Page 20 of Fight for You

As Brylee nestles closer to me, the tension in her slowly melts away.

“I've never felt this way before. It's like you see straight into my soul and accept every part of me.”

I hold her close, savoring the warmth of her presence against my chest. “You are worthy of love in its purest form, Brylee. Every scar, every flaw, they only make you more beautiful in my eyes.”

She lifts her head to meet my gaze. “What do we do now?”

A smile tugs at the corners of my lips as I lean in to brush a gentle kiss on her forehead. “We take it one step at a time. Tomorrow night, come back here for dinner. Let me cook for you.”

Brylee's face lights up with a radiant smile, like a fragile flower blooming under the first rays of sunlight. “I'll be here.”

Her fingers linger on mine, a fragile smile plays on her lips. This moment feels like standing at the edge of a cliff, unsure of what lays beyond but willing to take the leap nonetheless. With a gentle touch, I cup her face in my hands, tracing the curve of her cheek with my thumb.

“I’ll cook your favorite meal. And we’ll savor each bite.”

“There is a lot more happening tomorrow than that. So be ready!”

Brylee stands up, a tender smile lingering on her lips and I watch her graceful figure move towards the door. A new chapteris beginning, one filled with possibilities and shared dreams, a re-do. Everything I have been waiting for.

As she reaches for the doorknob, she turns back to look at me, a softness in her gaze that stirs something deep within my soul. “I'll see you tomorrow.”

I nod, unable to form any words as I watch her leave, the echo of her footsteps on the porch fading into the night. Closing the door behind her, I lean against it, feeling a rush of emotions flood through me.

The realization hits me then - maybe this is the start of something real, something lasting. We have both done things in the past, but I can’t hold on to those any longer. This second chance is a blessing.

As I stand there in the quiet of the night, contemplating recipes and ingredients for our dinner together, a sense of contentment settles over me. The universe has conspired to bring us together again.

Tomorrow will be a new beginning, a chance to create new memories that will last a lifetime. Stories that we can share with own children and grandchildren someday.

I’m going to make every minute with Brylee count.

14

Brylee

As Candace sifts through the racks of clothes in my closet, she holds up a black dress. “This one is perfect for a romantic dinner.”

I hesitate, fingers brushing over the soft fabric, imagining wearing it for Leo.

“Maybe. I’ll put it over here for now.”

“What about this one?” she asks, her finger resting on a delicate silk number.

I frown, my hands twisting a strand of hair. “I don’t know. Don’t you think it’s too formal for a home-cooked dinner?”

Candace tilts her head, studying me. “Leo did say he wanted to make this dinner special. I think he’ll appreciate the effort if you dress up a bit.”

I chew on my bottom lip, torn between wanting to impress Leo and being comfortable. “I just can’t decide!” I gaze at the army of dresses.

The deep blue dress has a subtle shimmer that catches the light just so. “What about this one? Do you think it’s too much?”

“Girl, if you wear that, you won’t make it to eating dinner. You’ll be the main course.”

I throw the dress at her. “Girl, shut up! Although I do plan on that tonight. We have never had a problem in that arena.”

“Okay, so I might make jokes, but let’s keep the sex talk to a minimum. Right now, I’m not getting any and the last thing I need to do is be jealous of your sex life.”

She is so fickle. I guess the guy she is seeing at work didn’t work out. I am not going to ask to reopen wounds, so I just let it slide, and go right back to trying to pick between the three dresses on the bed. Each one is beautiful and sexy, but tonight has to be perfect.

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