Chapter 41 Brad
Brad
There’s a certain feeling that comes when you’re heading toward something that will change your life forever. You don’t know exactly how it’ll play out—only that when it’s done, nothing will ever be the same.
These last ten minutes in this car, I’ve been quietly saying goodbye to the life I thought I knew. The life that I had dealt for me, planned out and celebrated since I was born. Everything was set, until it wasn’t.
What’s to come on the other side of that? I’m not sure. But, I know if Noah is there, it can’t be bad. I’ll be safe. I’ll be happy. I know that much.
“Hey, you doing okay?” Noah nudges my thigh with our linked hands. I glance over at him and immediately feel a warmth spread over my chest. It’s those damn eyes of his. I don’t even know if he knows what power they have.
I smile at him. “I’m just thinking…about how happy I am that you’re here. With me.”
Noah nods his head. “And I’m not going anywhere.”
I let that sit in my chest and allow it to give me the courage I need.
We turn into the driveway and I slowly park the truck, stealing the last moment of peace before we head inside.
“You know why I fell for you?” Noah asks, breaking my attention away from the house.
“Because I’m devastatingly handsome?” I tease, leaning my head back on the head rest.
Noah’s lips quirk up, shaking his head. “Okay, the second reason?”
I nod, to urge him to continue.
“It was when you first pushed me in the water that summer. Up to that point I just wanted to mess with you. But…when you pushed me. When you finally let yourself be—yourself—I couldn’t think of anyone else I’ve ever met who had the courage to do that.
To let their mask down and just be real.
Be truthful. It was…” Noah shakes his head, like the memory alone is making him awestruck all over again. “Mesmerizing.”
I lick my lips, feeling a rush of power flow through me. He really saw me like that?
In a moment that made me feel so vulnerable and scared. That was the moment he fell for me?
I pull our clasped hands up to my lips, not caring of any overseers and give him a kiss on the back of his hand.
“I knew I was in trouble the moment you helped me set up the damn tent.” I shake my head.
This makes Noah burst out in laughter. I chuckle alongside him.
“What the hell? That’s so random. And it was right when we got there.”
I shrug. “You were so mean in the truck ride there. So standoffish. I had no idea how I was going to get through to you. But then…you just…helped me. And that’s when I knew there was so much more to you than a pretty face and a snarky mouth.” I wink.
He rolls his eyes. “Only you, Brad.”
We take a beat, laughing at how ridiculous this trip down memory lane is. But, it was exactly what I needed at this moment to calm down the nerves.
He knew it. He knows me.
I give him one last squeeze before I call it. “You ready to do this?”
He looks at me and nods his head. “It’s me and you.”
“Me and you,” I repeat softly before unbuckling my seatbelt.
***
I walk into the house, catching a whiff of some sort of sugary pastry.
I round the corner to the kitchen and see Paislee in her high chair, smearing mashed food across the tray.
My eyes follow the sounds of frantic movements and see Veronica taking out a tray of freshly baked cupcakes, placing it on a cooling rack on the counter. Her apron around her neck is covered in flour and I spot some on her forehead.
“Oh, hey Honey!” she says, out of breath.
She rushes over to me and kisses me on the cheek. I swallow deeply as I feel Noah step in behind me.
Her eyes nervously dart over my shoulder and I can see the way her demeanor changes. It’s small but it’s there. She’s nervous. Scared he told me.
Well, she’d be right.
“Veronica—” I begin.
“I was thinking we could all decorate together. As a family.” She dusts off her hands, avoiding eye contact. This is what she does. Panic bakes. I see it clearly now.
“Veronica.” I try again. “We need to talk.”
Her eyes hops from me and then to Noah. I can see the panic in her eyes as she’s taking in my tone of voice.
“I…” a small, choked sound escapes her throat. “Noah…how could you?” she hisses, words snapping past me.
I quickly step into her line of sight. “This is about you and I, Vee.”
She bites her tongue, straightening up. “Okay, well…I should put Paislee down,” she says, rubbing her hand across her forehead.
“I’ll do it,” Noah says, walking over to her. “Come on, baby girl.” He softly coos before taking her out of the room.
I hate feeling the emptiness of him but knowing he’s just another floor upstairs makes me feel better.
I tilt my head to the living room where Veronica follows me.
Awkwardly taking a seat, she takes her apron off, smooths it down on the couch and turns to me.
“Let me start.”
“I should start.”
We both speak at the same time. I give her a soft smile before motioning her to take the lead.
“I’m guessing Noah told you what he saw.”
I shift in my seat, bringing my leg up on the couch to look at her fully. “What’d he see exactly?”
Veronica looks away, tears welling in her eyes. “Dammit, Brad. Don’t make me say it.”
“I think it’s important that we do. We lay everything out there. No more secrets.” I take a deep breath in.
She shoots me a look, realization washing over her. “Wait. What do you mean? Do you have something to tell me too?”
I nod my head slowly. “Yeah…yeah, I do.”
“Oh, God.” She buries her head in her hands. “What happened to us? We were so happy.”
I shake my head knowing how untrue that is. “You know we haven’t been happy for a while now. Hell, we haven’t been together intimately for over a year.”
She picks her head back up, and I see now that tears have fallen. “I know, I know. I just…I didn’t think…” She sniffs, rubbing her hand under her nose. “Brad, you’re the best guy I’ve ever met. Things just got so complicated. Especially when Paislee came along.”
Shit, I know the feeling.
“Who is she?” She sniffs, looking deep into my eyes. “Do I know her?”
My stomach drops. This is the moment. This is where I make the choice.
And I choose Noah. I’ll always choose Noah.
“Veronica, there’s something you need to know about—”
Suddenly, the front door swings open. Kevin marches in, grinning like he owns the place. “How’s everything going? Do I smell cupcakes?”
My body goes rigid the second I see that smug, shit-eating grin. I want to wipe it off his face. My blood boils remembering what he did to Noah—how much I trusted him, and how little he cared. My fists burn before I even realize I’m on my feet.
“Oh no,” Veronica cries, burying her face in her hands again.
His eyes widen as he gets closer, assessing the damage and realizing the secrets out. “That little shit. Where is he?” Kevin backs up.
I don’t think—I march over to him, grip his jean jacket collar, and thrust him against the wall.
“Ow! What the fuck—”
“I trusted you,” I spit out.
“Y-you didn’t give a shit about her. We both know it.” Kevin claws at my hands, struggling to loosen my hold around him.
“How dare you put your hands on him?!” I pull him close before knocking him back against the wall again, determined to knock the wind right out of him. I don’t care if I bust a hole through the drywall. I’ll burn this goddamn house down.
Kevin tilts his head back against the wall and lets out a wicked laugh as he tries to regain himself. “Right, right. Because why in hell would I assume you’d be upset about her when you’ve got him to worry about, huh?”
I hesitate. My hands tremble against the rough denim as I meet his cold, calculating stare.
“What’s he talking about?” Veronica’s voice pipes up behind us.
I draw in a sharp breath, realizing what’s about to happen.
Shit. I wanted to be the one to tell her but it’s looking like the situation isn’t going that way.
Suddenly footsteps come trekking down the stairwell. I look up to see Noah, stopping slowly, taking in the scene.
“Oh, he didn’t tell you?” Kevin successfully pushes my hands off of him before straightening his jacket. “Step-daddy over here has been railing your son.” He points over his shoulder.
I look up to see Noah’s face go white. His eyes go from mine to his mothers.
I look over my shoulder to see her. Her mouth is dropped open, looking back and forth between Noah and I.
“You’re lying,” she whispers, like it might make it untrue. But her eyes, red and wide, tell me a part of her believes it as soon as he uttered the words.
“Veronica,” I say softly, walking towards her.
She steps back, shaking her head like I’m a wild animal.
I don’t want her to hate me. After everything…
after all of this, I don’t want us to be on bad terms. Not just for Paislee’s sake but also for Noah’s.
They might not be close, but I don’t want to be the catalyst between them.
It should be on his terms, between them.
“No. You—and Noah? No.” She shakes her head again, bumping into the wall across from us, not allowing her to go any further.
“Okay, listen,” I say, my palms up like I’m not going to make any sudden movements. “It’s not like how Kevin made it sound.”
“Oh really? How else could someone interpret what I saw the other night at the fair then? Looked pretty clear to me.” Kevin speaks up.
I turn back towards him. My brain searches for an explanation for his betrayal, but I come up empty. Years of friendship down the fucking drain. What did I ever see in this guy?
Suddenly I see Noah tap Kevin on the shoulder. He turns to look at him and before he can think to step out of the way, Noah lands a hard punch to his jaw.
Kevin stumbles back, gripping his face. “Shit, fuck! You little shit!”
“There. Now you can shut up.” He smirks. Noah shakes his fist out, opening and closing his hand. I’ll have to put ice on that later.
A quick wave of pride flows through me. He’d really do anything for me.