay and that he’s sorry for scaring her.

“I was worried sick.” She pulls away, and Taylor’s gaze catches mine.

“I know. I shouldn’t have left with him. I just needed to get him out of here. I didn’t want to do anything to ruin your day, but it looks like I might have done that anyway. I thought I could get back before you realized I was gone.”

“You did not ruin my day, Taylor. You didn’t do anything wrong. You were just being you…trying to take care of the people you care about.”

He sniffs and wipes his eyes with the back of his hands. It’s killing me not to go to him, not to take him in my arms, but he deserves this time with his mom. Also, I’m not sure how to react around our parents, and I forgot to tell Taylor they know about us.

“Thanks, Mom.”

Nicole takes his hand, and the two of them sit on the edge of the bed. “What happened?” she asks.

“When I went to get breakfast, I saw him. I tried to think of any way I could to get him to leave. We ended up at a diner not far from here, and he started in with his typical lies, making himself seem like the one who was mistreated. And I just…I don’t know. Today isn’t the day to talk about him. It’s supposed to be your and Keith’s day.”

I shuffle on my feet, trying to keep myself steady.

“Would you like me to leave?” Dad asks. “If you’d like a moment with your mom, I can do that, Taylor, but if you’re really just concerned about us, your mother and I agree that you won’t ruin this day. You and Brenner are the most important thing to both of us.”

My boyfriend’s gaze snags on my dad’s and doesn’t let go. I can see the emotion in his stare, see a story in his eyes I can’t read, but I think he’s coming to a realization.

“You don’t have to go,” Taylor tells him, then glances at me. “We’re family. And thank you for that. Chris…we were never the most important thing to him.”

Dad walks over and kneels in front of Taylor. “That’s his loss. I know I’m not your father, and I would never try to be something you don’t want me to be, but you are family to me. You’re the son of the woman I love. You’ve always been there when Brenner needs you. You’ve been his best friend, and now you’re the man my son is in love with. He couldn’t have chosen a better partner, and Nicole couldn’t have had a better son. You’ll always be important to me, and I’ll always be here for you.”

I’m caught between wanting to hug my dad for saying exactly what I know Taylor needs to hear and wanting to kill him. Taylor’s eyes go wide, shooting back and forth from Dad to Nicole to me.

“Sorry. They know about us. I was losing it a little, and it just came out.”

“In love with?” Taylor asks, his thoughts clearly snagging on that part.

“Surprise.” I give him a large grin. “Thanks for that, by the way, Dad. I haven’t told him yet.”

My dad pushes to his feet and joins me again. “Oops. Sorry.” He gives an honest bashful look.

“I feel like a million things are going on that I need to address, but first…” Taylor turns to his mom. “You’re okay with it? Me and Bren? We didn’t mean for it to happen. We were going to tell you, but we didn’t want to risk causing problems before the wedding. But I…” His voice goes softer, probably because the first time we’re saying or hearing this from each other is in a room with our parents. “I love him too. It took seeing the Piece of Shit again to realize just how much.”

My body feels all hyped up, like there is too much pleasure pinging around inside me and I might combust from it. Taylor loves me too. My first and forever boyfriend is my best friend, and we’re totally in love with each other.

“Oh, Taylor,” Nic says. “Of course I’m okay with it. When you found out about me and Keith, you said you wanted me happy, and that’s all I want for you too. Brenner is perfect for you, and honestly, I wonder how I never saw it before, and maybe started wondering about the two of you recently.”

He chuckles. “We wonder how we never saw it before either.”

“I guess everything happens when it’s supposed to.” Dad puts an arm around me, just as Nicole pulls Taylor into a hug. She says something quietly in his ear, he nods, and a moment later, she’s signaling for us to walk over to them.

And then we’re suddenly one huge four-person hug that would be cheesy if I saw it happening to anyone else. But for us, in this moment, it’s perfect. We’ve built a family together, and while it might not be a traditional family, for us, everything is right.

We sit down and spend some time talking. Taylor tells us the rest of what happened with Chris. I feel so much pride in Taylor for standing up for himself, for telling his dad how he feels, for truly seeing his dad for who he is and knowing that he deserves better.

A few minutes later, Dad says, “Why don’t you boys take some time together before we meet in the groom suite to get ready.”

“Oh shit. There’s a wedding today,” spills from my lips. I got so sidetracked, I forgot.

“Yes, there is.” Nicole beams at my dad, and he gives her the same look in return.

“Okay.” Taylor stands. “Thank you both for today.” He gives my dad his attention. “Thanks for everything and for loving my mom the way she deserves.”

“Always.” Dad hugs him. “And I meant what I said earlier. I know I’m not your father. I don’t want to overstep, but I can be that for you, if you ever want.”

“I already do,” Taylor replies.

Dad gives him a nod, and then I take my boyfriend’s hand, lacing our fingers together, and lead him to the door. We’re quiet on the way to our room, but the second we’re inside, we’re in each other’s arms. “I was so fucking worried about you.”

“I’m sorry. I wish I had my phone on me. I just didn’t know what to do. I wanted to protect Mom and Keith’s day.”

“I know…and I guess we were worried about nothing when it comes to our parents. They definitely seem okay with the fact that you’re in love with me,” I tease.

“Wait a minute. You’re the one who said it first. You told your dad you’re in love with me,” he plays around right back, and then we pull slightly away so we can look each other in the eye.

“I love you,” we say in unison. “Damn it!” we both add, then fall to the bed, laughing together.

“I was going to say it first.” I brush his hair off his forehead. “I mean, without my dad telling you for me.”

“I think it’s kinda cool that we said it at the same time.”

And he’s right, it is. “That tracks.”

Taylor’s hand travels down my back to my ass. “I wish I had time to fuck you.”

“Tonight. For now, we have to make sure our parents have the best wedding.” I press my lips to his, then reluctantly pull away. If I don’t, we’ll very much end up naked and all over each other.

“Hey, where are you going?” Taylor says when I roll out of the bed.

“To start us a shower.”

“Do we have time for a quick BJ?” he asks.

I turn and wink at him. “Only if you’re lucky.”

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