18. Nyle Brown #2
Our eyes met. Brittish froze in place with her hands resting on her hips as her chest heavily rose and fell.
Her hair was in a messy bun, and her pretty face was bare.
The red rim around her eyes sent a twinge of guilt to my heart.
There was no doubt in my mind they were like that because of me.
I could only imagine how my disappearance affected her.
Making my way to her, I immediately engulfed her frame with mine when I was close enough.
I didn’t care that we were both sweaty and probably hot.
Three days was far too long for us to be apart, and my heart felt every bit of the pain from missing her.
It was on me. I knew that, but the distance made the heart grow fonder.
Would I ever do anything like that again?
Hell no.
“I’m sorry for leaving you, Brittish,” I whispered and kissed the top of her head before pulling back to look at her.
“I was messed up. I thought I needed the space, but having you right here with me now . . . I missed you so much. It’s crazy how I could feel you coming close to me before I could see you.
The type of peace that washed over me was unreal, man.
I’d be stupid to ever deprive myself of that again. ”
Brittish reached up and brushed a few stray hairs that were sticking to my forehead.
“You know me better than that to know I understand, Nyle. I understand how you operate when things get heavy. We’ve had this conversation before, but three days was too damn long for me.
You didn’t send me a text or anything, so I was worried.
I worried you were drowning and wasn’t saying anything.
If it wasn’t for Naheem figuring out where you were and sending me here, I wouldn’t have known, but I damn sure would have figured out. ”
Leave it to my brother to know how to find me. I’d have to thank him when I saw him again. I may have been the big brother, but it didn’t stop Naheem from always looking out for me.
“It was too much for me. I didn’t know what else to do other than isolate myself, but I’m learning it’s not what I need most of the time.
Between you and Dr. Morgan, y’all let me know every time that love and support is best.” I cupped her face and kissed those lips I’d missed. “I was coming to you today, baby.”
“Is that why you have flowers?”
I’d forgotten I was even holding the bouquet until she pointed it out.
I chuckled and handed them to her. “Honestly, something told me to grab them on my way up here. I wasn’t sure why, but it all makes sense now. My soul knew you were coming.”
“They’re beautiful too.”
“Just like you.”
Playfully, Brittish rolled her eyes. “That didn’t work on me if that’s what you thought.”
“Nah, I was simply being honest.” I leaned down and kissed her again.
My hands slid down to her ass, and she moaned as she slithered her tongue into my mouth.
My dick hardened instantly. The desire to make long, sweet love to her was heavily on my mind.
She’d come all this way, and it was only right that I gave her a proper thank you.
“You better stop before we end up having public sex again.” She giggled and pulled away from me.
She bit her bottom lips before expressing, “As badly as I want you, I want to make sure you’re good, Nyle.
You’ve been by yourself for days. I can only imagine what’s been skating through your mind. How are you, really?”
The concern lacing her tone and glistening in her eyes had me intertwining our fingers together and leading her over to the spot I’d just left.
I offered to take my shirt off for her to sit down, but she declined and sat close to me with her flowers in front of her.
Resting my forearms on my knees, I stared out to the city and sighed.
“I can see why you came here,” Brittish spoke. “This is beautiful.”
“It is, isn’t it?”
“How did you discover this place?”
I ran down that night to her, remembering it like it was yesterday. She slowly nodded in between my sentences, grasping on to my every word. “Do you think it’s crazy I came back here?”
“No, I don’t. It’s one place in the storm that gives you shelter. I get it.” She turned to look at me. “Are you going to tell me how you are?”
“I’m better than I was. Shit is still sitting on my chest but not as heavily. After the session I had with Dr. Morgan, I’m confident I can get through it. We’re going back to weekly sessions for now.”
“That’s great, seriously.”
“It is, but now, I’m more so worried about you and my family.” I allowed my legs to sink into the grass while I placed my hand on Brittish’s bare thigh. “I’m worried about how Renee and my actions affected y’all.”
“First, fuck Renee. If I could beat that bitch with that bat, I would’ve gone to town on her. To see her show absolutely no remorse ate at me. Dusty ho.”
For the first time in days, I laughed. I lay back on the grass and laughed until my stomach hurt from how serious Brittish was.
She took that opportunity to snuggle up against me and rest her head on my chest. I wrapped my arm around her and kissed her forehead, tasting the saltiness from her sweat.
I didn’t mind because she was sweet in other places.
“That was crazy. I knew you had it in you, but I didn’t think you’d let it show in front of AJ.”
“I didn’t want to,” Brittish clarified. “I tried my hardest to hold my composure, but seeing you so hurt, . . . seeing how she was affecting you, especially in front of everyone, enraged me. She wanted a show, and that was exactly what I was going to give her. In case you didn’t realize, I’d go to war for you, Nyle.
Lela Mae has some serious hands on her, but I’d get in her ass if she ever hurt you.
You mean too much to me. You’ve been through too much for me to allow anyone to cut any more wounds on you. ”
“That’s one reason I’m so in love with you, Brittish. You’ve remained consistent with me, even when I’m inconsistent. You show up for me in ways no woman ever has. Your love is show-and-tell for me. I don’t question anything when it comes to you, and I’m sorry if I made you question me.”
Brittish moved onto her side to stare up at me. “You have, but you’re quick to follow up with answers. I just . . . I really pray this doesn’t happen again. I’d much rather you’d have gone home and allowed me to silently be there instead of completely removing yourself.”
“I know. It’s something I’m working on. Is my family upset with me?” Mentioning them reminded me that I needed to check their messages when I got a chance.
“No, they’re worried like I was. Your grandmother has been cooking up a storm, according to Brielle. When I was there, she threw down. I gobbled that plate down on the way here.”
“You didn’t save me any? Matter of fact, she didn’t send me a plate?”
“Nope.” Brittish snickered. “I guess you need to go see her to get one, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“So, where do we go from here?”
“What do you mean?”
“To make sure you heal properly. I know you’ll have your therapy sessions, but you also have people who are ready to rally around you. How can we help you?”
I stared up at the beautiful blue sky. For a moment, I watched a fluffy cloud slowly move by as I carefully thought about my answer.
“Just by continuing to do what y’all do and show up for me. It’s on me to accept it and do better with my communication to y’all.”
“We got you, baby.”
And I believed her.
Brittish was truly a light in my life, one that I never wanted to dim or blow out. The love I had for her swelled in my chest, almost making it hard for me to breathe. If I died from suffocation of love, so be it. It would be the perfect way to go.
In her, I knew I’d found my soulmate. I’d found the woman God made for me, and I prayed I molded into the man for her. During my healing process, I wanted to make sure I focused on being a better man for her and AJ.
I’d gotten my closure from Renee, so why should I allow what she did to hold me back any longer? God had gotten me through it once, and He’d do it again. Only this time, He provided me with a woman I had no question would be my wife.
It was crazy the way love healed.