Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
brADY
A t my parents', my brothers and Hazel's friends were in the pool, playing volleyball. I'd gotten out of the water to run to the bathroom.
When I came out, Mom asked, "How are things going with Hazel?"
I tried to remember that we were engaged and Mom was asking about a supposedly happy couple. "I'm happy we decided to move in together first. It's only solidified our decision to take the next step."
"I really like her. She fits in with the family."
I laughed. "Because she's been in our lives since we were kids."
"Yeah, but she was just a friend. Now she's your fiancée, soon-to-be wife. That makes things different."
A tingle ran through my body at the idea of Hazel being my wife.
Mom smiled. "I'm happy for you."
"Thanks." I hovered by the counter as she cut up the watermelon, throwing the cubes into a serving bowl.
"You've been different the last few weeks. You're not just happy, but you're more relaxed and confident. As if you've finally found your purpose."
What was my purpose? Working with my family in construction or the video-game show that reached millions of kids? Was it being Hazel's man? I wanted to excel at all of it. "I hadn't thought of it like that."
"It's a hard thing to see when it's happening to you. But I suspect you feel different. Happier. More content."
"I suppose I do." The only thing that would make me feel even better was if Hazel would give me the green light to consummate our relationship. It had taken every bit of will power I had this morning to escape into the bathroom and close the door.
I half expected her to join me in the shower, but she'd gone to the guest bathroom to get ready for the day. I wondered if she'd touched herself in the shower thinking of me.
"I remember how it was for me and your father in the beginning of our relationship. Everything was possible. He wanted to start the business and wasn't deterred by being the only contractor on the island. He was determined to make it work and for us to live our dream."
I sat on the stool, accepting the glass of water she placed in front of me. "Were you happy?"
"I wanted to start a family, but we wanted to get the business off the ground first. He wanted to support a large family, and build a legacy for our family that we could enjoy for generations."
"I think you've done that," I said as I popped a cube of watermelon into my mouth.
"Now I want my kids to be happy." Mom finished filling the bowl and sighed. "Right now, I'm worried about the situation with Dalton."
"He'll be okay," I said with more conviction than I felt.
"When you become a parent, you never stop worrying about your kids."
"I'm settled with Hazel." Except I wasn't. I was lying to my parents about us being together. But I didn't feel as bad about that as I should. Because my heart was genuine; I wanted to be with Hazel. I just wasn't sure she wanted the same thing.
"I want all your brothers to be settled, and Dalton's torn up inside over this baby and Oakley."
"He'll figure it out."
Mom's forehead creased. "I'm worried Oakley won't let us see the baby or she'll restrict his visitation."
"We'll fight for him if we have to." We had plenty of money to take her to court. "But right now it seems like she wants them to be a family."
Mom sighed. "It seems like she isn't happy with anything Dalton does. It's never enough."
"I'm getting the same impression. She let Dalton move in without giving her a ring, but she’s still talking about having a big wedding before the baby comes, and he doesn't want to spend on a wedding with a baby on the way."
"Dalton's always been responsible."
Did she think I was? "He'll figure it out, and we'll be here for him when he does."
"I'm glad you're so confident about that situation, because I have a bad feeling about it." Then she sighed again, staring out the window at everyone playing in the pool. "This is what I always wanted, a big happy family. Everyone's pairing off to start a family of their own."
She was going to be upset when Hazel and I broke up.
"When we transfer the company over to you boys, it will be in good hands. And we can relax in our old age and travel more."
"I want that for you."
Mom nodded. "I just need to see you boys settled first."
"Coop and Shep don't seem to want to settle down any time soon."
Mom dried her hands on a towel. "I have a feeling life will force those two to slow down and take stock of their lives. The right people will come into their lives, and they'll have no choice but to fall for them."
"You have a better vision than I do." I couldn't see my middle brothers settling down with anyone any time soon. I wouldn't be surprised if they were perpetually single.
"Mothers can see things their kids can't."
"Is that right?"
"I don't know if that's a saying, but it should be. Or maybe I want it so badly for them, I'm manifesting it for them."
"Yeah, maybe." I wish she could manifest happiness for me and Hazel. Because I was falling more deeply into her every day, and I still wasn't sure where she stood.
"You treat Hazel right. She's a great woman."
"Of course I will."
Mom sighed. "I can't believe my youngest boy is getting married."
I panicked slightly because that wasn't true. Did our families expect us to get married soon? The engagement party was to show my higher-ups that I was serious about Hazel. It wasn't necessary for us to get married. Or at least, I hoped not. I didn't want to take the charade that far.
Hazel wandered inside with a towel wrapped around her body and her hair dripping down her back. "I was wondering where you got to."
I looped my arm loosely around her lower back. "I was talking to Mom."
"I was just saying how happy I am for you two. You're the perfect addition for our family."
Hazel's posture was stiff, probably because we were lying to her. "Thank you, Joy. I'm happy to be considered part of your family."
"Have you decided where you'll get married?"
"I'd love to get married on the beach," Hazel said without any hesitation.
"In one of those ballrooms on the water or toes in the sand?" Mom asked, moving the watermelon bowl in her direction.
"Toes in the sand. I've always felt like part of the island when I'm able to touch the sand."
"You're in agreement then?" Mom asked me.
"Yeah, whatever Hazel wants." I hadn't thought that far ahead, but I could see me waiting by the water with my brothers, watching Hazel walk down the aisle.
Even Max could be involved. The thought of Hazel in a white flowing dress and a veil that lifted in the wind took the breath out of my lungs. I wanted that more than my next breath.
How could I make it happen? How could I make her fall in love with me? I needed to up my game because our time was running out. After the engagement party, we'd confirm our relationship with the streaming platform, and there'd be no need to keep up the charade anymore.
We'd go our separate ways, and I'd have to watch her date someone else. I didn't want that. I hated the idea of her with another guy. The vision of her walking down the aisle toward me was the one I wanted.
I needed to make it happen. To show her that we were meant to be together.
We ate dinner on the table outside and then started a fire on the beach.
We huddled around the bonfire, dancing to music and drinking.
Dalton was living with Oakley, and I was getting used to him not being around.
It was for the best because that was the plan for the foreseeable future.
We were both moving on with our lives, and it was a good thing.
I just hoped I wasn't headed to bachelorhood again. I had no desire to attempt dating now. Not when I'd been in love with Hazel most of my life.
Hazel's eyes were bright as she danced with her friends.
Hudson appeared at my side. "You were talking to Mom for a while."
"She's worried about Dalton."
"We all are."
"I want to give him space to figure things out on his own but also let him know that I'm here for him."
"You're doing a good job of that."
"So far he hasn't needed me, which has been an adjustment. We've been close our whole lives, and now he's just gone."
"When Marshall left, it was tough, but I had time to get used to it. It must be a shock to have him move out and be unreachable."
"I have Hazel, but it's not the same. Nobody can replace a brother."
"You're right about that. But I think being with the right woman can ease some of the ache inside you. It has for me with Elena." He nodded toward Elena, who was laughing and dancing with the girls.
"Do I need to reach out to Dalton or let him come to me?"
"I'd be patient. Let him know you're there for him."
"I think he feels like we can't possibly understand what he's going through."
"Well, Marshall can. He found out his ex was pregnant while he was away from us and had to deal with it on his own. We should tell Dalton to reach out to Marshall if he needs advice."
"It would be nice if we could see our niece more often."
"Mom and Dad would like to see Riley more often too. That's why I think Mom's over the moon about Dalton having a baby."
"Even if it's not the ideal situation?" I asked him over the rim of my beer.
Hudson gave me a look. "You know Mom. She thinks everything happens for a reason."
Was I fake engaged to the woman I'd always secretly lusted after because we were meant to be? I was hoping for happily-ever-after, but I wasn't so sure that was attainable.
"Mom's excited that everyone is settling down in one way or another. First Luna, me, then you, and now Dalton with the baby."
"That's only half of us." I couldn't help but point out.
"More than half. Marshall already has a child. So that just leaves Shep and Coop."
"I don't think either of them could handle a baby, much less a committed relationship. They're too self-involved."
Hudson shook his head. "You're negative about your brothers tonight."
"Relationships take a certain amount of work, and I'm positive they aren't interested in that."
"Are you the expert now that you're engaged?" Hudson asked carefully.
I chuckled, shaking my head. "Not at all. I just know how dedicated I am to making things between me and Hazel work."
"It should be easy, you know. Once you get over the hump of admitting that you love her, which you've already done."
He didn't need to know the truth. No one needed to know how pathetic I was. How I'd concocted a plan to help my business and to acquire the woman of my dreams at the same time. So far, the results were tepid at best. She hadn't taken me up on my offer, and I didn't think she would.
She wouldn't want to cross the friend line with me, and I couldn't blame her. What guarantee did we have that it would work out in the end?
"You're an inspiration to us. You're friends with a girl most of your life. Then you put a ring on her finger."
Hazel tipped her head back, laughing.
"I'm so lucky that she's mine." What would it feel like for her to be mine for real? How would I act? How would she? Was that the key to winning her over? Pretending she was mine already and acting accordingly?
I gripped Hudson's shoulder. "Thanks for the pep talk."
"I don't think I said anything?—"
"You said more than you know," I said before I squeezed his shoulder, then handed him my beer. I stalked toward Hazel. "You want to dance?"
Her eyes lit up. "Of course."
We moved off to the side, our hips swaying to the music. She turned so that her back was pressed against my chest, her ass nestled against my dick. I kept a grip on her hips, relishing the way she moved effortlessly under my palms. "You look beautiful tonight."
Her breath hitched. "You don't need to say things like that. No one else is listening."
"You're listening."
Hazel turned, and I hooked her wrists around my neck. "You can't say things like that."
I raised a brow. "And why is that?"
"This is an act. This is pretend."
"What if I want it to be more?" I asked her.
She frowned. "That wasn't part of our agreement."
I growled as I dropped my head so that I could talk directly into her ear. "I want to go by feelings. And right now, I want to feel your body pressed against mine. I want to tell you how beautiful you are, and I want you to accept it for what it is. A compliment for a gorgeous woman."
"Thank you."
I pulled her closer to me and dropped my forehead to hers. "I want to feel you in my arms. Your body brushing against mine. I want everything."
"What about our friendship? Aren't you worried about what this would mean?"
"Playing your fiancé is messing with my head. I want things I hadn't considered before. And I want to take advantage of our situation. Everyone thinks we're in love. Maybe we should act like we are."
A crease appeared between her eyebrows. "I don't know."
"I'm going to convince you." She wasn't saying no, which told me that she was attracted to me. That this wasn't one-sided.
She tipped her head to the side. "You sound so confident."
"That's because I am." If what my mom said was true, then we were meant to be, and I was going to stop questioning myself. I was lucky enough to have Hazel in my life, and I wasn't going to let her go without a fight.
She finally nodded. "Okay."
"Okay, you'll give me a chance?"
"No promises. I'm still not sure it's worth blowing up our friendship."
"We aren't blowing anything up, unless you're talking about the bedroom."
She laughed and shook her head. "You're impossible."
"You love it though."
A smile curved over her face. "I think I do."
"Let's give everyone a show." I grabbed her hand and twirled her in front of me, her hair swirling behind her, and laughter rang out. She was gorgeous.
I pulled her back toward me and then dipped her. Except this time, I kissed her until I heard the cheers from around us.
"Get a room, you two," Shep said.
I helped Hazel to stand. "What do you say we get outta here?"
She grinned, her gaze never wavering from mine. "Let's do it."
I intertwined my fingers with hers and led her through the crowd and to my truck. We didn't say goodbye to my parents. I let everyone think I couldn't wait to get her home alone. It wasn't far from the truth. I didn't think she'd take my offer tonight, but I hoped she would soon.
In the cab, the tension between us was palpable. I gripped the steering wheel tight, listening for any sign that she was giving into the chemistry between us.
I was willing to wait her out, even if it killed me.