Chapter 26 Never Let Up
NEVER LET UP
Rowan didn’t want to tell Saylor that he was positive West was here to meet her. Not that he didn’t appreciate his brother appearing for this event. It’d carry more weight for sure.
He might have been annoyed by West’s feeling that he had to nudge things in the past, but now Rowan realized that Sixth Surf’s continued growth benefited both him and his brother.
Having Nelson here wasn’t anything new. He was looking forward to seeing his brother again.
The one he had the most fun with.
They’d go out and drink, hang with his friends. Have chicks fawning all over them.
He’d show off for his little brother who ate it up.
Those days were long gone in his eyes.
He never took what was offered, though he let Nelson believe it half the time.
Braylon coming too was just another show of support. He had to admit he felt respected in a way that they’d take the time out of their busy schedules to fly in for a day or so.
Especially since he and Saylor would fly to New York in ten days to spend time with his family before Foster’s wedding.
Saylor was already anxious about meeting so many of his family at once. He thought maybe this would be easier for her now, but he didn’t know what went through a woman’s mind.
“It’s not unheard of for my family to show up like this,” he said. “And with the event, I expected someone to come. Usually Nelson since he and I are so close.”
“But not West?” she asked.
“He has in the past, but he’s busy. This is big with the new board line and clothing and you know West helped get the business off the ground. He owns part of the company.”
He never explained much, just glossed over parts. Still more than he’d done with other women in his life.
“Is he staying here?” she asked. “Or going back to New York?”
“They will fly back later,” he said. “His jet is nicer than most people’s homes. There is a suite for him to sleep in and most of the chairs and couches turn into beds. This is a one-day trip. With the time change, it made it easier for them to make it.”
The event was starting at three, but it was a little after noon now. He’d be there before two to greet guests and media.
He didn’t want Saylor to shy away from his world, and he was thrilled that she was off anyway for this, as she had to take Wednesday before and Sunday off after Foster’s wedding for them to travel and return home.
He didn’t want her flying without him, but he had to be there those times.
“Should I see if they want something to eat?” She turned to walk out of the bedroom. “Did you eat yet?”
“That’s very sweet of you to do that. Considerate too.” She always thought of others first. His mother was going to eat that up.
They were in the kitchen and she pulled out food, but he stopped her.
“I’m sure they ate on the jet. Don’t worry. I’m going to have some of the leftover lemon chicken salad you made last night though. I’ve got food and drink at the expo but need something now.”
She grabbed the bowl out of the fridge. It was a new recipe she’d tried and he thought it was awesome.
He opened the bread, put two slices on a plate, then spread the chicken salad on it and topped it with lettuce.
He was one bite into his sandwich when the doorbell went off. He unlocked the door from his phone and mumbled around a mouthful, “It’s open,” for them to walk in.
Nelson knew the code to go through the garage, but maybe he figured since Rowan didn’t live alone now, it was best to not just walk in.
His three brothers came down the hall. No one looking at them would guess their worth.
They all had shorts and T-shirts on. He had shirts for them to wear today from his line.
“On the couch,” he said, pointing. “Pick out what you want. There are eight to choose from in your sizes.”
His brothers didn’t move. “Aren’t you going to introduce us?” West asked.
“You saw her on video at Christmas,” he said, grinning.
“Hi, I’m Saylor,” she said, moving forward. “You’re West, Braylon, and Nelson.”
His girlfriend shook hands with his brothers.
“Nice to meet you,” Braylon said. “My brother has no manners.”
“I’ve got manners. Mom would brain me if I didn’t. But things are just more laid back here and you know it.”
“That’s always been his excuse,” Nelson said. “Be honest, how is he really?”
“He’s great. So considerate and always helping.” He was munching on his sandwich as his girlfriend highlighted all his good qualities. “He knows what I need before I do half the time.”
“He’s a suck-up like that,” Nelson said. “Where’s mine?”
Nelson was looking at his sandwich.
“I’ll make it,” she said. “Does anyone want anything else? Rowan told me you would have eaten on the plane.”
“I’m fine,” West said.
“Me too,” Braylon said. “We ate. Nelson was too busy sleeping because he was out last night late.”
“Whatever,” Nelson said. “When you guys were my age you were too. Or maybe not West because he was too stuffy.”
West narrowed his eyes at Nelson but held his tongue. He at least was smirking. Years ago, before Abby, a massive lecture would have ensued.
His brothers finally moved to the couch to look at the shirts, and each picked one. Nelson just pulled his shirt over his head and changed right there. Braylon and West went upstairs, then came down a minute later in their shirts.
Not that his brothers were out of shape, but they were more reserved than taking their shirts off in front of someone they just met.
“Here you go,” Saylor said, handing over the dish with the sandwich on it.
“Thanks,” Nelson said. “Place looks great. Got some color in here.”
“Saylor is putting her touch on it,” he said. “I want her to feel like it’s her home too.”
He looked at West and saw the eyebrow raise, then got the nod for them to go talk.
Rowan finished his last bite and put his dish in the dishwasher. “I’ll be back.”
He knew leaving Saylor with Nelson and Braylon would be fine. Two of his funnier siblings.
West walked downstairs and he followed. They’d go outside by the water and talk. They always did.
His brother was already slipping off his canvas sneakers. Rowan was barefoot more often than not, and they made their way toward the ocean.
“How are things going?” West asked.
“Great,” he said. “I left the expo not that long ago. Ran home to shower, change, and get Saylor. We’ll head over soon for me to welcome people.”
“I know the expo will be fine. You’ve got your pulse on everything like you always do. When you were a kid, I may have given you a hard time, but when you focus, you never quit.”
He laughed. It was the first he’d heard that and he’d take it as praise. “I won’t. I want this to be big.”
“It’s grown faster and bigger than I thought it would, so keep doing what you are.”
“I plan on it,” he said. “If you didn’t mean work, then you meant my relationship with Saylor?”
“Yes,” West said. “It’s been a few months now.”
“Three,” he said.
“Three months. I know you’ve been in relationships longer but haven’t brought women to family events.”
“We haven’t had weddings until recently,” he said. “It’s not like I was with people during holidays most times.”
“Ava,” West said. “Who will be there today? Does Saylor know about her?”
He sighed. “She knows our working relationship. We are friends. We were really always friends.”
“But you were in a committed relationship with her for over six months,” West said. “Do you think it’s wise to put your current girlfriend and your ex in the same room and not even give her a heads up?”
“I should have, but I didn’t. And now it’s too late. I don’t want to make her more nervous. It’s bad enough I had to break the news to her you three would be here when she thought she had a few more weeks to meet everyone.”
“I can see how you feel about her,” West said. “Hear it in your voice too. Mom told me about what happened a few weeks ago when she was surfing.”
“I didn’t think my heart could take it. She knew what was going on and what to do, but I was ready to give her this fast acting spray. I thought she was going to pass out.”
He and West got to the water’s edge, the wave spreading up the beach and over their toes.
“It’s hard to see someone you love suffering or in pain. Watching Abby give birth was a rough one for me. I think women are just stronger than us most times.”
“I promise not to admit you said that.”
West laughed. “Appreciate it. But I tell my wife all the time she’s tougher than me. She has to be to put up with my lifestyle and our family.”
“Saylor is going to be fine,” he said. “She’s talked to Talia multiple times now.”
Talia had called to meet Saylor and speak months ago. He appreciated it since Talia was only two years younger than Saylor.
“Mom told me that.”
“I didn’t realize you got so many updates from Mom. Did she tell you to come here?”
“No,” West said. “I wanted to be here for this and wasn’t sure my schedule would allow it. Nelson was planning it anyway and he canceled his flight once I could manage it. Braylon wanted to add his support too.”
“Thanks,” he said. “It’s great to have you all here. I mean that.”
Rowan was used to doing a lot on his own. Nelson or Laken would try to come in to give family support the most, but with his sister in her last trimester of pregnancy, she was benched from flying unless necessary, per her husband. He would have told her no if she even considered it.
The only reason Talia was flying to New York for the wedding a month before she was due was because she’d be on West’s jet and have Jace with her. Jace was an EMT on top of being a fireman and said there was no way in hell she was out of his sight this far along.
He’d only met his brother-in-law twice. Once when he flew to North Carolina to find out what was going on with his sister and her relationship. Then two months later for their wedding.
Jace seemed like a stand-up guy and his sister was in love. That was all he cared about.
He wouldn’t fill his life with worrying about other people’s problems.
It was something he always separated with his time. Until he saw Saylor at the airport.
Then all those things he’d told himself went out the window.
“Mom thinks Saylor is the one,” West said.
“I told you she was. Did you tell her that?”
“I’d never,” West said. “I tried to stop giving advice.”
“But you want to do it now. What?”
“Tell Saylor how you feel. Don’t wait. I did and it caused more issues than it should.”
“I show her how I feel,” he said.
“It’s not always the same thing. My guess, she’s waiting for the words and is just as afraid to say them as you.”
His shoulders dropped. “I hope so.”
“You’re always so worried about upsetting people or causing fights. You need to get over it.”
He’d heard that enough in his life.
“Yeah. We fight very little.”
“Because you give in?” West asked.
“Don’t you give in to Abby?”
“Not all the time. Do you think Saylor would like it knowing that you did?”
“I don’t,” he said. “Trust me.”
He put his foot down on the money and her share of paying for things.
It’s not like Saylor made every decision in their relationship. She didn’t. He felt they did it evenly.
There were times her blood sugar was off and he knew she needed space and he gave it to her. Why upset her more or start a fight when she needed to focus on something else?
“It’s your relationship,” West said.
“That’s right. I can handle it.”
They made their way back. He heard the laughter when they entered the house on the lower level.
“I’m sure Nelson is giving her an earful of what you’re really like.”
He cringed and walked faster.
“What’s going on?”
“Your brother was telling me he’s a slob and it drove you nuts,” she said.
“That’s right. Every time he comes to stay here I have to call the cleaning company to take care of the downstairs. It’s not just his bedroom but the whole lower level.”
Nelson shrugged. “I always plan on getting to things, but I forget.”
“Let’s go,” West said. “I want to run and get some taffy quickly for Abby. I told her I’d bring it back. We’ll meet you there, Rowan.”
His three brothers left and he walked over to sit next to Saylor.
Maybe it was time to tell her how he felt.
This was a big day for him and what better way to celebrate on more than one level than to tell his girlfriend he loved her.
“I’m so happy you could be here by my side today,” he said, taking her hand.
“Me too. I would have hated to miss it if I couldn’t get the time off.”
He threaded their fingers together. “You’ve been here three months now. Are you happy you did it?”
“Very,” she said, putting her head on his shoulder. “The house is stunning. The weather is gorgeous. The view is pretty marvelous.”
She was looking at him and wiggling her eyebrows.
“That’s it? It’s all about what you see and not feel?”
She angled her head. “I feel a lot,” she whispered. “You know that.”
“You’ve never said.”
“Neither have you.”
“Maybe I’m afraid,” he said, his hand caressing the side of her face.
“I doubt you’re afraid of much.”
“You’d be surprised. But in this case, I’ll put my fear aside. I’ll say it first and hope the words come out of your mouth too.”
She smiled at him. A tender, gentle one. Full of love and caring that he’d been blind to see prior.
He hated he needed his big brother to tell him to look for it and put his ass in gear.
“I’m positive they will.”
He leaned in and put his mouth to hers. “I love you, Saylor Beach. I feel you were meant to be in my life, and I’d be lost without you now.”
She whispered against his lips, “I love you, Rowan Carlisle. It’s like you were meant to belong in my life and I’d be lost without you now.”
He kissed her hard and laughed, then pulled her into his arms. “You can’t even be original with your words?”
“There is no reason to be original when you said it perfectly.”