Page 119 of Branded
Maybe over time it would become something else.
Right now, that was the extent that I was able to allow.
And I considered it a win. A big win. That I could set and keep that boundary, that he wasn’t cruel and demanding and…flying out on a fucking plane in the middle of the night.
Would I ever forgive him? No. I didn’t think I had that in me.
But I might find some way forward that wasn’t a burden on me.
And that would be enough.
So right.
Hopefully, Smitty would understand that was why I’d called his brother. I wanted them happy and to find a way forward and?—
Brandon had been out of line.
But Brandon…
He’d also been dumped by his girlfriend, fired from his job, hadn’t slept in days—and hadn’t divulged that to any member of his family. Carrying burdens was a Smith specialty apparently.
He hadn’t wanted to ruin Smitty’s night.
And he had—sort of. Because it had broken the ice for me, brought me and Smitty closer together…and now I’d given him the chance to come, own up, apologize, and find a way forward.
I’d told him that, too. During our conversation, after I’d dragged the truth out of him.
Well, ordered him to tell Smitty and his parents.
Though, dragging the truth out of him had been accurate.
Look at me.
Soaring and ordering.
My two new favorite adjectives.
But now that it was getting close to go time (to when Brandon would show up), the nerves were getting the better of me. Smitty was in the kitchen, finishing up cooking dinner. His parents were with him, and I could hear his mom laughingly joking to send Smitty away from the stove if he burned the gravy.
And Brandon would be here?—
A knock at the front door.
“Shit,” I whispered, standing up from amongst the presents and moving away from the tree. I hurried to the front door.
But…Smitty beat me there, brows pulled together as he reached for the handle.
“Baby,” I began.
His gaze flicked to mine, brows drawing further when he took in what was no doubt a panicked expression on my face. “Little bird?—”
The knock came again.
“Please don’t hate me,” I whispered, even though I knew he wouldn’t.
“Why—” A shake of his head. “I could never?—”
I reached him then. “I know,” I said. “I’m talking crazy because I did something crazy and—” Another knock. “I hope that you won’t be mad.”
