Chapter 10
Lila
I parked my car outside the Whispering Falls Community Center the next day.
After Bronson had told me what the three of them did, I wanted to help in my own way.
Therefore, a few weeks ago I called and asked about volunteering.
And got the approval.
I shut my door, strode across the packed pavement, and then opened the door.
A man in a security uniform stood there, and I smiled at Kline.
He winked, “Hey there, sweetheart. How are you?”
I smiled.
Kline retired from the force a few years ago and started volunteering here.
“Doing good. How about you?” I asked.
He winked, “Can’t complain.”
Then he grabbed a visitor badge and handed it to me, and then he whispered, “Good luck. They can get rowdy.”
I snickered.
Then I walked through the entryway and took in the kids.
They ranged from six weeks old to eighteen.
But it was a little boy in the corner who caught my attention the moment I entered the room.
It was an hour later; I sat there as I watched the boy struggle with his math homework.
I was silently wondering why no one was helping him.
Then I saw his shirt and smiled. It had Bronson on the front.
Then, hesitantly, I walked over to him.
His little head came up, then he tensed.
I slowed my approach, and the moment I reached the table, I said, “Hi, I’m Lila. I love your shirt.”
He lifted a small dark brow.
He couldn’t be more than ten or so.
I nodded, “Really. I do. Would you believe me if I said I know him?”
Was it a sucky move to use Bronson this way... probably. But if it got my foot in the door so I could help him... I’d take it.
Slowly, he shook his head.
I grinned, “I can prove it. Can I sit down?”
He narrowed his eyes, then he nodded.
“Thank you,” I told him, then pulled out a chair and sat down.
I pulled out my phone, then I said, “Since you're wearing his shirt, you know what he looks like, right?”
He nodded.
I grinned.
I pulled up a photo I took a few weeks ago when he was in the gym sparing with Garrick.
I showed it to him.
His eyes widened, then they narrowed, “That doesn’t prove you know him.”
I grinned, then I said, “Okay.”
I pulled up a video on the internet, one that showcased his voice. “You know his voice. Right?”
He nodded.
I grinned, then went to my contacts, hit his name, and put it on speaker.
It rang three times, then I heard, “Hey, Lila. What’s up?”
The boy’s eyes were wide.
I snickered, “Hey, Bronson. Just met someone. He doesn’t believe that I know you.”
“That right?” he asked.
I winked at the boy.
“Yep. He doesn’t think I’m cool.” I said.
Bronson snickered, “You’re not.”
“You suck,” I teased, then I hung up on him.
Then I looked at the boy, “What do you think?”
He shrugged, “Okay.”
I winked at him, then looked at his homework, and saw where he was struggling.
I grabbed a piece of paper from the middle of the table and a pencil and worked out the problem in an easier way.
Then I showed it to him.
His eyes narrowed.
Then he looked at me, “Really?”
I nodded. I did the problem on my phone and showed it to him.
He looked at it, then at his paper, and said, “I’m Logan.”
I grinned. “Nice to meet you, Logan.”
Then I spent the next hour talking to him.
He had dark brown hair and the cutest green eyes I have ever seen.
I found out he loved football, and I talked to him about what position he liked and what team.
I had just climbed into my car when my phone rang.
Seeing it was Bronson, I hit the button, “Hello?”
“What’s his name?” Bronson asked.
I snickered, “His name is Logan.”
“Where’d you meet him?” he asked.
“At the community center. After we did what we did, I wanted to do more. He’s ten. So sweet. I wanted to wrap him in bubble wrap so nothing could ever harm him. He’s a cool cat.”
Bronson was silent for a beat, then he said, “You're one-of-a-kind, Lila Durant.”
I grinned, “So are you, Bronson Adams.”
***
As I stared up at my ceiling fan, all I could think about was Bronson.
Think about what he has shared with me.
Think about how he was with his kids.
Think about how good a man he was.
Because there was no denying my feelings.
I had fallen for Madalyn, and then Cole, and then Bronson.
I claimed them all.
And I wanted to be claimed by them in return.
But in the back of my mind, I knew that Cole and Madalyn had already done so.
Now... all that was left was Bronson.
I giggled as I recalled how he reacted to the dinner plans I had.
He was jealous.
There was no denying that fact either.
Therefore... it was time to be devious.
And I knew just how to accomplish that.
Was it wrong?
Sure.
Was it right?
Maybe not.
But would it work?
I fucking hoped so.
Operation getting Bronson had commenced.
I waited until I made it home that night and for Arielle to be off work. A pretty good friend of mine.
Me – I need a favor.
Arielle – Name it.
Me – Tell your brother that I’ll pay him a hundred bucks if he will go out to dinner with me, and act like it’s a date.
Arielle – OH. I like this.
Arielle – Hang on.
Five minutes later.
Arielle – He’s in.
Arielle – *Hans’ contact info*
The reason why Hans was perfect?
He is gay, and so in love with his partner, it’s adorably sweet.
I rubbed my hands together and shimmied in my bed.
It would need to be the perfect time.
And if this didn’t work to light a fire under his ass... well... I didn’t know what I was going to do.
***
It was the day, and tonight I was going out on my so-called date with Hans.
But for now, I sat on a picnic table in Frank and Misty’s backyard for an impromptu barbecue.
I was watching Bronson and Madalyn playing horseshoes.
And every so often, I would catch Bronson looking at me, but when I caught him doing that, he looked away.
That was something that hurt.
What I didn’t know was that my wanting him was written all over my face.
And I knew that it was when Everly walked over to me, smiled, and said, “Talk to me.”
So, I shared.
I told her about my conversation with Bronson and what he said. I told her everything.
The only thing I left out was what he had shared with me about his past. And the day we spent buying things for the community center.
Then I shared my plans with her, about going out on a date and trying to light a fire under his ass.
Once I was finished, I said, “If this doesn’t work, Everly... I might have to figure out a way to get him out of my system. Entirely.”
“Honey, you do know how hard that is... right?”
I sighed. “Yeah. But I don’t see any other choice.”
“You're in love with him. Aren’t you?” she asked softly.
I nodded, “Yeah.”
What I didn’t know was that someone had walked over just before I told Everly that I might have to figure out a way to get him out of my system.