13. Smitty #2
“I still do.” I leaned in close, hovering inches from her as I added, “And not just because of who you were back then. But because of who you are now.” Her breath hitched when I said, “Watching you with Anslee tonight has left me in complete awe. You’ve done everything for her, and you did it without me.
But you’re still sitting here looking at me like you are right now. ”
“Because our story isn’t done.”
Her words settled over us both, grounding us both. We stood there for a moment longer before continuing down the hall. When we reached the living room, I walked over and grabbed my cut from the hook. Even though it was the last thing I wanted to do, I told her, “I should get going.”
“I’m really glad you came. Anslee really enjoyed it.” She gave me a warm smile. “And I did, too.”
“I hope we can do it again sometime soon.”
“We’re free tomorrow, if you’d like to stop by.”
“Yeah, I’d like that.”
“Okay. Same time good with you?”
“It’s perfect.”
The next few days went by in a blur. One night, I grabbed a sack of burgers and fries on my way after work.
Another afternoon, we met at the park, so Anslee could play on her favorite swing set.
She thought they were the greatest invention ever and didn’t want to get off.
I was good with it. Hell, I could’ve spent hours pushing her on that swing, listening to her giggle.
Brooke sat on the swing next to us, watching with a smile on her face. After a while, she leaned back and started to swing along with Anslee. That’s when she decided to say, "So, tell me more about Satan’s Fury."
“What do you want to know?”
“Everything. What are they like? What made you decide to join a club like that?”
“It wasn’t really one thing.” I continued to push Anslee as I told her, “Seven, one of the brothers, came into the garage. Something about him caught my attention. He left, and I asked Cyrus about him. Next thing I knew, I was at one of their cookouts at the clubhouse.”
“I bet that was something.”
“It was, but not in the way you might think. It wasn’t some big rager with kegs and half-naked girls. Don’t get me wrong. It was a party, but more like a family gathering with booze and a bonfire that was about five feet too tall.”
I went on to tell her that Preacher had come up to me and asked if I was interested in prospecting.
And how excited and nervous I was when I told him yes.
She seemed surprised when I answered so quickly.
“It wasn’t like I had anybody waiting for me when I got off work…
Nowhere I really belonged, so I decided to give it a chance. ”
She didn’t respond.
She just kept swinging, slow and easy, as she listed to me babble on. “I spent years thinking you had to earn everything from food on the table to a friendship that truly meant something. These men… these crazy, fierce men became my brothers. They’ll never replace Aiden. It isn’t about that, but…”
“I get it.”
“They’ve made me feel like I belong, and the motorcycles are just a bonus.”
“I’m glad you found them.” Her brows furrowed. “Can I ask you one more thing?”
“You can ask me anything.”
“Is it safe?”
“Depends on what you mean.”
“Would I need to worry every time you leave?”
It was a loaded question. One that ol’ ladies asked at one time or another, but she wasn’t my ol’ lady. Made me wonder if she would be someday.
Like I said before. I had hope.
I had enough of it for both of us.
That being said, I’d never lied to Brooke, and I wasn’t going to start now. “There are always risks. But we don’t go looking for trouble. Most days it's just work, riding, helping each other out, and giving one another hell.”
“But the news…”
“They only tell one side of it.” Her expression softened as I told her, “They don’t talk about the brothers who’d drive three states in the middle of the night if one of us needed them.
They don’t talk about the guys who’ll rebuild your home after a storm, sit by your side while a parent dies, or make sure your kids have Christmas when you’re down on your luck. ”
“No, they don’t.”
“I left home thinking I’d never have a family again, but Fury proved me wrong.”
When I looked back at Brooke, there was something different in her eyes. The fear was gone and had been replaced with understanding. That meant a lot, because, without them, I wasn’t sure if I would’ve ever found my way back to her. “I’m glad you found them.”
“Me too.” I knew it was a long shot, but that didn’t stop me from saying, “I hope you meet them someday.”
“I would like that."
After that, we gathered up Anslee and headed back to her place.
And over the next few days, Brooke and I fell into an easy rhythm.
It was different than before, but just as easy.
We’d talk while Anslee played, laughed about nothing, and every now and then, we’d stare at each other in a way that left no question that old chemistry between us was still there.
It wasn’t rushed. It wasn’t complicated.
It was just us finding our way, and somewhere between the shared dinners and bedtime stories, I realized I wasn’t just getting to know my daughter. I was finding my way back to her—the woman who still owned my heart.
After a long afternoon of watching Disney movies and building towers upon towers, I grabbed my cut from the chair and started putting it on as I told her, “I’m gonna head out.”
“So soon?”
“It’s getting late, and you have work tomorrow…”
“I’m not ready for you to go just yet.”
“You sure?” She nodded, and I returned my cut to the hook. “Okay. I can stay for a bit.”
“Okay, good. Give me just a second.”
She slipped into the kitchen, and a few seconds later, she returned with a glass of wine and a cold beer. She offered me the beer, and together, we walked into the living room and settled on opposite ends of the couch.
For a few minutes, neither of us said a word. We just sat there in silence, and it wasn’t awkward or uncomfortable. It was just familiar, and it felt good sitting there alone with her.
But there was a big elephant in the room, one neither of us dared to speak of, but it had been days.
There had been no mention of or any sight of Ryan.
It was like the guy had up and disappeared.
He didn’t seem to be the type to let a stranger linger in his home, especially with his girls, so I asked, “What’s the deal with Ryan? ”
“He left.”
“What do you mean?”
“He isn’t here.” She let out a slow, defeated breath. “He was gone when I got home from work a few days ago.”
“Where did he go?”
“His brother’s place… He’s giving me some space.” She reached over and pulled a slip of paper from the drawer. “He left me this.”
I unfolded the note and read:
Brooke,
I love you. I love the life we’ve built, and I love that little girl more than anything in this world.
I want to be with you both. I want the happily ever after, but I can’t keep going like this.
I’ve always known that your heart belonged to someone else.
I was just fool enough to think one day you might give us a chance.
I’m not ready to give up completely. I’m not sure I’ll ever be. I’m hoping you will see that I’m the one you should be with. But I want you to be with me because I’m the one you truly want, not because I’m the safe bet.
So, take the time you need. Be it a day, a month, or even a year. I’ll be here waiting if you decide I’m the one.
I’ll be at my brother’s. I’m just a phone call away.
I hope to hear from you. If I don’t, I wish you the best. I truly do.
Love,
Ryan
I folded it and offered it back to her as I muttered, “Damn.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“This is his place right?”
“Yes… I mean, I pay rent and help with bills, but it’s still his.”
“And he left?”
“I’m sure he was thinking of Anslee.” She shrugged. “Or maybe, he couldn’t stomach seeing us together. Either way, he’s giving me the time I need.”
“Sounds like a good guy.”
“He is.” She slipped the note back in the drawer. “He’s trying to be supportive, just like he always has... He deserves better.”
“You’ve always been upfront with him. Right?”
She nodded, but I could tell she was still bothered by it. I had no idea how to make that better for her. She would have to sort that out with him, but I would do my best to be supportive. “Then, give it time. It will work itself out, and I’m here for you until it does.”
“I know.”
“I mean it, Brooke. I’m not the same guy I was back then.” Her eyes remained trained on mine as I told her, “I’ve grown up. I’ve faced my demons, and I’ve learned to fight for what I want.”
“And what do you want?”
“You.”
“Brayden.”
“I’m not afraid to fight for you… I’ll do whatever it takes, whatever you need.”
Our eyes met again, and this time, neither of us looked away. The room stilled, and the only noise in the house came from Anslee’s sound machine down the hall.
Brooke’s hand was resting on the cushion between us, only inches from me, and slowly, very slowly, she turned it over, offering it to me. I looked at her, and neither of us said a word as I slid my hand into hers.
Her fingers laced through mine like they’d done a hundred times before, and somehow, after all those years apart, that simple touch felt more intimate than anything I’d ever known. I hadn’t lost her. She was sitting right next to me as she closed her eyes and replied, “All I need is you.”
That did me in.
Not the wanting. Not the years of missing her. Not even the ache of having her close after so long without her. It was the way she saw me, the real me, and loved me anyway. “You say that like you mean it.”
“Because I do.”
Unable to resist the temptation any longer, I closed the distance between us and gently pressed my mouth against hers, feeling my world rock beneath me.
I wasn’t prepared for the simple touch of her lips to set me on fire, and if the little whimper that escaped her lips was any indication, she wasn’t expecting it either.