Brandon, Ben, and Sam talk as though they’ve been friends for a long time. Ben asks him about cars, and Brandon asks Ben about investments. Sam chimes in every now and then with comments here and there. Sitting back, I observe them as my body nearly glows with warmth. I catch Dad’s eyes on me, and he nods. If only Mom could see what she’s missing, all would be right in the Rhoades’ household.
Betty enters the dining room and announces that Kenneth is here and would like a moment to speak to all of us. An awkward hush blankets the room as he walks in.
“I hope I didn’t interrupt your dinner and that everyone is through eating,” he begins. We all nod. “I chose this time to visit because I knew you all would be here. I had to come by and say, especially to you Mrs. Rhoades, because I know how much you pressured Jenna into marrying me, that she was right to call it off. It would never have lasted. We … I mean, I am not exactly the marrying kind. It wasn’t fair of me, and that day I came here for dinner, I actually came to say I was the one who called off the engagement. Not Jenna. I was wrong to have allowed it to continue. I’m sorry, Jenna, because I know how much difficulty it’s caused you. Thanks for leaving me at the altar that day.” He laughs nervously. “Even though it was a bit painful, it was a lot better than going through a divorce, I would imagine. Anyway, I apologize for interrupting.” He walks out.
But I have to ask him something, so I run after him.
“Kenneth, wait.” He’s standing at the front door by the time I catch him.
“What is it, Jenna?”
“First, you’re lucky you caught me here. This is the first Sunday dinner I’ve been to since… well, since the last one you came to.” I let out an awkward chuckle. “Your parents. Do they know?”
He bows his head and says, “Uh, yeah.” Then he looks at me. “After you left, and it was announced the wedding was cancelled, I figured what the hell. May as well do it then. So I gathered both of them up and took them into one of the bathrooms and spilled my big secret. My father nearly had a fit, but my mother said she’d figured it out years ago and wondered how I was going to pull off the marriage.”
“Jesus. How’s your father dealing with it?”
Kenneth shrugs. “He’s not. But I have Mom to cool his jets. She keeps telling me he’ll get over it. It’s not exactly ideal, and I’m in the job market because there’s no way I can continue to work with him, but if I’m honest with myself, I wasn’t happy there anyway.”
“And Horace?” I ask.
“What about him?”
“Are you still together?”
“Oh, we never were together, together.” He used his fingers for air quotes on that. “He’s engaged, but we still see each other.”
That is too weird for me to wrap my brain around, so I don’t even try. “Can he help with finding you a job?”
Kenneth laughs. “Probably, but I want to do something on my own, for once in my life. With my law degree, I’m fairly confident I can find something either here or in D.C. I can practice in both places.”
Smiling, I say, “Good luck. I hope you find your dream job.”
“Thanks,” he says with a grin. “And good luck with your guy.”
He reaches for the door, but I stop him again. “Kenneth?”
“Yes?”
“Thanks for stopping by.”
“You’re welcome. You know, I really do love you.”
“Yeah, I do know.”
I watch him leave.
A voice I’ll always recognize says to me from over my shoulder, “That was very admirable of him, not to mention quite ballsy.”
“Yeah, I agree. I didn’t pay attention to Mom when he was speaking, did you?”
“Nah, I was solely focused on you.”
“Hmm. You were?”
“Yeah. Just making sure you still want me.”
I put my arms around his neck and stand on my tiptoes. “You bet I do.” Then I touch my lips to his. “Guess we need to get back in there before they think we’ve left.”
Brandon agrees, and we walk hand-in-hand back into the dining room. As we take our seats, my mom drops the second bomb in as many as five minutes.
“Jenna, I owe you an apology. I was wrong. I’m sorry.”
I nod but don’t say anything. It took Kenneth coming here to get her to say that. The fact that she lied to me had nothing to do with her shallow apology. I’m not sure I’ll ever be on good terms with her again.
Normally, the guys would head off to the terrace and have cigars—one of Dad’s favorite things to do. But not today. I think Dad wants to have some words with Mom. Instead, we all say our goodbyes and head our own ways. Brandon and I get on his Harley and head to his house. When we arrive, he says, “Let me take you somewhere,” and we get into his truck.
Forty-One
Brandon
When she takes my offered hand, I use my other to put the truck into gear. Immediately, I head for the bridge. She’ll understand where I’m going once we cross it. However, she says nothing.
My heart is full, yet so empty. I’ve gained the one I love and lost my only brother. The taste is so bittersweet, I feel the burn in the back of my eyes.
I park in almost the same spot I’d been that day that feels a million years ago. Dipping my head, I take a moment to compose myself. Gentle pressure grips my hand before she presses the most heartbreaking kiss on my cheek.
I’ve waited too long to confront the demons that haunt my nightmares. It’s my girl who gets out of the car and walks around to open mine. With her at my side, I can do this.
After the sound of the door closes, we are left with the noise of the waves crashing on the shore. What should have been comforting stabs my chest with piercing pain.
Our feet sink into the sand as we make our way toward the lapping water.
“Will it ever stop hurting?”
I only ask because I know she’s been there.
She stops and forces me to face her. “It will always hurt, but it will get easier with time.” My expression fills with disbelief makes her soldier on. Pressing her hand flat over my heart, she adds, “Where it hurts the most is also the place where he will live on through you.”
“You make it sound so easy. Every day is a struggle. Sometimes I wonder if not for Kym needing my help, I wouldn’t have anything to hang on for.”
As I speak, I remove her hand and press a kiss to the vulnerable flesh where her palm meets her arm.
Not letting go, she pulls my hand toward her lips and presses them to my knuckles.
“You have me, and we’ll get through this together. A wise woman I know told my brother that there isn’t a time limit on grief. You don’t have to do it alone.”
As the gray sky kicks up the breeze, the ocean sprays us lightly as if to remind us of its presence.
“How could I possibly deserve you? I may have been the older brother, but he had this world figured out more than I do.”
“What I know about your brother is he would want you to be happy.”
She’s right; it’s just hard to accept. I face my nemesis and walk toward the water. Her strength helps me forgive nature’s most wondrous creation from claiming my brother as its own.
As I stare out into the churning sea, I let my mind remember all the times I saw my brother on the river not far from here. Times he swam in the pool also fill my head. The important thing I tell myself as those visions play out in my head is the smile he wore every time he was on, in, or near the water. It’s as if fate called him home using his love to take him there.
That night, I hold Jenna close as she slumbers. I’d loved her slowly, wanting to burn the experience in my mind. Here with her in my arms, I’m safe from the dreams that haunt me.
At some point, I drift off. It’s not my imagined brother’s cries for help that carry me in the dark, but his laugh and smiles. When I wake, the pain isn’t gone, but there is hope that one day I’ll always remember the good that was him and not how much I failed hi
m.
That’s when I notice Jenna’s gone, and her side of the bed is cold. I get up and toss on a pair of shorts before following my nose to the kitchen.
There, Jenna and Kym laugh as they cook bacon and other things my sense of smell clues me in to.
“What are the two of you up to?” I ask, scaring Jenna as she jumps out of her skin.
Kym smiles and winks at me. It has to be a good day if she can grin.
“We’re making breakfast. What does it look like?”
“Don’t you have work?”
Jenna shrugs. “I’m going in late.”
Moving around the counter, I nudge Kym playfully to get closer to Jenna. “You know cooking for me will be dangerous.”
Her eyes narrow, which causes my grin to grow wider. “What are you saying? That my cooking can be a killer?”
We all laugh because she realizes what she said.
I lean in and whisper into her ear and let my hand slide from her lower back to her ass. “I’m saying I might never let you leave if you start cooking for me. You know what they say about how to get to a man’s heart.”
She bumps me with her hip. “Who said I was going anywhere?”
Breakfast makes us all late for work. I drop Jenna off at her place to pick up her car before heading into work.
Dana’s at the front when I walk in the shop. A guy leans on the counter toward her as if he owns the place. She’s smiling, so I say nothing. I’ve only ever wanted the best for her, and that wasn’t me. Hopefully, this guy is.
I push through the bay door, whistling. Dana’s not too far behind me, having ditched whoever. Too bad, I hope the guy has balls of steel. He’ll need it.
“What’s up, boss?” Jeff asks, looking up from where he stands digging in a toolbox.
Angling myself, I face the both of them. “I’ve made a decision.”
Neither speaks, waiting for me to continue. Silently, I thank Lexa and her father. They came to me with an idea. Something that wasn’t completely new in my head, but with their concept, I have a mission.
“I’m going to expand our business. We’re going to put this show on the road. We’ll be making house calls under the name Braedon’s. It may not be his dream, but I’ll make his kid part owner in the business. And our motto will be to work with a smile.”
There’s so much more to the plan. In my gut, it feels right. Braedon, I think, his name on it would make him grin, loving the idea. His ego self would love the immortalization of his name.
“I’m in,” Dana says.
“Me, too,” Jeff agrees.
Later that night, I show up at Jenna’s.
At her door, I hold out my hand. “Let me take you out tonight.”
I’d made use of her brother’s number. I called him earlier to ask where her favorite place to eat was. Shortly when we stand before it, she says, “How did you know I loved FIG?”
“I’m just a smart guy. What can I say?” I wink.
Holding out my arm, she loops hers around mine. We walk up to the maître d', where I give our names for our reservation.
After we are seated, Jenna stares at me.
“What?” I laugh.
“You’re really stepping up your game.”
Shrugging, I say, “If this is our first official date, which sounds stupid considering everything, I wanted it to be somewhere you’d enjoy. Someone might have told me it’s your favorite restaurant.”
Her smile is nothing short of overflowing. “Now it’s time for me to say how much I don’t deserve you.” She holds up a hand to speak. “It’s true. I messed up.”
“No,” I say, shaking my head. “We messed up.”
Slender fingers cover my own, and I thread mine through hers.
The waiter comes over and brings wine I preordered when I made the reservation so it would be ready. After he’s gone, I use my free hand to lift my glass.
“A toast to new beginnings.”
“And many more to come.”
I wait until we’ve ordered to share the news with her. “I’m planning to start a new business. The one Lexa and I were supposed to do together until her father pulled out.”
“That’s great,” she says with so much zeal, anyone hearing it would know how genuinely she meant it.
“I’m planning to call it Braedon’s Place maybe. I haven’t figured that all out. But Braedon’s name will be on it.”
I go on to tell her how I plan to name my future niece or nephew part owner.
“That’s awesome. When do you plan to launch?”
That’s something I haven’t figured out yet. “I don’t know. I have the capital to do it.”
“You do?” she asks, sounding surprised.
I’ve never talked money with Jenna. If her mother saw my bank account, it’s likely she wouldn’t think of me as just some grease monkey. I can take care of Jenna, maybe not as lavishly as Kenneth, but she would want for nothing.
“Yeah, I guess some would call me a hoarder of money. I’ve been stashing some away with each paycheck since I got my first job. I just need some time to carve out a business plan that details all the things I’ll need. Even though I own the shop, I bought it from Will. This is the first time I’ll start something from scratch.”
“I can help you,” she offers. “With the marketing at least. And Ben is a finance guy. I’m sure he can tell you the best ways to keep your money safe. And Cate’s an accountant.” She breathes. “Okay, I’m volunteering everyone, but I’m sure they would be more than happy to lend a hand.” Her smile turns shy. “Anyway, we can do this together.”
Giving her hand a squeeze, I repeat the word, “Together.”
All plans to spend the evening on the town go to shit. After dinner, we are at her place, clawing each other’s clothes off. She fights with my belt as I fumble with the buttons on her blouse. I yank at her skirt, pushing it down her legs. Her teeth find the flesh on my chest once my shirt is off, biting in, showing me her need. Desperate to have her, I bear her down onto the sofa, using my knees to spread her wide for me. Using my calloused hands that are hardened from years of work, I squeeze her breasts before claiming them with my mouth. Pressing my fingers between her legs, I work her until she’s practically floating above the couch. Only then I plunge into her.
Groaning is my way of acknowledging that I’ve found my home, with her, in her, forever… her.
Sliding in and out, creating sounds of slapping flesh, I drive us both over a rise and peak before we cradle together, damp with sweat.
“I promise it won’t always be like this,” I say.
“What? Are you crazy? That was incredible.”
“But I hurt you.”
I hadn’t exactly been gentle as I gave as much as I took.
Her fingers claw down my back. “I’m sure you have some battle scars yourself.”
My phone buzzes, alerting me it had been going off the entire time, but we’d been too frenzied with each other to stop.
I get up, kicking off my pants in the process to get at my cell.
“Hello.”
The voice is so soft, I barely make out the words.
“Don’t move. I’ll be right there.”
I blink as I’m given further instructions and a tearful goodbye. Staring at the phone doesn’t change what I heard.
“Who was that?” Jenna asks, clutching her shirt as if she’s prepared to go with me to hell and back if I wanted her to.
Choking out the name, I say, “Kym.”
“What’s happened?” she asks, rolling her legs off the sofa so she can get into an upright position.
“Her parents are on the way to pick her up.”
“Why?”
“She lost the baby and says it will be too hard to see me. I’m a constant reminder of everything she’s lost.”
Forty-Two
Jenna
Brandon works tirelessly at his shop and also getting the new mobile business up and running. To be honest, I’m more than
a little worried about him. In throwing himself into the work so much, I’m afraid he’s not giving himself enough time to grieve for Braedon and to heal. Not to mention, the Kym thing. He insists he’s fine, but pain still bleeds into his beautiful clear blue eyes.
One Saturday afternoon, late in the day after the shop is closed, we’re sitting around talking about his plans for Braedon’s On The Go. He has everything in order, from the truck that will travel to do the repairs, to the extra help hired for the shop, to the accounting, which Cate has graciously agreed to assist with. I’m finalizing the marketing and advertising campaign. I’ve set up a Facebook page, along with an Instagram account, and we’ve done some mail-out coupons for first-time users. I called my connection with one of the local TV stations, and she agreed to do a spot on the morning show featuring Brandon and the mobile truck. He was skittish about it, because he’s never been on camera before. But as I explained it, the women will be falling all over to get to that truck when they see him. He wasn’t too keen on that, but I reminded him of why he started this in the first place.
Brandon stands and stretches, then leans toward me and says, “I owe you. This would never be happening without your help.”
“It was your brainchild. You had it all here.” I tap my temple. “All I did was work with your plan.”
“Yeah, but without you, I would be floundering.”
“Pfft. You would not. Give yourself some credit.” I gesture over all the papers that lay on the table. “Look at this. Most of this is you. I only put it into action.”
“And that’s exactly what I mean.”
Suddenly, I laugh, as he stares at me with question marks in his eyes.
“You want to know something?”
“Yeah, I would love to.”
“We make a great team,” I tell him. “Think on it for a minute.”
He ponders my words, and he grins. “You are on point. We make a very fine team. Beauty and the brains,” he says.
Giving myself a thumb in my direction, I add, “Yep, and I’m the brains.”
One Wrong Choice (A Cruel and Beautiful Book Book 3) Page 28