Chapter 17
Boyfriend?When did Brett become my boyfriend, and wasn’t this something we should have discussed first? While I was wildly flattered that a man like Brett wanted the world to suddenly know me as his, I was completely befuddled. While I stood there like a dumb statue with Stella, who ogled Brett in his form-fitted suit, I stared at him, beaming at his announcement. Was I ready for this commitment? Could I trust him with my heart? We didn’t know each other, and I thought that was the point of this getaway. The only thought spinning through my mind was how carefree and easy Brett was. He was so refreshing, and if this was who he was with just a few layers to discover, then what was the harm of being exclusive and slapping these labels on each other prematurely?
Brett reached out his hand, gently threading his fingers through mine, pulling me back from the whirlwind of my thoughts. His touch was warm and reassuring, grounding me in the present moment.
“How did the two of you meet?” Stella asked, drinking in every inch of Brett, and a part of me twitched, wanting to warn her to back off. He was mine.
“We met at the supermarket,” Brett chimed in. “At the butcher counter.”
“Really? That’s so cute.” Stella’s eyes darted between us, waiting for more details. I was so new to this and just stood there like a deer caught in the middle of the road.
“Well, I actually helped Julia pick burgers out. I work there.” Brett squeezed my hand.
“You work at a supermarket?” Doubt crept into Stella’s voice, triggering me out of my haze.
“Yes, but he and his family own a chain of supermarkets,” I corrected. The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them. Brett popped his shoulders, unaffected by Stella’s intrigue.
Stella”s gaze softened, though a trace of skepticism still lingered. ”Well, I suppose anyone can find companionship in the unlikeliest of places,” she remarked, forcing a smile that didn”t quite reach her eyes.
We wrapped up the shallow conversation before making a final round of hellos and goodbyes to colleagues. This time, Brett and I introduced ourselves as a full-blown couple. By the sixth introduction, the label rolled off my tongue. I had one final glass of wine before telling Brett it was time to leave. He probably thought nothing but sweet luck awaited him, but I had other plans. We needed to talk.
We walked hand in hand back to our room. The weight of the conversation I needed to have with Brett grew heavier with each step. The truth was, I still had reservations about diving headfirst into a relationship with him. The age difference between us was becoming more apparent by the minute, and my mind was plagued with doubts and insecurities.
When we entered the dimly lit room, I noticed how effortlessly Brett sauntered through the space, confidence oozing from every pore. I envied his carefree nature and ability to embrace the moment without overthinking. But for me, thinking was an integral part of who I was, a protective mechanism forged through years of heartache and disappointment.
Brett tossed his jacket off, landing on one of the chairs near the kitchenette, leaning into the mini bar fridge, and grabbing two water bottles. He opened my bottle and poured a full glass of chilled water for me, handing it to me. The slightest gesture triggered an infectious grin on his face, as if he was so proud of himself for serving me.
I took a sip of the cool liquid, savoring its refreshing taste as I gathered my thoughts. Brett”s playful demeanor, charming smile, and willingness to go the extra mile for me were all endearing. But I couldn”t get lost in the whirlwind of passion we had been swept into.
Setting the glass down on the counter, I cleared my throat. ”Brett, we need to talk.” My voice stood firm but tinged with vulnerability.
He turned toward me, his face curious yet attentive. ”Sure, what’s up?” he asked, the sincerity in his tone soothing my nerves. He peeled off his shirt, throwing it onto the bed, and the sight of those perfect abs and smooth muscle running abound was enough to morph my mind into mush.
“Look, there’s no denying the chemistry between us, and we’ve had a good amount of fun so far, right? But I’m just confused when you decided to make us official.” I frowned, fiddling with my fingers. “I mean, it’s kind of a big deal. I would have liked to be asked first before being blindsided.”
Brett’s steely gaze burned into my skin, sending heat to every pore in my body. “Do you not want to be in a relationship with me?”
I swallowed hard, his piercing stare paralyzing me. ”It”s not that I don”t want to be in a relationship with you,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. ”It”s just...I have trust issues from my past. And the fact that we”re at different points in our lives, the age difference...it all adds to my uncertainty.” I paused, trying to gather my thoughts. ”I don”t want us to get hurt.”
Brett”s expression dropped, and he stepped closer, closing the distance between us. His hand reached out, cupping my cheek gently. ”Julia.” The warmth of his touch seeped into my skin. “I don’t want you to feel pressured into something you don’t want to be in. But just know, this is what I want. You.”
“But why? You barely know me. I barely know you. How can you know what you want so soon?” I caressed his cheek. Something about him being this close made it irresistible not to touch him.
“When I know, I know. Look, what I’m feeling with you is new, I’m not going to lie. I don’t think I’m being impulsive even though things might be moving quickly, but I also know I don’t want to let a good thing slip by.” He swallowed, shifting in his step. “I want to give us a chance as long as you’re on board.”
I gazed into Brett”s eyes, searching for any sign of uncertainty or doubt. But all I found was unwavering determination and a genuine desire to make this work. His vulnerability mirrored my own, and in that moment, I knew that taking a chance on him was worth the risk. “I want to. But what if we want different things in the long run? Have you thought of that?”
Brett’s shoulders slumped, and his chin dropped an inch, but his orbs still held my attention. “You mean kids and all that? Marriage?”
I swallowed, bracing myself. “Yes. All of that. What if we want different things at the end of the day? Sometimes, people aren’t enough to cover up the voids.”
“Julia.” Brett’s deep timbre rattled my bones. “Let’s give each other a fair shot before jumping to conclusions. We can be a couple and see where things go before taking on the world. What do you say?” To add emphasis to his words, Brett took my hands and pressed them against his warm, hard chest.
“So, tell me.” The corner of my mouth lifted. “What are the perks of being your girlfriend.”
“Oh. Lots and lots of perks.” He kissed the back of my hands, sending shivers down my spine. “You get to give me unlimited blow jobs.”
I threw my head back and laughed as a slight blush crept across my face. “I think that benefits you more than me.”
“With the right person, you’d be surprised.”
My eyes raked down Brett’s perfect physique, and maybe he was right. Getting the chance to worship his hard body was a privilege. The thought of having his cock in my mouth and his hands entangled in my hair as his pleasure hinged on my movements sent an instant flood of warm arousal to my sex. Raking my nails down his torso, I leaned into his mouth, inches from his lips. “Tell me another perk.”
Brett cleared his throat as my warm breath coated his chin. “Well, let’s say your schedule is ever running tight, and you need my help to ease the pressure. I’d just be a phone call away.”
Good answer. As a reward, I laid featherlight kisses on Brett’s neck, reveling in how his breath hitched by my touch. “Okay, I like that.”
“You see? And that’s just the beginning.” Brett ran a hand through my hair, tugging until my neck jerked. “This will benefit both of us immensely.” He dipped his head until our lips met. I breathed in his sweet scent, the one I noticed the day we met, and it was like everything leading up to now was meant to be.
Brett”s hands roamed my body, exploring every curve and dip, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. I moaned into his mouth, my desire for him growing with each passing second. As our tongues danced and our bodies pressed closer, the worries and doubts faded. At this moment, it was just Brett and me, consumed by passion and longing. We stumbled backward, our legs giving way as we fell onto the bed, still locked in a heated embrace. When his skilled hand slipped under my dress, about to push my panties aside, I pulled my mouth away, gasping. “Hold on. Just one more thing.” I held a shaky finger up.
“You really need to work on your timing.” Brett smirked, edging his finger closer to my dripping entrance, teasing me to madness.
I giggled into his neck. “I’ll try, I promise.”
Brett growled as I trailed my tongue along his jaw. “Okay, so what’s the thing.”
“If this is going to work, you have to promise me that you won’t go ahead and make a big decision without me. I don’t like surprises when they affect my personal life. Because it’s not just me.” I locked eyes with Brett, hoping he’d understand.
Brett”s gaze narrowed, his fingers brushing against my slick folds. “Julia, I promise.”
Relief washed over me as I nodded. Trusting someone was fragile for me, but with Brett, I felt like I could start rebuilding those broken walls. And with this renewed promise and step into our future, I let Brett unleash the first official perk of being my boyfriend. He made love to me that night.
We had just landed in a rainy New York around dinner time. The time in Miami flew by. The rest of my time with Brett, or my boyfriend, passed without a hitch. It was almost too easy. As we stepped out of the airport, the rain pounded the pavement. The gloomy weather matched my mood as I realized our little getaway was officially over. Brett reached for my hand, intertwining our fingers as if trying to hold on to the last remnants of our trip. I squeezed his hand, dragging us out of the airport.
”It”s pouring,” I muttered, looking up at the dark sky.
Brett chuckled, his infectious laughter brightening the dreary atmosphere. ”Looks like New York is giving us a grand welcome back.”
I smiled at his constant optimism. Brett was Mr. Light and was quickly becoming my light. He always had a way of finding joy in even the most mundane situations. It was one of the things that drew me to him in the first place. We walked out of the garage into the crowded parking lot. Brett opened the umbrella and shielded us both from the rain. The sound of raindrops hitting the umbrella formed a soothing rhythm as we walked side by side, the warmth of his body shielding my skin from the cold.
Once inside the car, Brett turned on the engine and glanced at me with a mischievous grin. ”You know what they say about rainy days, right?”
I raised an eyebrow, knowing exactly where this was headed.
”They”re perfect for staying in bed all day.” He squeezed my knee, making my thighs clench.
“Ah, you’re right. But that’s until you have a kid, and I have two.” I bopped Brett on the nose, causing an adorable scrunch to overtake his face.
Brett”s grin morphed into a pout and released a sigh. “Fine. I’ll give you a rain check. Get it?” He pointed to the sky with the goofiest smile on his face. This guy made everything in me melt, and I pulled his face in for our last kiss before we drove away from the airport and officially returned to reality.
We arrived at my house in comfortable silence, leaving the storm behind us. When we pulled up to the driveway, the rain had almost stopped, but something was wrong with the picture I saw coming from my home. There was a large navy van with three burly men who drank too much beer, evidenced by their bellies, and a ton of sheetrock on the front lawn. One of the men scratched his ass and then went into the house, only to come back out a minute later with more abandoned sheet rock flung over his shoulder. He tossed my broken walls onto the grass before heading back in.
I jumped out of the car, leaving Brett behind the steering wheel. Running into the house and out of breath, I searched for what the fuck was happening. There was banging. A lot of banging. Hammers. Coughs from the dust dancing in the light. When I spied the basement door ajar, I knew what was happening. There was a flood.
“Oh my God, Julia. You’re home,” said Amelia from behind me.
I spun around, seeing my friend with her hair wrapped in a white towel, wearing jeans and a white Henley shirt. “Amelia. What the hell is going on?”
“Well, there was a flood.” She crossed her arms over her pert chest, unshaken by the destruction of my basement.
“Is it bad?” My eyes bulged.
Amelia bit her bottom lip, looping her arm through mine, and led me into the basement. Or, what used to be my basement because it was now torn down to its studs. I gasped, clutching the banister, and surveyed the wreckage. The once cozy and familiar room had been reduced to a chaotic mess of exposed pipes, shattered drywall, and a layer of standing water covering the concrete floor. The smell of dampness and mildew hung heavy in the air, mingling with the dust kicked up by the demolition work. It was a sight that made my heart sink.
Amelia cleared her throat, pulling me from my daze. ”So... about that flood,” she began hesitantly, avoiding eye contact.
I spun around, ready to faint. “What happened?”
“I’d love to know, too. A burst pipe. It happened this morning. Don’t worry. I called your homeowner’s insurance. The girls showed me where you kept that information.”
“Just great.” I slapped my forehead, already picturing the insurance premium skyrocketing.
“Jules, is everything okay?” Brett’s voice echoed in the near distance.
I saw Brett standing atop the basement stairs, fighting a wince. It took a second for him to straighten, and he snapped his fingers with that fantastic smile. “Hey, at least you’re going to get a new basement. Insurance will cover it.”
“Oh, I’m loving the positivity here,” said Amelia, popping her eyebrows and digging Brett’s vibe.
“I liked the old basement.” I rolled my eyes and shifted my gaze just in time to see Zoe and Sara standing behind a clueless Brett. “Hey, girls.” I outstretched my arms, waiting for a hug. “I’m home.”
Sara scooted around Brett, running to me through the puddles and throwing her arms around me. “Hey, Mom! How was Florida?” Sara’s eyes darted between me and Brett.
Zoe remained beside Brett, arms crossed with a half scowl. Nothing out of the ordinary. “So, are you guys like dating, dating now?”
Brett’s eyes shifted to me, letting me handle the answer.
“Girls, Brett and I are seeing each other. We became official during the trip. And he can cook.” I stared at Zoe, hoping for any reaction.
“Can you barbecue for us? We barely get to have that,” said Sara, smiling at my boyfriend.
“I sure can, kiddo. Burgers?” Brett asked, winking at me as I blushed.
“Oh God, gag me,” added Zoe before turning around and leaving us in the basement.
Yup. I was definitely home.