18
18
Bryce
“I don’t understand. Who paid off the loan?”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Nelson. I’m not at liberty to disclose that information,” the bank manager said.
“But it’s my house, for Christ’s sake.” When I got an email saying my home loan had been paid off, I freaked out. My account had to have been hacked, but that made little sense. Why would someone hack into my account and pay off my home? Naturally, I called the bank but nobody over there would give me the name of the person who had saved me and my girls from becoming homeless.
“Yes. I understand, sir. But the information is confidential.”
I growled in frustration and hung up. Pacing in my kitchen, I dialed Nana Bea. Maybe she had a stash of money I didn’t know about.
“Hello, Bryce Crispy. How’s my favorite grandson?”
“Nana, I’m your only grandson.”
“True. But you’re still my favorite. How are the girls?”
“They’re great. Excited about Halloween.” Crap, I needed to take them shopping for costumes. I had been off my game since Sadie and I broke up and had forgotten about the holiday.
Was it breaking up if we hadn’t declared to be together? And had only known each other for a couple of weeks and been together three days? Or was it four? Five? I couldn’t remember exactly, because it felt like we’d been together forever.
“Of course they are. Have you taken them to the fall festival yet?”
“No, Nana. Not yet.” Just another thing I hadn’t done with them. “But I will. I need to ask you something, and I want you to tell me the truth. Okay?”
“Oh, this sounds serious. Yes, I will tell you the truth.”
“Did you pay off my home loan?”
“Oh, my. As much as I would have loved to, I don’t have that kind of money.”
“I didn’t think so.” I twisted my lips and rubbed my temple. “Who would pay it off?”
“Sounds like a blessing to me. You must be relieved not to have to deal with the bank anymore or worry about losing the house.”
“I am, but not knowing who did is driving me crazy. And I’m not exactly thrilled about it. It’s my house. I pay my own way.”
“I know, Bryce. You’ve always done everything on your own.”
“That’s what a man does, Nana. We provide for and protect our loved ones.” I scrubbed the back of my head, still pacing in the kitchen. “I just want to know who did it.”
“Let it go, Bryce. Be grateful.”
“I am grateful. Guess I’m just in a mood.”
“What’s put you in a mood? Did it not work out with Zander’s daughter?”
“Did what not work out?” I hadn’t told her anything about Sadie and me. My calls with her had been short and to the point, because I hadn’t wanted to talk about Sadie. Nana would become invested the second she found out about us, and she’d treat Sadie like family. But as it turned out, my budding relationship had ended quickly. “Nana? You there?”
“Oh, yes. I’m sorry. What did you say, Bryce Crispy?”
Oh, for Pete’s sake. She must have heard about us from Zander. “It’s not important. Nana, I gotta go, but we’ll talk soon.”
“Okay. Be sure to take the girls to the fall festival. They will love it.”
“I will. Call if you need anything.”
“Will do.” She ended the call.
There was one other person who might have paid my loan off, but it was a long shot. Either way, I dialed his number.
“Hey, buddy. How’s it going?”
It annoyed me how he always sounded happy. “Hey, Zander. It’s going all right. I know this is going to sound weird, but did you pay off my home loan?” Jeez, I sounded ridiculous.
“Nope, it wasn’t me.”
“Do you know who did?”
“I might. What difference does it make?”
“Come on, this is insane. And I don’t appreciate people messing with my personal business.”
“Shit, man. Most people would love to have their debts paid anonymously.”
“Not me, and it’s not that anonymous if you know who did it.” Wait. “Was it Sadie?”
“Does it matter? Just count your blessings and move on, son.”
“Was it?” I dialed in but couldn’t hear anything. “Zander? You there?” I checked my phone, but the call had ended.
Why would he hang up on me?
Holy fuck. It must’ve been Sadie. I dialed her number.
“Bryce? Is everything okay?” she asked, sounding panicked. “Are the girls okay?”
“Why’d you do it?”
“Excuse me?”
“Don’t play games with me. Everything is always a game to you. Well, not this time. I don’t need you fixing my life or paying my bills.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You paid off my house.”
“Um, no I didn’t. I’m only twenty-three and a struggling ballerina. I don’t have that kind of money.”
“Oh. I see your point. Sorry.” I wilted against the kitchen counter.
“I think it is wonderful someone paid off your home though. Now you can focus on your business.”
“I suppose.” Hearing her voice made me miss her more than before. “How are you doing?”
“We should end the call now.”
“Sadie, don’t hate me. I was just trying to protect my girls.” They were all I had and I would die if something happened to them.
“I don’t hate you. I respect your rights as their father. It just hurts.”
“Why does it hurt?”
“Because I’m not good enough for you. For them.”
“That’s not true.”
“Oh, stop it, Bryce. You look down on the club, and that means you look down on me. I grew up in the Knight’s Legion MC and had the greatest childhood. So many kids to play with and people who loved me and would give their life to protect me. My family is massive, and you gave up the chance to be part of it.”
“They’re criminals… outlaws.”
“And you’re so damn perfect, aren’t you? They’re also loyal, genuine, and do a lot for the town. Don’t tell me you have no clue what all the Knights have done in Bastion. They make sure kids in the community have presents at Christmas, and they help those in need.”
They help those in need. Holy balls! Was it the club that had paid off my house? “Sadie—”
“I don’t want to hear it, Bryce. We’re over. You don’t have to explain why you don’t want me. Take care of yourself and the girls.”
“Sadie, wait!” But the call had ended. I dialed her back, but it went to voicemail. “Fuck!”
Could I have made the biggest mistake of my life?
Yes, you idiot, you did. And now it’s too late. By now, she was back in New York.
I stumbled to the table and dropped onto a chair, sick to my stomach. Why in the hell had I cared so much about my house, when I should have been figuring out how to get Sadie back?
It was people who mattered, right?
She’d been right. The Knight’s Legion MC protected their territory. Anytime drug dealers entered, they drove them away. Nana filled me in on the good they had done, even when I hadn’t wanted to hear it.
Way to fuck up, Bryce Crispy.
It was time I focused on what really mattered, my girls. Tomorrow I’d take them to the fall festival and then go shopping for costumes.
Since Connie had left us, I’d been trying to do everything alone. It’d been overwhelming for me with twins. I’d done all right, but it’d been the fun stuff I was failing at. Sadie would’ve excelled at the fun stuff, her and her games, and goofy faces while dancing.
I recalled how much fun the girls had had with her. The giggles, oh, their giggles, were infectious.
Tomorrow I’d be the fun dad and hopefully lift Cat’s and Tori’s spirits. They’d been down in the dumps, like me now that Sadie was out of our lives.
If I could make things right, I would. I’d do anything for a second chance with Sadie, maybe even go to New York to beg her to give us another chance.