10. Chapter Nine #2
A week ago, I would’ve sworn I knew the answer. Now? I wasn’t so sure.
Once I could breathe at a normal pace again—and had triple-checked my makeup—I walked back into the waiting room.
Brady rose like the gentleman he’d always been. He smiled at me—quiet, warm—and I couldn’t help but smile back as I sat next to him.
Without hesitation, he took my hand. I knew I shouldn’t allow it. Knew it sent the wrong message. Knew he wanted me back—and that I wanted that, too. But I also knew it could never work.
Still, I was selfish today. I needed comfort. I needed him.
“Brady, thank you.”
“For what?”
“For letting me stain your shirt.”
“Anytime, Ellie.”
We didn’t speak for a while.
I stared at the clock. It may as well have been painted on the wall—it wasn’t moving. I tried flipping through a magazine, scrolling through my inbox. Nothing stuck. I was sick with worry.
“Do you want me to get you something to eat?” Brady asked.
“I couldn’t eat right now, but thank you. Please, if you’re hungry, go. I hate that you’re wasting your day here.”
He looked at me as if I were absurd.
“Are you kidding me? This is the best day I’ve had in a long time.”
“You’re such a liar, Brady Jackson.”
He released my hand, ran his fingers gently through my hair, then stroked my cheek. “I’m sorry your aunt isn’t well. But Ellie—spending the day with you, even in a hospital, is more than I could ask for.”
I didn’t know how to respond.
I knew what I wanted to say. That I loved him. That I wanted to spend every day with him. But I couldn’t say it. Because he was him. And I was me.
“Brady . . . ”
“Ellie . . . ”
“Can I ask you a question?” The words slipped out before I could shape them properly.
He raised an eyebrow, but there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes. “You can ask me anything, Ellie.”
That kindness? It made everything harder.
“Benjamin mentioned last night that my aunt was going to pull her accounts from the bank,” I said carefully. “Do you know what made her change her mind? And why are your names suddenly on her Christmas list?”
Brady grinned. “That’s two questions.”
“I have a feeling they’re related.”
“You always were a smart girl.”
I almost replied, Not smart enough to follow the rules a long time ago, but I let that one go.
“So . . . ” I prompted.
His eyes gleamed as he reached for my hand again. He really needed to quit doing that.
But I was still in selfish mode—so I let him keep it.
“Well,” he began, “not long after I busted my leg, things were looking bleak at the bank. Your aunt pulling her accounts would have been the final nail. Benjamin consulted with our dad—who, surprise, surprise, was hell-bent against negotiating with your aunt. Even if it meant losing the bank. Benjamin discussed it with me as well, even though I was still in school.”
He paused, locking eyes with me—those beautiful blue eyes that made me forget logic.
“Actually,” he continued, “Benjamin and I were talking a lot about our two families.”
“Yes, Benjamin kind of mentioned that—Kendra had to step in before we had words.”
Brady chuckled. “I’d have loved to see that.”
“Well, I’m glad it didn’t come to that. I already embarrassed myself plenty last night.”
His brows knit. “What are you talking about? Benjamin and Kendra said they loved having you over.”
I gave him a half-hearted smile. There was no way I was telling him I’d cried because he still lived inside my heart.
He took the cue to continue.
“After some long conversations—and with Kendra’s nudge—Benjamin decided to approach your aunt directly.”
“What did your daddy think of that?”
Brady shrugged. “We figured it was better to ask forgiveness than permission. We knew it was a long shot, but Benjamin had the genius idea of inviting her to dinner. He brought Kendra along. Luckily for us, they hit it off.”
“Really?”
“Well, it still took some serious convincing. But the door cracked open. Okay . . . maybe more like a window.” He grinned.
“Your aunt’s a sharp businesswoman. And she had strong feelings about my family. Especially when it came to you.” He paused. “My name came up a lot—though she mostly referred to me as ‘the Jackson boy.’”
I couldn’t help it. I laughed.
Brady smiled. “She still calls me that.”
I stopped laughing. “Do you talk to her?”
“Not until recently. She was against me taking the job at the bank, but the board overrode her.”
“Wait—my aunt’s on your board?”
“She is. That was part of the deal—keeping her money with us. I can’t believe you didn’t know any of this.”
I nervously twirled my hair. “Yeah, well . . . I wanted to forget Kaysville ever existed.”
Brady reached up and gently pulled my hand from my hair. “And now what do you think?”
“I think—”
I think I’m confused.
His gaze was intense—alive with something I didn’t dare name. He was killing me.
“I think I want you to finish your story.”
I saw the disappointment flicker in his eyes, and that gutted me. Because I wanted him, too. But we didn’t work. We couldn’t.
“Okay, Ellie. I’ve been at the bank for four years, and your aunt wouldn’t even acknowledge me for most of them. During board meetings, she’d only communicate through Benjamin. If she needed something and Benjamin wasn’t around, she’d come back later—refused to deal with me.”
“But a couple of months ago, she walked straight into my office and shut the door. I’ll admit… she kind of scared me.”
I smiled. That sounded like her.
“What did she want?”
“She wanted to talk about you.”
“With you ?”
Brady chuckled. “Yeah, I was surprised, too.”
“What did she say?”
“She said she’d come across some information about us—didn’t say what—and she wanted the entire story.”
“What does that mean? The entire story ?”
“She meant exactly that. From the first time I noticed you. To the first time I liked you.”
I was about to ask why, but Brady lifted his hand and rested his palm against my cheek. His thumb traced a gentle line.
“To the moment I fell in love with you.”
I couldn’t look away. Those baby blues locked me in.
He leaned closer. My breath caught. I closed my eyes. I didn’t want to stop him. That was what scared me most.
“Ms. Eaton?” a nurse called.
Brady groaned just softly enough that only I could hear.
And all I could think was , Phew. Saved by the bell.