Page 19 of Betting Brett

Sam huffs out a breath, understanding. "Take care, man. And if you need to talk, you know where to find me," he tells me. I can see the genuine care he has for me in his eyes. The ghosts of today’s events are reflected in there, too. It would take us both some time to get past the shit we saw today.

I nod, feeling grateful for his support. Sam is always a great friend, and he has proved it time and time again. "Thanks, Sam. Same goes."

We say our goodbyes, and I head out to the parking lot, the cool evening air hitting my face. I climb into my truck, trying to focus on the loud growl of the engine instead of the noise in my head. As I drive home, my thoughts drift to Andy. He’s like a balm to the burn of today. Just remembering his smile, his dumb jokes, his teasing, and his affection helps blunt the jagged edge of the blood-soaked images I can’t get out of my head.

The drive home is mostly a blur, the familiar landmarks passing by in a haze. Before I know it, I'm pulling into my driveway, the sight of my house a welcome relief. I park the truck, taking a moment to get it together before heading inside. I have no idea if Andy has put Isabelle to bed, and I don’t want to upset her. Pressing my head against the steering wheel, I take a deep breath. I have to leave work at work. Even if work today was the worst thing I’d ever seen.

I steady myself and climb out of my truck. I just want to get inside and into the sanctuary of home, where I could hopefully find some escape from the day’s gruesome events.

The day still presses heavily on my shoulders as I step into my home. The scent of freshly cooked food fills the air, a stark contrast to the metallic tang that seems to still linger in my nostrils from earlier.

I barely register the soft hum of the TV or the dimmed lights. All I can think about is the need to feel something, anything other than the numbness that's trying to take over. And as my eyes land on Andy, standing in the middle of the living room, concern evident in his gaze, I'm drawn to him like a moth to a flame. He’s about to ask me what’s wrong, but I don’t give him the chance.

Without a word, I close the distance between us, my hands cupping his face as I pull him into a deep, desperate kiss. He responds instantly, his arms wrapping around me, pulling me close. The warmth of his body, the taste of his lips. It's a balm to my wounded soul. It makes me feel alive. I relish the feeling of my feet on the ground, my hands on his face, my body against his. Hearts still beating, dreams still alive.

Just how it should be.

Pulling back, I rest my forehead against his, my breath coming in ragged gasps. "I needed that," I whisper, my voice hoarse.

Andy's eyes search mine, his thumb gently caressing my cheek. "What happened?" he asks, his voice filled with concern.

I swallow hard, the memories flooding back. "There was a murder," I begin. "A woman, left right there on the road."

Andy pulls me into a tight embrace, his fingers running through my hair, soothing me. "I'm so sorry, Brett," he murmurs, his lips pressing a soft kiss to my temple. “Did we know her?”

“No, just must have been passing through. Fuck.”

“Did they catch whoever did it?”

I shake my head, deciding not to get into all the grim details. Andy must sense my hesitation because he switches up the conversation.

“Do you want water? Coffee? Whiskey?”

I chuckle and shake my head, moving us to the couch. “I just want to sit here with you. How’s Izzy?”

“Great,” Andy answered. “She behaved like the sweet little princess she is. We had dinner, played a couple of board games, had ice cream, and now she’s in bed. I promised her that you would come in and say good night when you got home, even if she was asleep. She was worried about you.”

I nearly start to cry but hold it all down. I tell him thank you instead of letting my tears flow free.

“Of course. I’m here whenever you guys need me.”

I tiptoe into Isabelle’s room and give her a quick goodnight kiss, waking her just enough that she’ll remember I came in but not enough to interrupt her sleep. When I return to the living room, I collapse on the couch, leaning into Andy for comfort. We sit together in silence for a while, and as the minutes tick by, the tension in my body starts to ease, replaced by a warmth that spreads from the tips of my fingers to the soles of my feet. It's a warmth I’ve only felt from Andy, comfort and peace and safety all together. It pushes a thought straight to the forefront of my brain. I feel the words tickling at the tip of my tongue, ready to fall out of me. Was now the right time? Maybe not. But then again, as today proved, we were never guaranteed a second longer than we had right now.

"I've been doing a lot of thinking," I begin, my voice hesitant. "About us, about what happened at the cabin."

Andy pulls back so he can face me, his gaze searching mine. I can see the trepidation in his body language. "And?" His eyes reflect the dim lighting of my living room, looking like golden pools I just wanted to dive right into. Explore all of his depths.

I take a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. "I've realized that I'm happier when I’m with you than I've ever been with anyone else. You've made me see things in a new light, and made me feel things I never thought I could. Everything feels right with you, Andy. It always has. Now it just feels right in more ways."

Andy's eyes soften, a smile tugging at his lips. "I feel the same way, Brett. I've always felt a deep connection to you and an attraction, even before the cabin. But what happened there, it just... it solidified things for me."

I nod, my heart swelling with emotion. "I want to really be with you, Andy. I want to explore this, see where it takes us."

Andy's smile widens. "I want that too," he whispers, pulling me into another kiss.

We lose ourselves in each other, the world outside fading away. It's just the two of us, wrapped up in our own little bubble. The weight of the day, the pain, the heartbreak, it all fades away, replaced by the warmth that fills every inch of my being. The intensity of our kiss dials down, and we pull apart, our foreheads resting against each other. Andy's eyes search mine, a mix of concern and understanding. "You okay?" he asks softly.

I shake my head. "Not really," I admit. "But I will be. And knowing that you’re officially mine will only help."

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