9. Brittish Abernathy #2
Ellie gave me a quick wave before squirming out of Nyle’s arms and clinging to her mother again.
“I see we have some extras,” Lela Mae started with her eyes bouncing between my brothers.
“Yes. Somehow, my brothers ended up being here as well, so Nyle invited them to join us,” I explained before introducing them. “This is my younger brother, my baby, Dionte, and that’s my older brother, Diamond.”
“It’s nice to meet y’all.” Dionte spoke with a wave.
“Well, I’m Lela Mae. This is my granddaughter, Brielle, my grandson, Naheem, and my great-granddaughter, Ellie.”
The waitress came over to get our drink orders.
I needed something good and strong, so I ordered a Blueberry Lemon Drop Martini.
Brielle ended up ordering the same thing while everyone else got something different.
Naheem ordered a round of appetizers for the table before the waitress left, allowing silence to fall over us.
Clearing her throat, Brielle said, “Nyle, the team did so well today. I was so proud to see you out there coaching them. AJ is something special, Brittish. I can see him going very far with baseball.”
My heart swelled. Anytime anyone complimented AJ on baseball made me so proud. “Thank you. Right now, outside of me, it’s the love of his life. He puts his all into it.”
“He does.” Diamond agreed. “I didn’t know Nyle was his coach. You used to play or something?”
“Oh, did he.” Lela Mae beamed, reaching over and placing her hands on top of Nyle’s.
“He’s been playing since he was three. I remember when we first signed him up for T-ball.
It was the cutest thing, but even then, I could see the passion in his eyes.
He went all the way through college, going to school on a baseball scholarship. ”
“That’s what’s up.” Dionte bobbed his head. “That makes me feel better about AJ being on his team. Some of these coaches’ hearts aren’t in it for real, and it can make a difference.”
Nyle chimed in. “You’re right. I’ve seen a lot throughout my time playing, so my goal is to pour into the boys and grow their passion. Baseball can take them far.”
“It truly can, especially young Black boys. I used to hear all the time about how it was the white man’s sport, but we all know Black people have been dominating from the very beginning.”
Everyone at the table agreed. Once our drinks arrived, the conversation shifted to other things.
Every so often, I could feel Lela Mae watching me.
Her brows rose when Nyle laced his fingers with mine.
She tried to be discreet by nudging Brielle and telling her to look, but I caught it.
I didn’t say anything, but I couldn’t help but wonder what was going through their minds.
“Brittish.” Lela Mae called my name, and I gulped. Under the table, Dionte squeezed my thigh to calm me.
“Ma’am?”
“How did you and my grandson meet?”
Low laughs sounded off all over the table. Nyle lowered his head while Naheem looked back and forth between us, waiting for us to answer. Since Lela Mae had directed the question to me, I carefully chose my words.
“We met at the club one night.”
She sat back in her seat and crossed her arms. “That’s not the type of scene I expected. Let me guess . . .” When she leaned forward and glared at Naheem, Nyle and Brielle started laughing. Pointing her finger at Naheem, Lela Mae said, “You’re the one who took him there, aren’t you?”
Naheem shrugged. “I just wanted to clear his mind from the dreams, that’s all.”
“What dreams?” Diamond inquired, and the table went silent.
Ellie was the one to break it. “Does Uncle Nyle have bad dreams?”
“Sometimes, sweetie,” was all Brielle offered.
My hand immediately tightened around Nyle’s. He seemed to be fine. There wasn’t a far-off look in his eyes, and I wondered if that had to do with him being around his family. They were the ones to help him through it, so I was sure they brought him peace about it as well.
“That’s a hard conversation,” Nyle answered. “Let’s just sum it up and say there’s a reason I go hard for the boys I coach. There’s a reason I protect them the way I do.”
Diamond didn’t push it. He simply nodded and said, “I respect it.”
Once again, Lela Mae brought the conversation back to me. “So, Brittish. Why aren’t you and your child’s father together?”
“Nannie!” All three of her grandchildren sounded off.
“What?” She hunched one shoulder and took a sip of her drink.
“I’m simply trying to get to know her and her story.
It’s obvious Nyle is smitten by her, so I want to know some of her background.
” Her eyes found mine. “I’m not trying to offend you or anything, Brittish.
If I am, I’m sorry. I’m just genuinely curious. ”
From what I could tell, her words were sincere. She seemed like the type to like it straight with no chaser, and I could respect that.
“Our relationship was toxic, especially after we had our son. We grew apart and didn’t need to force ourselves to be together for the sake of our son.
We’re better apart, and a lot of it has to do with how awesome his wife is.
If it wasn’t for her, I’m not sure he’d be as active in AJ’s life as he is.
In the end, we simply weren’t meant to be. ”
“Damn sure wasn’t.” Diamond snorted. “I almost wanted to take his head off for how he did you, but he’s good now. Only because of the way he shows up for my nephew.”
Lela Mae pursed her lips together and gave one slow nod. “Oh, I understand toxic relationships. You should be proud of yourself for leaving and doing what’s best for yourself and your son. It’s not always easy, especially when you love someone.”
And there it was, something other than Nyle we were able to connect on.
The remainder of dinner went smoothly. We talked and laughed for hours until Lela Mae was tired and ready to go. Sweetly, Nyle took care of the bill for everyone. Once I was safely inside his truck, I exhaled the deepest breath, grateful everything went better than expected.
Nyle climbed inside his truck, and the corners of his lips curved.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” I questioned with my head tilted.
“My folks. They like you.”
“Are you sure? Because Lela Mae scares me.”
He released a hearty, contagious laugh. “She tries to act scary when it comes to us, but she’s really a big softy. She separated from my grandfather for similar reasons to you and AJ’s father, so she can relate to you.”
“Do you know your grandfather?”
“Nope. I never did. He wasn’t in Renee’s life, which meant he wasn’t in ours either. When Nannie left him, he left her and Renee.”
“Is Renee an only child?”
“She is, which is sad for Nannie because her relationship with her only child is nonexistent.”
“For good reason, but she was blessed with you and your siblings. I guess you can say it’s one good thing Renee did.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“And by the way, my brothers vibe with you, too, which means they’re going to tell my parents about you.”
“Oh, hell.” Nyle leaned back in his seat and scrubbed his hands down his face before turning to look at me. “I guess we better plan something for me to meet them soon, huh?”
“You better know it.” I giggled. “I had to go through it, and so do you.”
“That’s only fair. You gotta make sure AJ is there too. I want him to feel better about what we have. You’re a package deal, and it won’t be fair if half the package is damaged.”
“Ooo, okay!” I snapped my fingers. “That really worked on me. I’ve always said I desire a man who isn’t only in it for me, but for AJ as well. The fact you said we’re a package deal without me having to explain it speaks volumes, Nyle. Thank you for thinking of my baby too.”
“To a real man, that’s a no-brainer. If a man can’t accept a woman and her children, then he’s not the man for them. Plus, AJ is one of my kids as well. I claim every child I meet, whether it’s brief or lengthy. He accepts and respects me as a coach, but I also want him to do the same as . . .”
“As mine?”
“Only if you accept me as that as well.”
“What are you trying to ask me, Nyle?”
“Listen.” He leaned over the center console.
“I know I’m a work in progress, but you’re one of the main reasons I’m able to do the work.
You encourage me to do so without judgment.
Nannie always told me I’d know when the one walked into my life, because she’d become a part of my healing process.
You’ve become an intricate part of that, Brittish.
In my heart, I know what it is with us. I know what I feel, but I also don’t want to move too fast. I don’t want us to be on different tracks.
We need to take each step together, so if you’re not ready, I’m good with that, but it won’t stop me from pursuing what we’re doing. I’m in too deep already.”
Listening to his confession had me on the verge of tears. He sat there, pouring his heart out to me, and I accepted every part of it. There was no question in my heart that Nyle was for me.
With my elbow on the console, I met him halfway, gently caressed the side of his face, and expressed, “I’m in just as deep as you.
You’re not the only one being healed through all this.
Every day, I feel you putting a piece of my heart back together from the shattered mess it became.
Being yours will make me the happiest woman in Maven Falls and probably the entire damn world.
So, if you’re asking if we can put a title on us, hell yes. ”
We sealed the deal with the wettest, nastiest kiss that made my center quake and my soul fulfilled. Who would’ve thought a one-night stand would lead to me finding the man I’d been praying for all along.