Brian

by Tessa Frank

  Mom sits rigid in the chair. “There are a lot of things in life that don’t matter, Hadley, honey. You need to focus on the ones that do.”

  “I think I am focusing on the ones that do.”

  Mom’s face twists, the planes of it becoming sharp. “I didn’t have the luxury you do. My parents picked my husband, and it worked out.”

  “Eventually,” I mutter because I’ve heard how rough things were in the beginning.

  “Money helps ease a lot of issues.”

  I lean forward. “What if money caused all of your issues? Have you ever considered that?”

  Mom sniffs. “That’s a fine thing to say when you have food on the table. You’d think differently if you didn’t.”

  “But I do have food on my table. I don’t even need to eat at your table.”

  Mom gasps at the insult. Her eyes narrow. “Do you have any idea how much your father and I have done for you? For this business of yours?”

  I blink, sudden dread creating an icy path through my veins. “You’ve never done anything for my business.”

  Mom glares at me. I feel doubt creep in, eating away at the faith I have in my own work. As if she can see it happening, Mom abruptly rises. “Pray that you never need to know the extent of what we’ve done to keep you afloat.” Turning away from me, she stalks toward the door while informing me that dinner is at six sharp.

  “It always is.” My whispered words are heard only by me and the doubts gnawing at me.

  15

  Brian

  I know I said that I wanted to attend a family dinner with Hadley. Watching her leg bounce in the seat beside me is ramping up my nerves. “Is everything ok?”

  Hadley mumbles an “um-hm,” obviously not fully registering my question.

  I pull to the side of the road a half mile from her parents’ place. “Tell me what’s the matter.”

  Hadley groans, laying her head back against the headrest. “Mom came to visit me Wednesday at my shop.”

  I note the day because that’s the same one when she called to ask me to come to dinner tonight. Took some effort to switch shifts. “Ok. What’d she want?”

  “For me to come to dinner tonight.”

  I don’t know why, but that doesn’t feel like the full story. “That’s all? Did she want you to bring me?”

  “No.”

  Something in her voice warns me, making my gut tense. Call it cop’s intuition. “Do your parents know I’m coming with you tonight?”

  “No.”

  Darn. That is not a good thing. Hadley’s parents are awful on a typical day. Catch them off guard and it could turn into a verbal blood bath.

  “Mom told me I don’t appreciate all the help they’ve given my business.” Hadley shifts in her seat, turning to face me. “The thing is, they’ve always been against my business. I can’t think of a single time they’ve helped me.”

  “Ok.” I’m not sure where she’s going with this.

  “Right. So why say that they helped?” Hadley looks down the road, like she can see the answer on the way to her parents’ house. “It’s got me wondering if maybe they did something to make their friends hire me.”

  That uncomfortable feeling kicks into gear in my stomach. It’s not helped by me not knowing what to say. “Do you think they pressured their friends into hiring you?”

  Hadley doesn’t respond immediately, and that gives me the opportunity to ask another question. “How long were you in business before one of their friends hired you?”

  “A little over a year.” She turns haunted eyes to me. “I started out planning parties at college for my sorority sisters. That’s really how I started.”

  “Then it doesn’t sound like your parents had much involvement.”

  A moment, then two pass. Hadley straightens in the seat. “You’re right. They really didn’t. Even if that first huge wedding was pushed by them, I’d been successful with the parties prior to that.”

  I ease the car back on to the road. “Right. Remember that when they’re pressuring you to do what they want.”

  “Which is nearly all the time,” Hadley admits with a rueful laugh.

  We pull into the circular driveway of her parent’s house. Multiple cars fill the space. “Are they having a party?” I ask, noting all the vehicles.

  “Not that I know about. Mom implied this was a family dinner.”

  “Lots of cars for a family dinner.”

  “Yeah.”

  I help Hadley out of my car, watching as she looks over the cars. Confusion and worry fill her expression. “We don’t have to do this,” she says.

  “Yes, we do.” I kiss the tip of her nose. “Don’t worry. It’ll be fine.”

  I really should know better than to make promises. We walk in the door. Hadley’s brothers make a beeline for us. “You need to leave. Now,” Camden hisses.

  “Before they see you,” Julian adds.

  “Why?” Hadley’s voice wobbles.

  Behind the wall of brothers her father’s voice booms out, “Here’s the proud fiancé now.”

  16

  Hadley

  I can feel the blood draining away. I might vomit at the look on Brian’s face. George, my ex-fiance, stands beside my father. They both hold a flute of champagne. My mother minces toward us, rage in her eyes but her face calm, masking it.

  “Fiancé?” Brian asks.

  “I didn’t know.” Even to me, it sounds like a weak excuse. How could I not have known this was coming?

  My brothers are forming up around me. Solidarity is something we’ve mastered, but this is definitely a time when I would have appreciated a heads up. “Did you know?” I hiss at Camden.

  “I figured it out while you were getting out of the car.”

  “Too late to text, sis,” Julian replies.

  Brian’s entire body is rigid with anger.

  “Hadley, dear, I heard you were having car trouble.” Mother speaks in a voice that somehow carries to those around us. “So nice of you to assist Hadley and get her here, Officer Miller. Thank you for your help.”

  “I brought him with me… for dinner.” I barely get the words out. I know the rage will come, but years of dealing with my parents leaves a mark.

  “That was unwise of you,” Mother says, voice low so only we can hear. “You’ll need to go now, Officer Miller. Your services are no longer needed.”

  “I can see that.” A muscle in Brian’s jaw ticks. The words are ground out.

  I grab for his hand. “I invited him.”

  “He’s not your fiancé, dear. He needs to go before people begin to talk.”

  “Mother,” Camden says, a rational argument coming.

  Brian jerks his hand out of mine. “Don’t bother. I’m leaving.” His eyes glare hate at me. “I guess I was hoping for things to be different but it looks like they’re exactly the same.”

  Brian spins on his heal and stalks to the door.

  “Bri—“

  Mom slams her hand over my mouth, muffling the sound. “You will not disgrace this family.”

  I struggle against her in vain. The door closes with nothing more than a click behind Brian. Father is talking loud, urging everyone to head into the dining room to eat and “celebrate with the lovebirds.”

  Mom releases her hold on me. “I hate you,” I whisper.

  Mom rolls her eyes. “Dramatic over a nobody. You’ll thank me for this one day.” Turning to follow the crowd, she eyes my brothers. “Hadley needs to powder her nose. Make sure she looks presentable.”

  Rage coils within me, needing an outlet — one that does not involve screaming in front of my parents’ guests. For all that I would love to do exactly that, some of these people are clients. Professionalism demands I behave myself.

  Camden’s grip on my elbow steers me away from the crowd.

  “I hate them.”

  “I know.”

  “I hate myself right now even more,” I whisper a touch louder.

  “We
know,” Camden says.

  My brothers march silently beside us. Julian pushes the door open into the kitchen.

  “Why are we going into the kitchen?” I ask.

  Andrew grins at me. “We’re not letting you marry that cretin.”

  “Yeah,” Julian chimes in. “We’ve got higher standards than Mom and Dad.”

  We all stop at the side door. I look at each of my brothers. “What’s happening?”

  Camden opens the door. “We’re giving you an out.”

  Andrew gives me a quick hug. “We’ll distract them, but you need to move fast.”

  “I already called Becca. She’ll meet you at your usual spot.” Julian grins. “I hope you know where that is because she refused to tell me.”

  Relief floods through me. “Thanks. You three are the best brothers ever.”

  “Yeah, well, remember that when our turn comes.” Camden looks back toward where the guests are. “Get going. We won’t be able to hold Mom off for long.”

  Andrew cracks his knuckles. “Speak for yourself, Cam. I’ve got an idea to keep them in the dark.”

  “If it involves beating the crap out of George, I’m all in,” Julian says, high-fiving Andrew as they rush back the way we came.

  “Remember that you owe us.” Camden shuts the door in my face.

  I don’t bother waiting around, no matter how much I want to see George get beat up.

  17

  Brian

  I slam the door. Hard. The jamb cracks at the lock location. I shove a hand through my hair.

  “What happened?” Brooklyn stands at the edge of the kitchen, towel in hand.

  “Same thing as last time.”

  Brooklyn winces, her lips narrowing into a flat line.

  “Uncle Brian! You’re back. Come play—“

  “I need a few minutes by myself,” I say, heading toward my room.

  I want to punch a wall as I hear Brooklyn cover for my abysmal behavior toward Jack. Poor kid doesn’t know I got my knees kicked out.

  I shut the door to my room, this time without slamming it. My movements are jerky with suppressed anger. I could kick myself. Or punch myself in the face. I dated Hadley once before, and it went the same way with her parents.

  “Nothing has changed.”

  Yet, in my heart, I can tell I was counting on her changing. I toss my button down into the basket. When I pull open a drawer, I see it. The flyer for engagement rings I picked up a week ago. It was too soon; I knew that. But I couldn’t stop myself from hoping and thinking things would work out in my favor this time.

  “Don’t need this anymore.” I crumple the flyer in my fist. It hardly counts as satisfying.

  18

  Hadley

  I round the corner to see Becca leaning against the hood of her car. I can’t stop myself from dashing the last few yards. “Thank you so much,” I say, grabbing her in a hug.

  Becca chuckles. “Julian said it was life or death.”

  I walk around getting in. “Maybe not that extreme but close.” With a snort, I spill it all as she drives.

  “So, are you in love with him?”

  “Brian, yeah.”

  Becca makes a strangled sound.

  “What?”

  “I was asking about George.”

  My brows drop. “Why would you ask about George? He’s dead to me.”

  Becca cracks up.

  “What?” I toss my hands in the air as she continues to giggle. “What is wrong with you?”

  “I guess I didn’t expect you to be so firm about your feelings.” I glare at her, and she shrugs. “You might not remember but I asked you the same thing when you got engaged to George.” Becca’s smile is compassionate, something I rarely see directed at me. “You weren’t half this enthusiastic. It was like you didn’t care.”

  I stare out the windshield. “I didn’t notice. I was kind of going through the motions.”

  “I know. That’s why I’m glad to see you now.”

  I’m finally aware of where she’s driving me. “Mack’s?”

  Becca lifts a shoulder. “Figured you could use a slice of pie. I hear the pecan is on the menu.”

  “That’s because Mack is courting Mrs. R.” In the time I take to say those words, I realize exactly where I want to go.

  “He might not be there,” Becca says when I tell her.

  “I know, but I refuse to let my parents control my life. They’ll ruin it.”

  Becca doesn’t offer a single argument as she drives me to Brian’s house. I’m about to right a wrong or die trying. I feel like I need to pee.

  19

  Brian

  “There’s someone here to see you,” Brooklyn announces at my door.

  “Pass.” I’m not setting myself up for round three.

  “I figured, but she’s refusing to leave.” Brooklyn closes my door as the sounds of an enthusiast Jack greeting Hadley filter in. “She probably wasn’t in on it,” she says, easing onto the bed.

  I twist to look at her, arms crossing. Brooklyn isn’t intimidated. “What makes you say that?” I give in and ask.

  “Because she’s here.”

  I blink. That’s not what I expected her to say. Before I can comment, they throw my door open. Hadley stands there, her sheer presence sucking away the air and all my intentions of kicking her out. Crap. When did I fall this hard for her?

  “I would rather die than be engaged to George again,” Hadley announces.

  “Looked like a posh party.”

  “One I’ve left.” Hadley takes a step into my room.

  I see Jack peep around her and give me a big thumbs up. I don’t have the heart to tell him that his uncle is a fool over a woman.

  “I’m not going back, Brian. That’s my past.”

  “I’m a part of your past.” I ache when she winces.

  “I was hoping you wanted to be my future.” I whisper the words, as if uttering them will make everything break.

  I cross the room, our audience forgotten. “Only if you’ll be mine.”

  Hadley smiles, tears filling her eyes. “I think I’ve been waiting to be strong enough for you.”

  My forehead rests against hers. “Let’s be strong together.”

  “Always.”

  I get one brief kiss in before Jack slams into us. “Yay, we’re all getting married. Can I be best man?”

  “Too soon, Jack.” Brooklyn drags him out of the room, his protests that he can plan an awesome bachelor party audible through the closed door.

  I barely hear them. I’ve got something better to pay attention to.

  20

  Hadley

  Tessa’s Gossip Column

  Oh me, oh my, dear reader. The Mitchell family has some serious drama go down the other night.

  Hadley walked out of her own engagement party.

  I grab a fry off Brian’s plate. “Hey! That was my last one,” he says, frown in place. I pout and bat my eyes at him. Brian rolls his. “Fine. It’s yours.”

  “Why are you letting her have it? She didn’t lick it or—“

  Jack’s eyes go wide as I purposely touch my tongue to the fry, then pop it into my mouth.

  “Delicious.”

  “You’re seriously weird,” Brian whispers.

  I barely hear him over the lecture Jack gives me about germs and manners. We’re sitting at a booth in Mack’s our favorite spot for second breakfast. When Jack winds down, I ask about plans for the rest of the day.

  Jack launches into a rapid speech about the park’s fall festival. I lean my head onto Brian’s shoulder. Months have passed since I choose him. I have yet to regret my choice.

  At the festival, Jack is busy proving his skill at the automated fishing tank when I see them. My brothers are all headed straight toward us. I nudge Brian in the side. Brian looks over, smiles, then wraps his hand around mine. “It’s ok. They’re on our side.”

  “I know. They’re the reason I made it out of the house and Becca was wa
iting for me. I kind of owe them for that.” I had talked to them several times since that night. Refusing to attend family dinner limits how often I see them. We’re all busy adults.

  “Brian.” Camden is the first to offer his hand. Julian and Andrew follow, each shaking Brian’s hand and receiving an introduction to Jack.

  “All ready?” Julian asks.

  “Almost,” Brian says.

  I glance between my brothers, Jack, and Brian. “Ready for what?”

  “You’ll see.”

  I dislike Jack’s grin and hopping from foot to foot.

  “You’re making her nervous, kid.”

  Jack glares at Andrew. “My name is Jack.”

  Becca arrives then. “Am I late? Did I miss it?”

  “Miss what? What are you all up to?”

  Brian turns me toward him. “Want to take a ride on the merry-go-round?”

  He wipes his palms down his jean covered legs. “Are you nervous about something?”

  “Did you propose yet?”

  Groans fly into the air. I spin slowly on my heal to see Damian, aka Officer Baby-Face. Camden punches him in the shoulder — which starts a low level argument about the legality of hitting a police officer.

  My eyes meet Brian’s. “If you’re asking—“

  “I was planning to.” He holds out a ring. A single round diamond in a gold band. Perfectly understated and exactly what I like.

  “Then I’m saying yes.”

  Everyone cheers. I ignore them to hug and kiss my fiancé. This time I know I’ve chosen the right man for me.

  Epilogue

  “How’re our wedding plans going?” I ask. Hadley’s head jerks up, surprise written across her face. “What?”