Chapter 9 #2
“No, Brooklyn, that means I’m pissed as shit I gotta follow you and Remy and the timing of that sucks because he doesn’t know me, and he’s not gonna get to know me as the man playing bodyguard to him and his mom.
When the time is right he’s gonna get to know me as his dad.
And I want that to happen now but the situation being as it is, priority one is keeping the two of you safe. ”
Crap.
I read that wrong.
“Sorry, I misunderstood,” I grumbled and braced for him to rub it in.
“You did, you voiced it, I explained, and now you understand. That’s over.
I gotta get to the hotel. Do me a favor and don’t leave the bookstore until I get back.
Letty, you, too. I’m leaving my number, if either of you needs to leave, shoot me a text and I’ll send someone over.
If Kiki shows up here, text me. If anyone you don’t like the look of shows up, you text me. ”
“Got it, boss,” Letty quipped and my body jolted.
“Letty!”
“Jeeze, Brook. Calm down. I’m just joshin’ with him. We’ll text you if we need you.”
That last part was aimed at Rhode.
“Be back.”
Rhode was halfway across the store when Letty called out.
“Hey, Dulles!”
Rhode jerked to a stop and craned his neck.
“I appreciate what you’re doing and I’m serious when I tell you we’ll call if we need something. I’d never let anything happen to Brook or Remy. You’ve got my word on that.”
“Plain to see you have their backs so I didn’t need your word to trust you’d do your part. But I appreciate you giving it to me.”
And with that, Rhode left.
“I like him,” Letty declared.
“What?”
“I was planning on putting him to the test and making him jump through hoops before I gave my stamp of approval. But that’d be a waste of time.”
I knew before I asked which meant I knew Letty Welsh, my best friend since forever, the one person who had never left my side would take one look at Rhode, know our history—that being that I fell in love with him on sight and had been dreaming about him for five years—and she’d want that dream for me so desperately that she, too, would fall for Rhode hard and fast.
But I still asked, “Why would it be a waste of time?”
Her gaze went to the front door Rhode had exited then back to me.
“Because he’s your person.”
“Lets—”
“Advice, Brook, don’t fight this. Whatever’s happening here, go with it.
Take the chance. Throw your hands in the air, jump with both feet, and enjoy the ride.
And not just the one he’s gonna give you in the sack.
All of it. Start to finish, that man’s gonna sweep you off your feet and you’d be stupid to fight it. ”
“Remington—”
“He’s gonna sweep up Remy, too. And my nephew’s gonna soak up the love his father’s gonna give him and he’s gonna bask in that warmth.
I was wrong and you were right, Rhode is nothing like Douche Nozzle.
Rhode would sooner give up a limb than give up a boy he’s spoken a handful of words to.
It’s plain to see. And before you ask how I know—I just do.
It’s in the way he looks at you. His mouth doesn’t have to open for him to speak. ”
Holy crap, Letty saw it, too.
Though it was a toss-up which one of us was more starry-eyed.
So her evaluation of the situation was probably more skewed than mine.
And as much as I wanted to jump with both feet and take a ride that was sure to be crazy and wild, I had Remington to think about.
I didn’t know if I could take a wild ride with anyone, even if the conductor of the crazy train was my son’s father.
But I could open the door—just a crack. Then I could dip my toe in the water and test it out.
If I stayed in the shallow end I might be all right.
I might be able to keep from drowning. The problem was I wanted to jump off the high board and dive straight into the deep end.
And I wanted to take Remy there with me.
I wanted the dream. I wanted Rhode. And I wanted Remy to have a family.
I didn’t tell any of this to Letty. She’d shove me straight off the edge and do it gleefully, that was how much she loved me.
Instead, I told her, “I’m getting to work. I have a book due tomorrow.”
“No, you don’t.” She shook her head and caught my play. “The book’s due next week. But I’ll let you off the hook because I see you’re freaked out. I also know you’ll do the right thing for you and Remy—you always do.”
That was classic Letty; she was my biggest cheerleader, my biggest supporter, the person who had faith in me when I had none in myself.
“Love you, Lets.”
“I know you do, Brook. I also know you love Rhode so don’t fuck this up and start thinking with your brain.”
Thankfully, a chime rang out and Letty’s attention went to the door. Three women walked in and I hightailed it to the back of the store.
Priority one is keeping the two of you safe.
What was I supposed to do with that?
My heart said sprint full-speed ahead.
My brain said go cautious.
Rhode had thought about me over the years.
He regretted not asking my name. He thought I had beautiful eyes.
He wanted to do what was right for Remy, demonstrating he wanted to be a good dad.
He thought the two of us together wasn’t smart—it was brilliant.
He said it was shit timing and was having a mind to that, which meant he was showing he cared about what I was going through. He wanted me and Remy safe.
Priority one.
Remy and I were his priority.
That was the foundation I would use to build what we needed to build for Remy. And the excuse I was going to use to run full-speed ahead.
Hopefully, Rhode would be there to catch me.