Chapter 6 #2
Talia – Yeah. Good. And yeah, for my brother.
Talia – I think you may be exactly what he needs.
Not me over here thinking that maybe he was exactly what I needed.
I smiled as I put my phone on the island, then changed into a t-shirt and leggings and headed over to Bronson’s house.
The moment I saw his house, a big monstrosity of a thing, I had to smile; he’d done it.
He always talked about one day having a house that would make his mother, who had forgotten about him, envious.
Then I punched in the code at the gate he had given me and waited as it opened.
I pulled my car up the driveway and then stopped in front of two French doors.
One of them opened, and there Bronson stood, smiling widely.
I opened my door and said, “It feels wrong pulling this beater into your pretty driveway.”
He threw his head back and laughed.
Damn, but I missed him.
I closed my door and then rounded the hood, while Bronson climbed down the steps and met me halfway.
I was in his arms, breathing him in, when I heard, “Umm, Dad?”
I pulled away and looked around him and felt my breath catch, “Oh my god.”
Bronson chuckled as he turned and looked at his son.
“You’re the spitting image of your father when he was younger,” I said.
He lifted his brows, “Really?”
I nodded, then I smiled, reached into my bag, and pulled out the one photo that I had of the two of us.
We had been at a neighbor’s house one day, and she had captured photos of all the kids.
I smiled down at it and heard Bronson say, “That was a good day.”
I winked at him, then I showed Cole.
He took it and gasped, “Feels like I’m looking in a mirror.”
Then a young girl came out too, “Umm, hi.”
I smiled at her, “Hi, oh my stars.”
She blushed.
Bronson chuckled, “Come on. Pizza just got here.”
We were sitting around his dining room table, trading stories with his kids.
“Wait? He really did that?” Madalyn asked.
Bronson groaned.
I giggled, “He did. There I was, crying about a skinned-up knee, and he comes running outside with a maxi pad, opens it, and slaps it on my knee. Then he takes some black electrical tape and tapes my knee up.”
They both burst out laughing.
Bronson clucked his tongue, “How about the time you thought loaves of bread were what babies were made of?”
I growled playfully at him.
Cole snickered.
“Give me a break, I was five. You can only hear that she has a bun in the oven so many times.”
I found out that Cole was playing football, and Madalyn was cheering.
And I made a personal mission to slap their mother whenever I met her.
Once I hugged Cole and Madalyn and promised to get together with them soon, I kissed Bronson on the cheek, “Missed you, big bro.”
He winked, “Missed you too, wonder girl.”
***
Rolling over, I slapped my alarm clock, and then checked my phone, and when I saw the name there, I smiled.
Soldier Boy – Made it.
Me – Anything I should be frightened of?
Soldier Boy – Fucking hell lol. No.
Soldier Boy – Don’t ever leave a tootsie roll out in the burning sun.
Me – Why is that?
Soldier Boy – You won’t ever be able to eat them again.
Soldier Boy – Looks like a dog turd.
Me – I’m not awake enough to fully process that.
Soldier Boy – There’s never a time to process that.
I snorted.
Then I got out of bed, got ready for the day, packed a lunch, and headed to work.
I was in between clients when my phone vibrated.
Should Have Run Text Thread
Laurie added Cassie.
Laurie – Umm, hi. So, you don’t know me. But I am married to Kenton.
Me – Umm. Hi. I don’t know who that is.
Laurie – Men. I swear. Kenton’s handle is King.
Me – Umm. I really have no clue who you're talking about.
Laurie – Are you not in a relationship with Ghost, aka, Alec?
Me – Ummm... I wasn’t aware that I was. We are both interested in each other.
Laurie – Shit.
Laurie – I just stuck my foot in my mouth.
Laurie – I am so sorry.
Laurie – You’re the first woman any of the men that Kenton knows has mentioned and meant it.
Laurie – Kenton is a Seal. Ghost, err, Alec works with him on occasion.
I shot a text to Alec.
Me – So... a woman texted me. Her name is Laurie.
Me – Said Kenton, aka King, told her you and I are in a relationship.
Me – And she told me he was a Seal.
Soldier Boy – Laurie is good people. Promise. She asked me if it was okay if she messaged you. Apparently, King has been running his mouth like he always does.
Soldier Boy – Kind of gets lonely for women who are with Seals.
Me – And you're not a Seal.
Soldier Boy – Give me time. Okay?
Me – I can do that.
Soldier Boy – Thank you.
Then I went back to the group chat with Laurie.
Laurie – I am so sorry.
Me – It’s fine. I just messaged Alec about it.
Me – Hi. My name is Cassie, I am 24 years old, and I met Alec a little over a week ago.
Laurie – They move fast. Damn.
Laurie – I was married and pregnant to Kenton within six months of meeting him.
Me – When you know, you know.
Laurie – Hi. My name is Laurie, I am 29 years old, and a mom to two babies.
Then a text from Alec came through.
Soldier Boy – She tell you, my handle?
Me – She did.
Soldier Boy – That’s one of those things that can never be repeated. Okay?
I got it. I did.
Me – Okay. I’ll keep it safe.
Soldier Boy – And for the record, I aim to make that my reality.
Me – What?
Soldier Boy – You’re my end game.
Me – We just met.
Soldier Boy – Fate.
I fell asleep smiling that night.
Day 4
Soldier Boy – Favorite movie?
Me – Waterboy.
Soldier Boy – No shit?
Me – No shit.
Me – Yours?
Soldier Boy – The Green Mile.
Me – Like the drink, only not spelt the same.
Soldier Boy – *wink emoji* Gotta get some sleep.
Me – Night, Alec.
Day 8
Me – Summer or Winter?
Soldier Boy – Winter
Me – Ocean or Mountain?
Soldier Boy – Both.
Soldier Boy – You?
Me – Both.
Soldier Boy – Gotta go out on a mission.
Me – Stay frosty.
Soldier Boy – LOL.
Day 12
Me – Watched a movie last night. Coda.
Me – Here’s a joke.
Me – Dad is deaf. Dad farts. Daughter says eww. Dad says, ‘That’s why farts stink. So deaf people can enjoy them too.’
Day 15
Me – Not sure where you are but stay hydrated.
Day 18
Me – I got asked out today.
Me – I was invited to girls’ night.
Me – Guess who shut him down before I could... Talia.
Day 26
Me – Since no one knows, and now I do. Do you want me to send care packages?
Day 27
Soldier Boy – We gotta watch that movie when I get back.
Soldier Boy – At this point, I’m tipping the scales.
Soldier Boy – Is it possible to be overhydrated?
Soldier Boy – Owe my sister a new handbag.
Soldier Boy – Would be nice. But often I’m in undisclosed locations.
Me – Hey, you.
Soldier Boy – Hey, back.
Soldier Boy – What are you wearing?
Me – *in a beanie, scarf, sweater, sitting on Jacob’s red porch swing*
Soldier Boy – How is he?
Me – I went into his house a few days ago. He wanted to show me how he decorated it for Elaine.
Soldier Boy – Still can’t believe it.
Me – I know.
It was a few days later, and Harlee had closed for Halloween when suddenly, there was a knock on my door.
Who the hell would be here in this mess?
I raced to it and saw Alec standing there.
He winked as he offered me his hand, “Are you crazy?”
He shook his head, “Told me you always wanted to dance in the rain. How bout it?”
I looked at him, then I giggled.
Then I smiled as I placed my hand in his, as he led me to the parking lot.
And then, we danced in the rain.
With music playing from his speakers in his truck.
Against his chest, I whispered, “Welcome home.”
He pressed a kiss on the top of my head, “Good to be home.”
And that was when I noticed it...
He still had on his BTUs. (Thank you, Google)
He had come straight here.
To me.
Oh. My. Stars.
***
They were unloading my washer and dryer, no more laundry mat, when one of them had just asked me if I wanted to get dinner later and be shown around the town.
When I heard, “No. She fucking doesn’t. She already has plans.”
Then I looked at Alec and realized he must have looked as bad as I felt.
I lifted a brow at him, “You too?”
He nodded, then he plopped down on my couch.
After they were done, I closed the door and plopped down on the couch beside him.
“My mom is bringing over soup, hope that’s okay?” he asked.
I smiled tiredly, “That’s fine.”
Then I whispered, “It was worth it.”
He twisted his neck, resting his head on the back of my couch, then he tagged my hand and laced our fingers together, “Yeah, it was.”
***
“Why in the world would the two of you be out in that mess?
“Cassie never danced in the rain. Wanted to make that happen for her.” Alec said as he took a bite of his soup
I watched as Misty’s face changed.
It went from hard to soft.
Then she smiled, “Well, alright then.”
It would seem that if you were making a woman happy, that it was totally okay.
Misty Griggs didn’t know it, but she just took over a place in my heart I had known needed something.
And the man at my side, he was slowly fixing the broken parts.