Chapter 27
CHAPTER 27
GUS
B rittany’s mom was out for blood, and really, Gus couldn’t blame her. She had done what she could to keep her only daughter safe, and still Brittany had been attacked on Gus’s watch. She wouldn’t trust him anytime soon. They all talked for over an hour, explaining how Gus had come to be assigned to Brittany, the lead up to the attack, and the details of the aftermath. Kathleen asked many questions, blunt but clearly concerned about her daughter’s safety. When she was finally satisfied with the details, Kathleen went to settle into her hotel room, warning Brittany that she wanted to have dinner to discuss the Champagne sketches further. Brittany agreed, seeming relieved that her mom was willing to go the underwear route with her.
After Kathleen left, Gus knew Brittany needed a break and took her to the Polka Dot for a coffee and terrible scone. They had just settled into their table when a voice called his name. He turned to find Robbie standing there, holding up his hands as if to ward off attack.
“Don’t yell at me. I was getting coffee and saw you here. I heard what happened.”
Gus wasn’t sure where Robbie was going with this, but this was his brother. He had to give him a chance. He met Robbie’s eyes and gave him a small nod.
“You two are okay?” Robbie looked back and forth between Gus and Brittany.
“We’re fine,” Brittany told him. Her voice was tight, and Gus suddenly remembered that the last time they saw each other Robbie had been a drunken ass that had to be dragged out of the party.
Robbie shuffled his feet.
“Look, I just wanted to say I’m sorry. I didn’t take the news well when you two got together, and that was after I had been an ass about our breakup. I think part of me always knew you two belonged together, and I couldn’t stop myself from being a jerk. But I’m sorry. You both deserve happiness, especially after everything I put you through. And I’m going to be less of an ass about it from now on.”
Gus waited. He appreciated the apology, but he knew it wasn’t necessarily for him to accept—it was Brittany’s. She stared at Robbie for a minute, then nodded.
“Apology accepted. I’d like to put all that crap behind us, especially since I’m with your brother now. You’re important to him, and I don’t want there to be a rift because of me.”
At that, Gus stood up and pulled his brother into a hug. “Thank you.”
Robbie hugged him, hard, and Gus felt a little proud of how much he seemed to have grown up. It was a big step. When Gus stepped back, Robbie slapped his back.
“I’ll see you around?” Robbie asked, his voice gruff.
“Damn straight.”
Robbie nodded and, with a wave, headed out the door, leaving them alone. Brittany turned and looked at him.
“I don’t know about you, but I am having the weirdest morning.”
He scooted his chair closer and put his arm around her.
“I don’t know, mine’s going pretty well.”
“Yeah? This is real?” She said it lightly, but there was something in her eyes that told Gus she needed validation.
“This is real, killer.”
He pulled her in for a kiss, sweet and soft.
“Tell me we’re not running off to some panel or something.”
She snorted. “Nope. But I was going to stop by Randall’s booth and do another stream. Which means I need to get dressed.”
“Aren’t your followers going to have questions about your bruises?”
“Yes. And I’m going to tell them, because I don’t want this to happen again.”
“Then let’s go.”
Gus pulled her out of the restaurant, and they ambled back to his condo. He helped Brittany set up her area for streaming and then ducked back to the kitchen, close enough to help if she needed it but out of her way so she could focus. She was so strong and capable, it was hard to watch her struggle with the bruises she was carrying thanks to that asshole.
When she hit the button to go live, she had a smile on her face.
“Hey everyone, thanks for joining. I had something happen yesterday that I want to address…”