Chapter 21
Chapter
Twenty-One
CHLOE
Standing at the bathroom counter, I get ready for the day. My hair is being held back by a headband as I apply my mascara.
“Hey, gorgeous, what are you doing?” Brantley asks as he walks into the bathroom.
I raise a brow. “What does it look like I’m doing?”
He rolls his eyes as he comes up next to me, resting his hip on the counter. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”
“I’m getting ready to go in for a couple of hours.”
Brantley shakes his head. “You have today off. We all have today off.”
“Yeah, but there’s something I want to work on. I’ll get more done if no one is around.”
“Not happening.”
I put the cap on my mascara and turn toward him. “Okay, then tell me what’s going on today. You obviously have a plan.”
“You want to go see that play, right? Six or whatever it’s called. About the king who killed all his wives?”
“How did you…”
“I saw an ad for it pop up. What would you say if I told you that I got us tickets for the show tonight?”
“Wait, are you serious?” My excitement is building.
“Very.” He leans in, kissing my forehead.
“Where?” I ask.
“In New York City,” he says as if I should have known.
“But that’s like four hours from here.”
He raises a brow. “So? I’m fully prepared to make the trip. I got us tickets and booked us a room. All you have to do is say yes.”
“Yes,” I say with no hesitation.
Brantley smiles. “Awesome, pack a bag. We leave in an hour.”
As soon as he’s out of the room, I squeal. I’ve always wanted to go to a play in the city. It’s been one of those bucket list things for me, and Brantley is about to make it happen.
That man. He never ceases to amaze me.
Brantley bops around in the driver’s seat as he sings to Rihanna, making me laugh. He looks over at me with a smile on his face. Despite the traffic, he looks more relaxed than I’ve seen him in a long time.
“What are you smiling at?”
“I never would have pegged you for the road trip concert type.”
He scoffs as he turns down the music. “Isn’t everyone?”
“True, but you’re into it. Like a lot.”
“Do you have a problem with that?”
“No, of course not.”
“Good. Otherwise I was going to say, hi, pot meet kettle.”
“Hey!” I say as I slap his shoulder.
“What, it’s okay if you say it but not if I do?”
“Exactly. That’s just how it works.”
He reaches over and grabs my hand. My heart races as he kisses my knuckles before setting our hands in his lap.
“So have you ever been to a play?” he asks.
“Not like this, no. I’ve been to plenty of local productions and whatnot, but nothing on this scale. Thank you for doing this.”
“You’re welcome. Besides, I’m doing it for purely selfish reasons.”
“Oh? Like what?”
“I like making you happy.”
Could he get any more perfect? I don’t think anyone has ever said that to me, let alone actually meant it.
“I like making you happy too,” I tell him softly.
“You know what we should do while stuck in the car for another two hours?”
“What?”
“Play the twenty questions game. Get to know each other a little better.”
Usually when someone brings up this game, I walk away. I’ve never had a good experience with it. I want to know more about him, though, and this seems like the perfect opportunity.
“If we do this, just know I’m going to ask really random questions. None of that, what’s your favorite color bullshit,” I warn him.
“It’s blue, but I expect nothing less. What’s a relationship deal breaker for you?”
“Cheating,” I say with zero hesitation.
“Same. If you’re that unhappy that you’re willing to step out on someone you’re committed to, you should just walk away before it happens.”
“Agreed. What’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done?”
“Probably skydiving. I went in Oahu, Hawaii, right after I graduated high school.”
“Really? Did you like it?”
“I did. I’ve thought about going again but somewhere in Europe. Switzerland has a spot that’s pretty famous. Have you ever thought about doing it?”
“Not at all, but I might be persuaded.”
“Would you rather be a superhero or a villain?” he asks, changing the subject.
“Villain, and don’t ask why. I don’t have a good reason other than I like to be different. Any allergies?”
“None that I’ve found yet. You?” he asks.
“Is that your question?” I tease.
“No, but I feel like that’s something a boyfriend should know about his girlfriend,” he says, making me smile.
“Coconut. I’m allergic to coconut.”
“Good to know. Do you want kids someday?” he asks, making my heart race. It’s an innocent question, but something about it feels different.
“If I’m lucky enough to have them, yes.”
He looks over at me with concern. “Wait, were you told you can’t?”
“No, nothing like that. I just know getting pregnant isn’t easy on everyone. What about you? Do you want them?”
“If my partner wants them, of course. If they don’t, it won’t bother me. It’s not a make-or-break type thing for me. I’d be just as happy being the cool uncle for life as I would if I actually got to experience parenting firsthand.”
“Most men would disagree with you on that.”
He raises a brow and looks at me briefly before looking back at the road. “I’m not most men. Now, for the hard questions.”
“Hit me with it.”
“Does pineapple belong on pizza?” he asks, making me laugh.
Out of all the questions he could have asked, that’s what he chose?
“Yes.”
His shoulders drop. “Thank God. I was worried that you would be one of those uncultured people who would say no.”
“I’m glad I could answer correctly,” I tease.
For the rest of the two hours, we go back and forth. I learn that he doesn’t have a five-year plan outside of making the Foxes a winning team. That he likes sneaking away to a beach before the summer crowds move in. He even admits that sometimes he struggles with impostor syndrome.
The more I learn about him, the deeper I fall. Brantley Gibson is an enigma, and one that’s all mine.
brANTLEY
We walk into Bella Italiano and are seated right away.
“Thank you,” Chloe says to the hostess as she walks away.
Chloe slides to the back of the circular booth, so I do the same, putting me right next to her. In the past I’ve made fun of guys who sat next to their women instead of across from them. I thought they were saps, but now I get it. I want her as close as possible all the time.
“This place is nice. Have you been here before?”
“Once or twice. Best Italian in town.”
A young woman walks up as he speaks. “Aw, that’s so sweet. My dad will love to hear that. I’m Alessa, and I’ll be your server tonight. What can I start you with?”
“Can I get a dirty martini and a water, please?” Chloe asks.
“An old-fashioned for me. Top shelf for both of us, please,” Brantley tells the girl.
“Of course. I’ll be right back with those,” Alessa says before walking off.
As Chloe looks around, I look at her. She looks stunning tonight in her dark green dress and her hair pulled to the side.
I’ve had a great time today, and it’s all thanks to her.
Usually, I would have dreaded the four-hour drive, but today I didn’t want it to end.
By the time we got to the city, I was disappointed that her barrage of questions were going to come to an end.
I rest my hand on my woman’s thigh. “So what did you think of the show?”
Her eyes light up. “It was amazing. Better than I thought it would be. I can’t thank you enough for taking me.”
“It was my pleasure,” I tell her honestly.
While it wasn’t necessarily something I loved, it’s something I’m more than willing to do again. Especially if it makes her look at me the way she is right now.
“Did you like it?”
“More than I thought I would.”
She tucks her head into my shoulder and laughs quietly.
It’s something so simple yet feels so right.
If you would have told me six months ago that I would be here with her, I would have laughed in your face.
I would have put money down that she would strangle me in my sleep.
Now, though, I think the only way she would is if it was by accident while she rides my face.
“Do I want to know what you were thinking about?”
I look down at her and smirk. “Probably not.”
She leans in as she places her hand on my thigh. “You shouldn’t be having dirty thoughts in public, Brantley. That’s how scandals are created.”
“Baby, I’d create a scandal with you any day. Haven’t you figured that out already?” I tell her.
She rolls her eyes as if she thinks I’m just feeding her a line even though I’m telling her the truth. Chloe has me wrapped around her pinky finger, and she doesn’t even realize it. The things I would do for this woman without blinking are insane.
“You say that now, but do you honestly want to experience what Mason and Liv did or what Eli and Adrianna did?”
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s part of life. They didn’t do anything wrong. It just made headlines because of who we are.”
“Very true. I never thought of it that way.”
Alessa comes back to drop off our drinks and take our food order, halting the conversation. As soon as she leaves, Chloe speaks up.
“So there was something I wanted to ask you earlier, but I didn’t.”
“What’s up?”
“Are you close to your family?” She looks nervous.
“As close to them as one can be when they were raised by the help. What about you?”
“No,” she says simply.
I want to press but don’t. She will tell me when she’s ready. Besides, I had already figured that out. In all the time I’ve known her, I’ve never once heard her mention her family, which is a giveaway that not everything is great.
That’s okay, though. I’ll be her family. Same with the guys, Ari, Liv, and Adrianna. We will make sure she always has what she needs.
Chloe sucks in a breath.
“What is it?”
She turns to me, eyes wide, and whispers, “I’m like, ninety-nine percent sure the don just walked in.”
“The what?”
She rolls her eyes. “The Italian mob. Honestly, you’ve lived in Boston your entire life and you’re telling me you don’t know what a don is?”
“I would like to remind you, we’re from Irish territory. Not only that, but the mob isn’t supposed to be real.” I scan the restaurant. “Where is he?”
She pulls on my shirt. “Don’t make it obvious, but he’s over with Alessa.”
“Papa!” Alessa cries out as she wraps her arms around the man.
“Holy shit, is a mob princess our waitress?” Chloe turns toward me. “You need to make sure you tip her big. We’re too young to die.”
“Baby, I think you are imagining shit. You’ve watched one too many murder docs, and your mind is getting away from you.”
“No, I’m telling you, Brantley, I’m not wrong. I read an article about him once.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I study the man and those around him.
Well, shit.
He’s got guards, and it’s clear he’s packing under his jacket.
“Do you want to leave?” I ask quietly.
“Leave? Fuck no! This is the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to me. I’m in the presence of a real-life crime boss. This is what stories are made of.”
I look at her like she’s crazy. “Chloe, if this is the most exciting thing to ever happen to you, we have some things to work on. I’ll get us on a flight right now for you to go see penguins or ride a camel into Petra.
Want to go to a hot spring in Iceland? I got you.
Any of that would be more exciting than this. ”
She narrows her eyes. “Don’t yuck my yum, Brantley Gibson.”
I don’t think she quite knows what that means, but she’s not wrong.
“I would never.”
When the crime boss leaves, she leans back into my side and sighs. “That was awesome. Seriously, hands down the best date I’ve ever been on. I don’t know how you’ll ever top it.”
Chuckling, I shake my head. This fucking woman.
Life is never going to be dull with her by my side.