4. Brody
FOUR
Brody
“ G od, I fucking love your cooking,” JB groaned as he took another bite of the Pad Thai I’d just dished up for the group. After the performance today, I’d had some excess energy to burn off and use, and I’d always found that being in the kitchen managed to fulfil it perfectly as well as giving that nutritional kick that we all needed. “I don’t know how you do it. I need some lessons from you, man.”
“I wonder if he’s shown Simone his cooking skills yet?” Holden replied after finishing a mouthful from his plate. I’d never known how hungry grown men could be. It was why I made a huge excess amount because if they didn’t eat it now, I know they could reheat a dish later if they needed a snack or a light bite for lunch tomorrow. “She’d never be apart from him if she had.”
“Hey, leave her out of it.” I told them both as Garrett raised his eyebrow at him. “Talking about Simone, she was very distant earlier when I passed and didn’t even acknowledge me.” I shrugged my shoulders trying to make out that it wasn’t a huge issue but, in my gut, I hadn’t managed to get it off my mind.
That’s why I threw myself into cooking that dish and making slight adjustments for each of the guys so it was perfect for them. It wasn’t something I’d normally do. I’d just do a standard base, which I know each of them could enjoy, but I needed to draw my attention and focus away from the reason why she had ignored me. If I was honest, I thought we had managed to get past things and be comfortable in one another’s company, even though I still kept her at a certain distance.
My mind was lost in her and all her cute little mannerisms that I knew she would tell me were just part of who she was. I thought they were special to her. It was the perfect combination of traits all wrapped up into the most amazing red headed siren.
I thought if I had just that one taste—I could forget and move on, but that was naive of me. My dick was hard and in a constant state of arousal every time she was within a few feet of me. A few times, I’d excused myself to just relieve myself to attempt to get through the day, but the moment I saw her again, my traitorous dick responded instantly again. It only took a glance, a whiff of her perfume or a moment where our gazes locked, and I instantly melted inside, fighting to keep it hidden from her and stay true to the rockstar image people knew me for. I was realizing, though, that it wouldn’t be long before the mask dropped, and she finally saw that I was still that guy she always loved. I just hoped that she could forgive my previous ways and that she wanted me.
The truth was I’d never move on from her, and she was it for me. I didn’t want those roadies or girls who threw themselves at me anymore—they all paled in comparison to Simone. It was only ever meant to be her.
“She didn’t acknowledge me either, man.” JB cut in, confusing me instantly.
“Fuck!” I cursed, dropping a forkful full of my Pad Thai onto my lap. I quickly stood up and grabbed some tissues, and quickly started cleaning myself up and the mess I made as I thought about what JB had said. What the fuck was going on? “Why would she not acknowledge us both?” I questioned out loud as Boden walked into the room just as the front door went.
I opened my mouth in preparation to ask Boden where the fuck he’d been all this time, when he held up his cell and radioed to the front door alarm system to see who was there. With whispered, hushed noises and words and eventually huffed agreements, Boden finally placed the cell down.
“I know what you were going to ask me, but Brody hold that thought a moment, I need you to come with me,” Boden announced, turning to face the group as their jaws slackened slightly glancing between each other. “Just trust me, guys. Please. I?—”
“Okay.” They stated in harmony.
“If you need anything, though—” Garrett began glancing between the two of us.
“I’ll come and get you.” I replied back. “Now are you going to fill me in with what’s going on?” I glanced up at Boden.
“Let’s go and get the food delivery at the front door and then we need to go to the Green Room.” Boden replied in a low tone cautiously as we walked through the corridors making me instantly become on high alert at something that I was missing.
“Wait a minute!” I uttered in confusion, stopping and pausing in the corridor and making Boden sigh loudly. “Why the Green Room? What food delivery? I always cook. What am I missing?”
“Well, Simone, she collapsed—” Boden grimaced as he said the words, and my jaw instantly ticked. “She…”
“What the fuck! Boden… you should have come and told me.” I exclaimed, jogging down the corridors and shouting over my shoulder. “Pay the fuckers at the door and give it to some of the people camped outside. I don’t care where it’s from, but go back to the kitchen and grab a portion of my Pad Thai. You know where I’ll be…” I continued, knowing it would have drowned out, but Boden would have got the message. My anger fizzled under the surface at him for hiding this from me after all this was my woman, and I deserved to know.
Well, she was going to be my woman—I was certain of that. I just had to show her that I was the man for her.
The moment I reached the Green Room door I paused and gathered myself together, originally, I had planned to just barrage my way into the room and demand answers, but whilst jogging along those corridors, I realized that if I did that, I would be showing the wrong kind of impression especially as I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. I knocked on the door and waited for someone to acknowledge that I was there.
“One moment.” Amelia’s voice echoed through the door as I waited, tapping my fingers against my messy stained jeans. That Pad Thai definitely was going to stain but that was the least of my concerns at this moment. “Sorry about that. We’re famished—” She began until she clocked who was standing at the door. “Brody what are you doing here?”
“Where is she?” I asked, keeping my voice and tone steady when, in reality, I wanted to scream and shout, but I know if I did that then Garrett and I would be having words. I wouldn’t stand for it if the roles were reversed and he’d snapped or shouted at Simone, so he definitely wouldn’t if he knew I had at his woman—let alone boss. “I know she’s here. Boden?—”
“I knew he’d not stay quiet. Fucking loyalty.” Amelia replied, rolling her eyes before stepping aside and opening the door. “Tread carefully.” She whispered to me before raising her voice. “We have company, but I think it’ll be better if I give you two some time to talk. I’ll find out where this food delivery is.”
“About that—” I gulped harshly before carefully just admitting my actions as they both stared daggers at me. Remind me in the future never to anger a hungry woman. “I may have told Boden to give it to some of the fans outside.” I began as Amelia’s eyes widened at me, and I held my hands up in defence. “I’d just made Pad Thai, and I wanted only the best. I sent Boden to go and get some for you both.”
“Such a meddler.” Amelia snapped out before shaking her head at me and pointing her finger in my chest. “It’s a bloody good thing that you, Brody Valens, are a mean cook, and I mean your Pad Thai is to die for. I’ll be back soon.” She replied as she sauntered out the room and shut the door behind her.
The air between us became thick and heavy as I glanced over at Simone sitting on the sofa. I couldn’t help but notice the way she looked so small sitting there and how she hadn’t attempted to move on my arrival, instead cautiously watching my movements as she opened her water and took small sips of water.
“Can I come and sit next to you?” I asked her, tipping my head to the side as I looked on at her, not wanting to invade her space at all. I knew that it was very unlike my normal character as I would just do as I wanted, but around Simone, I just felt breathless, like I needed her permission. It was as if I knew that she could see a glimpse of the future by letting her see a slight bit of vulnerability as she could potentially refuse my request. “Is that?—”
“Of course.” She uttered as the slight wobble in her voice gave away the fact she was nervous. The instant need to soothe and comfort her overcame me and travelled through my veins, but I knew I had to hold myself back, knowing that Simone was completely in charge at this moment and not me. If I suddenly flipped the pace and steamrolled the situation, it could be detrimental to all I have done in trying to show her who I was. “I’d like that. I do need to talk to you about something.”
“I heard you collapsed,” I whispered as I walked across the room and took a seat next to her. “The panic that overcame me—” I choked out as Simone reached for my hand.
“I was scared too.” Simone replied turning to face me, her face all flushed as I desperately wanted to reach out to touch her. “I should have not skipped my meals. It was a stupid thing to do.” She laughed mockingly. “I’m guessing my blood sugars were low.” She confessed to me, meeting my gaze. “Brody, I have to tell you something and I’m scared…”
“You can tell me anything,” I admitted to her, inching toward her to close the gap. “I’ll listen to whatever is going on in that pretty little mind of yours. Just let me in.”
“I’m pregnant.” She uttered the words as she watched for my reaction. “I didn’t plan this, and I?—”
The news instantly hit me like a punch to the gut, but at that moment, something changed inside of me. I’m not scared. I’m not angry. I’m ecstatic as the tears flowed from my eyes onto my cheek and I leaned into her, instantly reaching for her stomach and placing my hand on top of it.
“We’re having a baby.” I choked out as she nodded, her mouth parted at my reaction as I stared at the beauty of the woman before me. She was pure perfection. “I’m going to be a dad, and you’re going to be a mom,” I asked her as I stared in wonderment at the woman before my eyes. “Simone, I fucking love you. Fuck!”
“Brody…” She gasped out as I leaned in and kissed her hard and passionately. “You’re not angry. What about the band?”
“The band will still be here. I’ll still be here.” I gasped out to her. “This baby will be the most loved child in the world and the most protected.” He continued. “He’s got us all and we’ll all be here for him.”
“Him?” Simone questioned, raising her eyebrow as I glanced at her swollen, mused lips that had my cock instantly hard. The thought of her carrying my child was making me want to act like a caveman—wrap her up in cotton wool and keep her locked away from everyone but I knew I couldn’t do that. I did, though, have multiple people who could help ensure she was safe and protected from all harm. “You think it’s a boy?”
“I hope it’s a boy…” I honestly announced. “Otherwise, the guys and I will be requiring a lot more security to protect her. No fucking guy will be stepping near her.”
Simone chuckled as I licked my lips, watching the way her throat elongated as she laughed at my words.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” She asked me, her hand reaching over the top of mine. “It may make things tricky, like when you want to see other people or when issues arise with the band.”
“Let’s set the record straight, Simone,” I growled out loud as she instantly squeaked out, her pupils dilating at the sound. “I love you, and our child, and no other fucker will be coming near either of us again. You’re mine.”
“Fuck!” Simone gasped out the pink tinge traveling down to the curve of her bust as I bit down on my lip. “Brody, I just don’t want you to regret anything?”
“I regret ever letting you go the first time. I won’t do it again.” I declared to her as a knock sounded on the door and her stomach rumbled making the two of us chuckle. “Better get you and our child fed.” I told her. “You two are the most important things that matter to me. Forever and always.”
“You were once the echoes of my desire,” Simone whispered as I pressed a chaste kiss to her lips. “But now I don’t have to dream any longer as you are my forever and always.”
The End