Page 8 of Backwater Bait

“I’m not going back to the company,” I grit out bitterly, not turning to face her. “I’m staying in the bayou. And you’re staying with me.”

The words hang in the air, final and irrevocable. I hear Belle’s sharp intake of breath, but I can’t bring myself to look at her. I know that if I do, I’ll give in to her every demand and I’m determined not to do that. Nothing is going to tear me away from the life I’ve built here. And the sooner she accepts it, the better.

9.

Belle

I watch Arcade as he stands by the window, his broad back rigid with tension. His words hang in the air like a death sentence, final and cold. My heart aches, knowing that I’ve messed up.

I slip out of bed and wrap my arms around him from behind, pressing my cheek against the warmth of his back. “Please,” I murmur, my voice trembling. “I beg you to reconsider for my sake.”

He doesn’t respond immediately, his gaze fixed on his beloved swamp. He’s such a stubborn man, hard and difficult and set in his ways.

I tighten my hold, feeling the muscles beneath his skin, the strength that I’ve come to love. “The company is your legacy,” I continue softly. “It needs you. It will crumble if you don’t come back. Everyone always says how talented you were, how sharp…it thrived when you were a part of it.”

He tenses even more, but I press on, my voice a desperate plea. “And it’s part of my legacy too,” I say, my voice cracking. “My grandfather was one of the original founders. The company means everything to my family, to me.”

He turns slightly, his eyes searching mine. There’s a conflict there, a war between the life he’s chosen and the pull of duty, of loyalty. When he begins to speak, his voice is rough with emotion, “I don’t want to be torn from the bayou. This is my home. But I don’t want to lose you.”

His words make my heart skip a beat, hope blooming in my chest. “You don’t have to lose either,” I whisper. “We can find a way to make it work. Together.”

He looks at me for a long moment, the silence stretching between us. Then, finally, he pulls me closer, his lips crashing down on mine in a passionate kiss. It’s a kiss filled with everything he can’t put into words—his desire, his conflict, his surrender. His sacrifice.

I melt into him, my arms wrapping around his neck as I pour all my love, all my desperation into that kiss. When he finally pulls back, his eyes are dark with determination. “For you, I’ll reconsider. But only for you,” he says his voice low and rough and then he lets out a curse. ”Fuck—do you have me wrapped around your finger.”

A relieved laugh escapes me, tears of gratitude and love welling up in my eyes.“I’ll make it worth it, I promise,” I whisper, kissing him again, softly this time.

He nods, his hands cradling my face as he looks into my eyes. ”I’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy. But the bayou… it’s still a part of me. I can’t give it up completely.”

“You don’t have to,” I assure him, my heart swelling with love for this rough, gruff man who’s willing to sacrifice so much for me. “We’ll find a balance.”

His lips find mine once more, filling me with renewed hope for our shared future.

10.

Arcade

Standing in the small bathroom, I stare at my reflection in the mirror. The rough, unkempt hair, the beard that’s grown wild over the months. Today, it’s time to shed that layer, to become someone I haven’t been in a long time.

I pick up the razor, feeling the weight of it in my hand. Slowly, I begin to shave, watching as the stubble falls away, revealing the face underneath. Each stroke of the blade is like peeling back a layer of my past, bringing me closer to the man I used to be. When I’m done, I rinse my face and look up, seeing a cleaner, more polished version of myself staring back.

Next, I comb my hair, taming the wild strands into something more presentable. It feels strange, going through these motions, but I know it’s necessary. For Belle, for the company, for the legacy that’s as much hers as it is mine.

I walk back out and open the old wooden wardrobe. Inside, wrapped in plastic, is the only suit I saved from my old life. I take it out, feeling the smooth fabric between my fingers. It’s been years since I wore it, but it still fits perfectly. I button up the shirt and fasten the tie, then turn around when I hear a stunned gasp.

Belle’s eyes are wide in surprise, and she covers her mouth with her hand. “Oh wow,” she breathes, “I almost can’t believe it’s you. You look like a completely different person.”

I give her a small, crooked smile. “Don’t be too impressed,” I say, my voice gruff. “It’s the same old me, just cleaned up a bit.”

She steps closer, her hand resting on my chest. “You’re amazing however you look,” she whispers. “And you know…I kinda liked the bristly beard.”

”Turned you on did it?” I rasp and she nods, flushing.

”Uh-huh.”

Hiding a smirk, I decide I’ll have to let it grow long when we’re on vacation or something and then I lean in to kiss her forehead. ”Let’s get this over with.”

We leave the bayou together, the familiar sights and sounds fading as we head for the city. The closer we get, the more I feel the tension building inside me. This place, this world, is one I thought I’d left behind for good. But now, with Belle by my side, it also feels different and not as bad as I remembered.

---