Page 42 of Beauty Of Her

Amelia bit her bottom lip, looping her arm through mine, and led me into the basement. Or, what used to be my basement because it was now torn down to its studs. I gasped, clutching the banister, and surveyed the wreckage. The once cozy and familiar room had been reduced to a chaotic mess of exposed pipes, shattered drywall, and a layer of standing water covering the concrete floor. The smell of dampness and mildew hung heavy in the air, mingling with the dust kicked up by the demolition work. It was a sight that made my heart sink.

Amelia cleared her throat, pulling me from my daze. "So... about that flood," she began hesitantly, avoiding eye contact.

I spun around, ready to faint. “What happened?”

“I’d love to know, too. A burst pipe. It happened this morning. Don’t worry. I called your homeowner’s insurance. The girls showed me where you kept that information.”

“Just great.” I slapped my forehead, already picturing the insurance premium skyrocketing.

“Jules, is everything okay?” Brett’s voice echoed in the near distance.

I saw Brett standing atop the basement stairs, fighting a wince. It took a second for him to straighten, and he snapped his fingers with that fantastic smile. “Hey, at least you’re going to get a new basement. Insurance will cover it.”

“Oh, I’m loving the positivity here,” said Amelia, popping her eyebrows and digging Brett’s vibe.

“I liked the old basement.” I rolled my eyes and shifted my gaze just in time to see Zoe and Sara standing behind a clueless Brett. “Hey, girls.” I outstretched my arms, waiting for a hug. “I’m home.”

Sara scooted around Brett, running to me through the puddles and throwing her arms around me. “Hey, Mom! How was Florida?” Sara’s eyes darted between me and Brett.

Zoe remained beside Brett, arms crossed with a half scowl. Nothing out of the ordinary. “So, are you guys like dating, dating now?”

Brett’s eyes shifted to me, letting me handle the answer.

“Girls, Brett and I are seeing each other. We became official during the trip. And he can cook.” I stared at Zoe, hoping for any reaction.

“Can you barbecue for us? We barely get to have that,” said Sara, smiling at my boyfriend.

“I sure can, kiddo. Burgers?” Brett asked, winking at me as I blushed.

“Oh God, gag me,” added Zoe before turning around and leaving us in the basement.

Yup. I was definitely home.

It had been over a month since our Miami trip, where Brett and I morphed from lovers to a full-blown couple. I still couldn’t believe how Brett declared me his without notice, but I went with it. And I was thrilled.

Really.

This entire relationship represented new ground for me. Between his nonstop optimism and constant worship of me in and out of the bedroom, I didn’t know how to handle it. Never had I felt this alive. Not even when I was married. First, Peter was never into me as physically as Brett. When Brett’s eyes fell on me, they burned through my soul, leaving a mark. Either Brett wanted to touch me or simply admire me from afar. The attention was unreal, and I’d like to say I didn’t love it. Despite Brett's unwavering adoration, I couldn't help but question if this relationship was built on a solid foundation. Our age difference lurked in the back of my mind like a shadow, reminding me something inevitable would stop us from flourishing.

It was a lazy autumn evening as we lay intertwined on my couch, Brett's fingers tracing slow circles on my shoulder. It was Peter’s night with the kids, and I thought this was the perfect time to talk to him about some of the important stuff.

"Brett," I whispered, breaking the comfortable silence between us.

He peered up at me with those piercing hazel eyes, his lips curving into a content smile. "Yes, babe?"

“What are you thinking about?” Great. I was already getting off-topic.

“I’m thinking of how I can get to know Zoe and Sara better.”

That was unexpected. “What? Why are you thinking that?” I twisted my face.

“Seriously? They’re your kids. I feel like I haven’t seen them since that weird run-in when we returned from Miami.” Brett shifted his delicious weight toward me.

“You’ll have plenty of opportunities to get to know the girls better. Just be patient. Also, this is the first time I’ve dated anyone since Peter, so with this sort of thing, having you get to know my daughters, it will happen but may take some time.” I sighed. “Right now, I need to focus on the basement.”

“Has the contractor called you back?” Brett frowned.

“Not yet. But I’m sure he will.” I nestled into Brett’s nook.

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