Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Bray
The last three days have felt like a dream.
Everyone assumes we’re together, but we haven’t come out and said anything.
Most of our friends jetted off to other locations to continue their vacations, but Carly, Ava, and I are on our way back home.
Ava fell asleep somewhere over the ocean.
Carly took the middle seat so we could spend time together.
It wasn’t long after Ava’s eyes drifted closed that Carly put her head on my shoulder, and her breathing slowed. I look down and see her eyelids have drifted closed, too. I pull the blanket up over her and kiss her forehead.
I make a silent promise to try hard to get over all my issues with having a serious relationship. Lanie was right. I have some work to do on myself when we get back, if I’m going to be able to do this.
I pretend to read for the next hour, but instead I just keep looking at the same sentence over and over while thinking about the last week. I finally fall asleep when we have less than an hour left on our flight. I dream of a dark-haired beauty who stole my heart.
When I wake, the plane is starting to deboard.
I get Carly and Ava up, and we gather our things.
The airport is busy as we go through customs after grabbing our luggage.
Ava happily chats about her adventure the entire way back home.
When we reach the apartment building, I help Carly bring her bag upstairs.
Ava settles in front of the television, and I help Carly haul their luggage into the bedrooms. When we reach her bedroom, I turn and quietly close the door.
My lips descend on hers instantly as I cage her against the back of the door. We kiss like we haven’t seen each other in a week.
“I’ve got to get Ava some food,” she protests as her lips trail over mine.
“I know, but I can’t stop touching you. How are we going to do this?” I ask.
“Cautiously, after Ava goes to bed,” Carly says.
“When do we tell her?” I ask.
Carly pulls back and bites her lower lip as she contemplates her answer. “I…give me a few days to think about this, OK?”
I nod. “OK. What about the others?” I ask.
“I told Cam we kissed,” she admits.
I nod. “So everyone knows, then?”
She shrugs. “Maybe. I mean, Cam had a lot going on this week, and most of the building hightailed it out of there after the wedding. I think only Al, Margie, and Cornelia will be back this weekend. Jessa and Troy will get back in a few days, and all the others are taking till the end of the week.
I feel my shoulders relax. So, we have time with fewer complications. That’s a good thing.
“OK. Let’s worry about all of this another day. I’ll order us pizza while we get cleaned up and unpacked,” I announce.
She nods. “Thanks. That sounds perfect.”
I give her another quick kiss. “Don’t think I won’t sneak in here to spend time with you,” I protest.
“I’m counting on it,” she says as she strokes my cheek.
The way she’s looking at me makes me drunk with lust. I’ve never wanted a woman more than I want her.
I don’t know if it’s the three years of denying my feelings or if it’s some magic spell she casts on me when I’m in her presence, but either way, this woman has me wrapped around her little finger.
I make a call to a therapist I saw a while back. She gets me on her schedule for later in the week. And then I call Lanie, who practically jumps up and down at the news.
“OMG! I’m so happy for you two. I can’t wait to meet her in person someday. I feel like I already know her. Are you planning to bring her out here soon?” she asks.
“I…hadn’t thought about that yet,” I admit.
She pauses.
“What?” I ask.
“What’s wrong? You seem happy, but hesitant,” she says. Damn her, she’s really good at reading people.
“I…I just worry a lot, and sometimes that gets in my head, and I don’t want to ruin all of this because of fears I have,” I admit.
“Brayden, you need to let it go. I got sick. I got sick with something that could have killed me, and then I got better. Sometimes life is hard, but it doesn’t mean it’s the end. And even if it was, would you give up your time with them, knowing it was limited?” she asks.
I consider her question for a beat. “I…I wouldn’t want to,” I answer because that’s a loaded question. Part of me would want to spend all the time I had left with them, and part of me would want to run away in fear.
“Then you need to face your fears. Think about that,” she says as we say our goodbyes.
I finish my shift and head back home. I’m back on my normal night shift, and I’m not sure I love it. I miss spending time with Ava.
As I approach one-eleven Hearts Lane, I see Hutch sitting out on his bench in the park. I walk over and sit down next to him. He just got back with Jocelyn two days ago, and we haven’t spoken much yet.
“How was the rest of your trip?” I ask.
He beams. “Amazing. I can’t wait for happy hour this week. I’m sure everyone has great stories. How are things going here?” he asks and gives me a knowing look.
I shrug. Carly and I promised to keep things a little under wraps for now, but I also feel like I need to talk with someone.
“They are…progressing,” I say.
He huffs. “You’re sleeping together, aren’t you?” he asks. He’s not wrong. I’ve snuck over to Carly’s bed every night last week. We’ve become pros at the art of soundless sex. Although a few times, I had to clamp my hand over her mouth. I fight a smirk at the memory.
I shrug. “I’m…it’s complicated. I’m working through my shit,” I say noncommittally.
“Oh?” he says as he looks out at the stream.
“Yeah, I have issues I haven’t worked through. Fears that I need to face,” I explain.
“Well, I’m here if you need to talk about them,” he offers.
“Thanks.” I pause and then look back over at him. “Do you ever worry about losing Jocelyn? Like something bad could happen?”
Hutch grimaces. “No, man. I don’t want to think about that. I’d lose my fucking mind.” He looks me in the eye. “Is that what’s eating at you?”
I nod. “I…” Fuck it. “I had a friend growing up who had cancer. She got better and is fine now, but it really fucked with my head.”
“Oh.” He’s silent as he absorbs that information. “Well, maybe you should switch your mindset to looking at how she got better instead of what could have been another outcome that wasn’t.”
I consider that for a few minutes as we sit there in silence.
Eventually, he pats my leg and stands. “I gotta go.”
“Any luck with our mystery?” I ask as I motion to the camera on the tree.
He shakes his head. “Not yet, but I’m not giving up. We’ll figure it out eventually.”
“You see Cliff yet?” I ask.
He laughs. “Yeah, we hung out a bit last night. I think she’s pissed off at me for going away for two weeks.”
I chuckle as I stand, following him back to the apartment building. I need to think. But instead of solitude, my body craves something else. I look at my watch. I want Carly, but she’s probably getting Ava ready to take her to school with her. She’s getting her classroom set up this week.
I find myself knocking on her door, deciding sleep can happen this afternoon.
She throws open the door with wild eyes.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. “Mr. Pickles is in the toilet. We need to leave, and Troy is supposed to be down here to get him out.”
“Again?’ I ask.
She nods. “I think she didn’t want to go to school with me today.” She looks back toward Ava’s bedroom. “I can’t blame her. We have lots to do in my classroom.”
I pull Carly against me and kiss her forehead. “Why don’t I come with you? I’ll help so we can finish early.”
“Are you sure?” she asks. “You aren’t tired?”
I shake my head. “No. Not tired yet.”
“OK,” she says slowly as she pulls away. I cup her face in my hands and kiss her properly before pulling back and looking into her eyes.
“How is it that you can make everything better with just a kiss?” she whispers.
I smirk. “Magical powers,” I state as I waggle my eyebrows.
She giggles and rolls her eyes. “Ava! Unca Bray is here,” she yells.
Ava comes running out and leaps into my arms. “How about we all go help your mom for a few hours, and then I’ll take you ladies to lunch.”
“Don’t you have to go to bed?” she asks as she looks up at me.
“I do, but I can sleep this afternoon,” I explain.
“Yay!” she yells and jumps down from my grasp. “Oh, and Mr. Pickles may need help. Can you help him?”
I laugh. “Uh, nope. But Mr. Troy can.”
“I heard my name,” Troy says from behind me. I turn to see him with his toolbox.
“After you,” I state as he walks inside, and I follow. It’s never a dull moment at one-eleven Hearts Lane, that’s for sure.