Page 15 of Bren

In last week’s Church meeting, Bren had brought up the idea of purchasing the plot next to the factory that housed her new beauty range and having a farmers market every Saturday. There was a huge warehouse on the land that she was thinking about refurbishing and continuing the market in the winter or for those summer days when we got rain.

We’d take twenty percent of the profits from renting out spaces for the upkeep of the property, the electricity, and the water. The rest would be put into the fund that was used for the different charities that had been set up to benefit the village and those who lived there.

The idea had been voted in; I knew the next weeks were going to be busy for her, and I’d offered to help out, hoping she’d take me up on it… so far, she hadn’t.

With how busy we both were, there wasn’t a lot of time to connect with each other, and when we did get to spend time together, it was all about Lexi.

I’d only been back a month, and I knew that wasn’t enough time to fix everything between us, but if things didn’t move from this status quo we had going on, I’d have to start pushing.

I’d really fucked things up good and proper. Not so much with the brotherhood. Once I’d taken my beating from Reaper, that was it for them, and they welcomed me back, especially when I’d made it clear that I was staying and helping Bren with Lexi.

Ben had been another surprise; out of her brothers, he’d been the one I’d expected to be the hard one to crack, but he’d been fine. And like he’d said, as long as I treated his sister and niece with respect, he’d have no problem with me. But then Ben, Bren, and I had history that I didn’t have with anyone else.

No, what I was finding hard was not having my best friend there for me. Sam was still pissed at me for how I’d treated Bren, andI didn’t know what to do about that. Gunny and Mum had said to give him time; he’d been hit hard in the last year, what with Bella giving him the boot and then me fucking up. I hoped now that he’d met someone, he’d soften. If not, I’d be forcing him to because giving him space wasn’t working.

My alarm to remind me to pack up and go home sounded. Grabbing my phone from where I’d laid it on the workbench, I switch off the alarm. Cleaning up my mess from the day didn’t take long, and before long, I was closing up the garage and setting the alarm.

I walk out onto the pavement and look towards the café. It was Friday night, and for years we’d all met there for supper before going out for the night. We’d either go to the pub or to one of the nightclubs that the O’Sheas owned.

The table that we always sat at was full. From here, I could see them all, including Sam. I can’t lie; it hurt that he hadn’t reached out to ask if I wanted to join them. The others wouldn’t have thought about it. Deciding that I didn’t want company tonight, I walk over to my bike and swing my leg over, getting ready to ride home when Bren calls out my name.

Setting my helmet on the gas tank, I turn towards her, and not for the first time, I wonder how I’d managed to ignore her for so many years.

I’d always known she was beautiful, but since she’d had Lexi, she seemed to have blossomed. From her new lush curves to the new confidence in her step. Tonight, she was in a tight pair of jeans tucked into brown knee-high boots, a dark blue top, and a brown leather jacket that hit her at mid-thigh. Her long blonde hair was loose and swinging around her shoulders. Walking next to her, pushing Lexi in a pushchair, was Ellie. Whereas Bren wasshort and all curves, Ellie was the total opposite. She was tall and willowy, but they both had the same blonde hair and blue eyes.

With Ellie being so much younger than us, I’d not really spent much time with her. The more I thought back over the years, the more I realised that I’d been a complete and utter selfish fuck. That had to change. I now understood what Cash meant when he’d told me that I needed to grow up.

“Aren’t you joining us at the café?” Bren asks as they stop next to my bike.

Shaking my head, I reply, “No, I think I’ll head home.”

Surprise lights up Bren’s face, but it’s Ellie who speaks, “You should join us. Sam needs to get over whatever this is, and he’s not going to do it if you two don’t spend time together.”

“I don’t want to make things uncomfortable for you all,” I reply.

Ellie tilts her head slightly as if she knows I’m full of shit, “Uncomfortable for us or for you? I can assure you it’s not going to bother any of us.”

Laughing, I shake my head, “Wow, Ellie, you’ve certainly changed. Tell me like it is.”

“Not really,” she assures me. “I still see more than I should. But that aside, you should join us for supper.”

My gaze flits from Ellie to Bren, who nods in agreement, “Ellie’s right. You should join us.”

“Okay,” I agree, getting off my bike. They wait while I store my helmet in the saddlebag. Once I’m ready, Ellie forges ahead with the pushchair, leaving me to walk with Bren. Ellie winks at me as she walks past, and I hide a smile. Seems I have one ally if that wink means anything.

It doesn't take long for us to cross the road. Leaning past the girls, I pull on the handle of the door and open it for them to go ahead of me. I wait for Ellie to park the pushchair and for Bren to get Lexi out. “Do you want her?” Bren wants to know.

“Yeah,” I reply, taking Lexi from her and inhaling her sweet baby scent. Instantly, I relax, not realising how tense I’d been until that moment. Tucking her against my chest and resting my hand on Bren’s lower back, I usher her towards the table, Ellie having already gone ahead and taken a seat. Pulling out a chair for Bren, I wait for her to sit before I sit next to her. I reply to the greetings that everyone calls out, but other than that, I’m quiet.

“What do you want to eat?” Bren asks me.

“Whatever you’re having,” I reply.

“I’m having a cheese and ham toastie with tomato soup and water, is that okay?”

“That’s fine, babe,” I answer quietly. Her lips tighten when she looks from me to Sam, but she doesn’t say anything, and I don’t want her to get involved. It’s up to the two of us. It looks like my timeline has been pushed up because I don’t want Bren worrying.

“I’ll be back,” she tells me, getting up and going to the counter to put our order in. Lexi moves on my chest, and I can’t help but smile when I see she’s blowing spit bubbles in her sleep.

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