Page 64 of Slow Burn
“Pot hello kettle.” Gigi growls from somewhere, and I can just picture the three of them standing there like Charli's Angels. I almost laugh, but it hurts.
Brynn is at my side, dismissing Isabel as she leans over me. I try to reach for her, but can barely lift my arms. We're both crying as she presses close, right in front of our friends and my ex-wife and touches her forehead to mine. I lift my arm enough to tangle my hand in her thick hair, lifting my dry lips to graze them over hers.
“I love you. I love you, baby.” Brynn whispers before letting me kiss her slow and sweet. Slowly, she lifts and the fear that was there seconds ago is gone. Fire and heat and rage are there and I wince when her eyes slide across the way to pin Isabel down.
“I suggest you go. Stay gone. Out of my fucking sight. Away from our home. Away from my family. Preferably, out of my fucking city. Threaten me or Levi again about taking our daughter, about fighting a battle I promise,” Brynn spits the word out with icy malice and I think my dick gets hard, “Ipromiseyou, you will lose, and you will regret it.” Isabel's mask of indifference cracks and she sighs, blowing it out towards the skies.
“Sounds like it's you making the threats, honey. I have a right to my daughter. To my husband.” I cringe when she smiles sweetly, wondering how I ever thought we could work.
“Mydaughter.Myhusband. Been through this, Isabel. I don't make threats. I promised, and those, I don't break. Like I promised my daughter to love, provide and protect her. You know absolutely nothing about how to care for others. No one who held that precious little girl and loved her could ever walk away from her. Don't tell me you came back for anyone other than yourself.” Isabel sucks her teeth, crossing her arms beneath her big, fake tits, and glaring.
“Then tell me why you think I'm here, Miss know-it-all?”
“Because whomever you left with, wherever you went to fell apart. Like it always has and like it always will. You will forever be in a constant state of upheaval because you cannot love anyone else as much as you love yourself. I'm not even judging you for that, Isabel. It's petty and self-serving, but it's probably not even your fault,” Brynn sighs and bows her head sadly, and Jesus Christ, could she be any more perfect?
“You can't ask that little girl to come second. Not when we will always put her first. Sometimes it's better to walk away and close a door you know you will always try to keep open for the wrong reasons.” All eyes turn to Isabel and I can feel the moment her stony facade cracks.
Oh, she doesn't warm up, or agree, but her shoulders go back a little, and I see the tiny tremble in her jaw. But, in true Isabel fashion, she has to be the one to make the decision.
“You are exhausting. This has been exhausting.Fine.Take me off your emergency contact list, husband.” And just like that, my queen cut off the head of my past.
Brynn watches her go, those jade eyes fiery and Iknowmy dick gets hard now. I tug as hard as I can manage at her neck, bringing her lips back to mine. When she lifts away, I am in pain but happy as fuck, and she's breathless and smiling. I love that smile. With those bright eyes and her freckles and those perfect pink lips. Jesus.
“I love the fuck out of you, honey.” I whisper, not even caring that we're not alone.
“Love you more, baby.” Our look grows heavy and I wonder if the others are uncomfortable. I don't care, they're the ones watching like some perverts.
“How about we give them a moment, uh?” Charli clears her throat and I grin, searching for her and tossing her a wink.
“Think I need more than a minute. Cage must be slipping if you think that's all it takes, Charli Doll.” I hear two sets of laughs, Gigi and Charli, and then a string of curses from Cage.
“Fuck you, broseph.” I beam a smile at him, knowing his bro-terms are usually reserved for Finn. Guess nearly dying might have upgraded me.
Just then I think of Amelia; I want to see my Princess.
“Where's our nugget?” I manage, realizing I am exhausted, the whole Isabel visit draining me.
“Finn has her down the hall with Lola and Ford. Want me to get her?” Slowly those pretty eyes trail over me, sadness darkening them and I wonder how bad I look.
“Brynn. Baby I am ok. Actually....I don't know how hurt I am. I can't remember much and I didn't ask. I just asked for my girls.” Brynn shifts, lying her entire upper half alongside mine, being very gentle.
“And here we are. I was so scared, Levi,” Brynn presses her face into my neck and I lift an arm to hold her close, “scared the last moment I had with you, I ruined. I was so stupid. Again. I make bad choices, I don't think I deserve you or Amelia. But I want you both. More than anything, I want my king and our Princess and the fairytale. I want it all.” We're kissing without either of us really moving and it fucking hurts, but it hurts so good.
“Let's not have moments like that again. Let's promise even if we have more dragons to slay, we do it together. We always say how much we love each other, we never go to bed angry, and we always tell our daughter how special she is. How she made us a family when we didn't even know what that really meant.” Brynn sobs and it hurts my soul; I don't even notice the pain when she shoves into the bed beside me, her arms closing tight around me.
“I promise. I will never let our little girl question how special a Princess she is. Amelia made us a family.” I nod, gathering her close as I begin to go woozy, although I fight it.
“I think I got it wrong, honey. It was you.” My eyes are heavy and I'm warm all over for the first time since this started. I fight to stay awake, wanting to be sure she's okay, wanting to have my girls there with me.
“Wrong about what, Levi?” Brynn's voice is warm at my ear and I feel that warmth spread and I smile into her cheek.
“You slayed the dragons. You built our castle. With your fucked-up bricks and mine. You made me your king. You gave us the fairytale, Brynn. It was you.”
I got my queen and my Princess, but it was because Brynn gave them to me. Brynn had made the fairytale so fucking real.
