Chapter 22
This was crazy.Why did I feel so nervous meeting Brett’s cousin, Bridgette? They would be here any minute, so I had to pull it together. He had spoken highly about her; they were close, and I knew somewhat of her backstory. She didn’t seem intimidating on paper, but still. Whenever I met new people, my anxiety always doubled.
As I sat in the coffee shop, nervously stirring my latte, I couldn”t help but wonder what Brett”s intentions were. Was this some kind of test? What if Bridgette and I didn’t mesh? We were two women who shared divorced pasts. That didn’t mean we’d automatically have a lot in common, but I got the feeling from Brett that he wanted us to click.
Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed when Bridgette sauntered up to the table, her bright smile lighting up her face. Her long, dark, wavy hair cascaded down her shoulders, popping against a crisp white blouse and olive skin. A pair of black skinny jeans and onyx platformed boots finished her ensemble. She exuded an air of confidence, effortlessly drawing the attention of everyone around her.
”Julia, right?” Bridgette asked with a friendly grin as she sat across from me.
”Yes,” I replied softly, feeling self-conscious under her gaze. ”Nice to meet you, Bridgette.”
She chuckled lightly. ”No need to be so formal. Just call me Bridge.” The casualness of her words put me at ease, reminding me of Brett’s demeanor. They really were related.
I smiled back, relieved by her friendly and relaxed attitude. Maybe this coffee outing wouldn”t be as awkward as I initially feared. She seemed approachable, someone I could potentially connect with despite the unknown. And this meant a lot to Brett. It needed to go well. She ordered an iced tea and offered me a refill of my beverage. Two minutes later, with fresh drinks on the table, it was time to chat. “Is Brett coming?”
“Yeah, he’s just running a little late. My aunt asked him to do a last-minute delivery run for a catering order for a big client. I don’t know. He was rambling on the phone.” She shrugged her perfectly square shoulders. “You know what’s funny?” Bridgette began. “I almost feel responsible for how you became a couple.” She flashed a dazzling smile, showing off every white tooth, making me want to hear more.
“Is that so? Why?” I sipped my drink, half grinning.
“I told Brett to go see a movie alone, and here we are today.” She gestured grandly into the air. “He found you.”
I laughed, throwing my head back. “I never knew that. Well, it was a good suggestion.”
The door chimed open, pulling our attention toward the entrance where Brett stepped in, looking breathless but smiling.
”Hey ladies,” he greeted us as he removed his jacket and hung it over the back of the chair beside me.
“Finally,” Bridgette teased as she raised her hand for a playful high-five with her cousin. He rolled his eyes but couldn”t hide the affectionate smile curving his lips.
“How are my two favorite girls doing?” Brett sat, kissing my head and throwing Bridgette a wink.
“Awe, the head kiss,” Bridgette swooned. “That means he really likes you.” But she wasn’t kidding.
“Maybe he does.” I popped my shoulders and cast a lazy smile at Brett.
“I more than like you,” he mumbled.
I fought a rush of heat to my cheeks and shifted. The smallest gesture from Brett sent a flood of butterflies to my stomach lately, and I knew I had found someone special. Brett grinned at me, a warm, intimate grin I had loved. One that meant more than any words he could say.
“Oh my goodness, seriously, what have you done to my cousin?” Bridgette asked me, the corner of her mouth lifting. “I love this new Brett. I never want to see the old one again.”
“And what’s the old version?” I glanced at Brett.
“Me without you.” Brett made a heart over his chest, drowning in cheesiness.
“I can’t take this.” Bridge fanned her eyes. “But I totally can at the same time.” She finished the rest of her tea, sighing. “Let’s get out of here.”
“We just got here,” Brett motioned around the shop.
“Yeah, I’m with Bridgette,” I added, surprising myself with my boldness. “Let’s go somewhere and get real drinks.”
“I like this girl. That’s exactly what I was thinking.” Bridgette winked, already pushing away from the table. “Well, who’s coming?”
“Cheers to two strong women,” I said, holding up my second glass of white wine since we arrived at this swanky, gold-studded hotel bar Bridge chose. I soon learned after we entered this decadent, ritzy establishment that Bridge was the interior designer of the place. And, of course, she was. It was as fabulous as she. Also, Brett was totally right. I was falling in love with his cousin, and to think about her ex-husband, who broke her heart and betrayed her, sent my mind reeling and my jaw clenching. There really were terrible people out there who hurt the good ones.
“Cheers, babe.” Bridgette clinked her Vodka soda with a twist of fresh lime juice with mine, and we drank.
“Am I part of this toast?” Brett asked, his dark ale still hanging in the air.
”Of course you are,” I responded, clinking my glass with his and kissing his warm, stubbled cheek.
While sipping our drinks, the bar”s atmosphere seemed to change around us. The dim lighting cast a golden glow over the marble countertops, creating an intimate ambiance that mirrored Bridgette”s newfound connection with me. We drank again, the hushed sounds of the bar wrapping around us like a comforting blanket. The room was dimly lit by an ornate chandelier that hung from the ceiling, its delicate crystals twinkling in the soft light. Bridgette”s decor reflected her bold, sophisticated, and unapologetically luxurious personality.
“I still can’t get over what you went through, Bridge.” My hand fell onto her exposed sun-kissed forearm sprinkled with white-gold bangles. “How did you come back from that?”
“Well, I’m still a work in progress.” She motioned to her effortless look and pushed a rogue lock of hair behind her multi-pierced ear. “I mean, I haven’t really dated since it happened.”
“I keep telling her she should just do it. It doesn’t have to be anything serious. All it takes is one person,” said Brett, holding a steady finger.
Bridgette squinted into the light, thinking as she ran her bottom lip along the rim of her glass. “I guess sometimes I miss the companionship.”
”That”s natural, Bridge,” I said softly, reaching over to give her hand a comforting squeeze. ”But take your time. There”s no rush.” I looked at Brett, a flicker of doubt crossing my eyes. Was he the one? Was it too soon?
”Oh, I don”t know, Jules,” Bridgette drawled, swirling her drink with a thoughtful expression. ”I think you and Brett are proof that love can happen when you least expect it. Maybe that”s what I need, too.”
”See?” Brett pointed at Bridgette with a triumphant grin. ”She gets it.”
”No,” Bridgette corrected him. ”You”ve been saying I should just get out there and date. Julia says I should choose wisely, not just go after anyone.” She turned to look at me again with a renewed expression of determination. ”I think I will take your advice to heart.”
”That”s my girl,” Brett said softly, placing his arm around me.
I rolled my eyes at him but couldn”t help the warmth that spread through me at his words, his faith in us—in me. It felt good to be seen, appreciated, and understood so completely. This was too good to be true for me on a personal level. All throughout my life, I never really had a true, raw love affair, not before or during my marriage. And now I was living in the after, which was all so unexpected. Brett, this new way of life, devotion, and love he showered upon me since day one. It was great but unsettling because the nagging thought of what if it didn’t last prodded the back of my mind.
Just then, Bridge’s phone erupted, buzzing across the table. She swiped to accept and held up a finger while sidling away from our table.
“Oh, my God. I love Bridgette.” I grabbed Brett’s forearm as he couldn’t stop the smile spreading across his face.
“I told you. She’s a gem. No one cannot love Bridgette.”
“Did you hear how I’m calling her Bridge, and she’s calling me Jules?” I gushed.
“Like the two of you have known each other forever.” Brett laughed at my girlish giddiness.
”Exactly!” I exclaimed, my heart fluttering with a peculiar happiness. “This might sound weird, but meeting genuinely good people feels refreshing, especially in this part of my life. I feel like I’m reinventing myself. And it’s because of you.” My eyes scanned Brett’s bottomless glowing orbs when the sensation of saying something hit me. “I love you.”
His eyes widened, the brown depths glowing in the dim light as he processed my confession. Then, slowly, a bright smile spread across his face, creasing his eyes at the corners.
”I love you too, Julia,” he said, his voice a low rumble that sent pleasant shivers down my spine. His warm hand reached over to cup my cheek, pulling me closer to him until our lips were mere inches apart. “And might I add, finally?”
I laughed, running my nails along his cheek. “Sorry about that.”
“Nah. You’re worth the wait.”
Just as we were about to close the distance between us, Bridgette returned to our table. Her phone was back in her purse, and she seemed slightly flustered.
“Sorry, sorry,” she said with a slight grimace. “Designing emergency.”
I chuckled and leaned back into my seat, the warm bubble between Brett and me popping momentarily. ”Everything okay?” I asked.
She nodded as she took her seat once more. ”Just a client who can”t decide between gold or silver fixtures for their bathroom.”
”Sounds pretty dire,” Brett joked as he picked up his ale again, his hand brushing against mine as he did so, sending a jolt of electricity down my spine. “While you were gone, I was about to bring up something big, but we got distracted.” Brett shot a wink at me, and I blushed. “The annual restaurant and wholesale food gala is coming up. Everyone in my industry goes, it’s a fun night. I’d like for you to be my date.”
“Me?” I squeaked.
“Yes, you.” Brett bore his eyes into mine, realizing I had no choice, and he turned to Bridgette. “Will you come too?”
Bridge glared at Brett, and I didn’t understand why. “Oh, I know why you want me there.”
“Am I missing something?” I asked them both, fighting a lump in my throat.
“Brett wants to protect you from Mommy Dearest as much as possible,” Bridge said, wincing.
“What Bridgette is trying to say is that my parents are going to be at this event, and I think it’ll be a great opportunity for you to officially meet them.”
“But I’ve already met your mother. So, it’ll really be me just meeting your father.” My eyes darted between Brett and Bridgette because while my words tried to convince me that meeting the parents was a routine course of events in any progressing relationship, their sour expressions suggested otherwise.
“You’ve seen my aunt, but you actually haven’t met her,” Bridgette added.
“Bridge,” Brett warned through gritted teeth. “What she’s trying to say is my mom acts a little different outside of Stelvio’s.”
“She’s been known to be a little bitchy,” Bridgette chimed in, leaning across the table.
“Bridgette!” Brett spat.
“It’s okay, Brett. I get it. This wouldn’t be the first time I met someone’s mother.”
“How many mothers have you met?” Brett raised an eyebrow.
“Very funny.” I glared.
“I’m not trying to be funny,” Brett said, pressing his forehead against mine before kissing my nose.
“Oh, stop. You guys are just too cute,” said Bridge, batting her eyelashes. “Don’t worry. I’ll be there, and everything will be fine.”
”And if it isn”t?” I asked, suddenly aware of the thrumming in my chest. The vulnerability of meeting Brett”s family registered within me.
Brett gave my hand a comforting squeeze, his thumb rubbing soothing circles over my knuckles. ”If it isn”t,” he said, ”we leave right away, and then we can go somewhere—just you and me.”
”I”ll have a backup plan ready,” Bridgette said, her eyes sparkling with an adventurous glint that reassured me.
“Seriously, it’s going to be great. I promise,” Brett said one final time, bringing the back of my hand to his lips.
Of course, it would be great. If Brett said that was how it would be, I had to believe him because he would never lie. And why start now?
My phone chime cut through the buzzing air, and my lungs deflated when I peered at the screen.
“Is everything okay, babe?” Brett asked, out of the loop.
“I’m not sure,” I answered, my eyes glued to my phone because if I knew better, it was never a good sign when my divorce attorney called.