Page 72 of And Then There Was Us
“I could come with you and I could rip them off of him. You know I’ll do it.” Kat smiled and fisted her hands.
“Then the real question is, what would make that feeling go away?” her mother said softly. “Because unless you’re dating a dog of a man, you’re going to deal with that anyway.”
“Why are you always the voice of reason, Mom? Can’t you just say,I’m totally with you here, Bree. I get it. It’s messed up, but I see why you’re afraid to face it.That would make me feel better.”
“I did say that, honey. You just didn’t hear me.”
There was a knock at the bathroom door.
They all froze.
“Bree?”
Hugh.“Yeah?”
“Layla’s really tired. Are you almost ready to go?”
Her heart squeezed so tight she thought she might cry again. “Yeah. One sec, please.” Brianna blew out a breath. “I’m going to go home and think about it, and I’ll decide tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” Kat raised her eyebrows again.
“Yeah. I can’t think right now.”
Her mother ran her hands up Brianna’s arms. “Honey, he isn’t asking you to marry him. He’s asking you to go watch him race.”
I’m going to make you a bride one day.Brianna nodded. “I know. But everything I do, every step I take, impacts Layla, too. It’s like having a super coupon for dating. I have the power to mess up two lives instead of one. What if I go to the race and realize I can’t watch him be pawed at?”
“You’re so weird,” Kat said. “He’s racing, not pole dancing.”
“I’ve got to tell you, honey. I don’t get it either. When are you worried about him being pawed at? I was so caught up in your hysteria that I didn’t even think about it.” Her mother looked at her expectantly.
“Ugh! I don’t know. I went online and there are all these pictures of him with gorgeous women. He’s near race cars and tracks in some and in others he’s signing autographs.” She watched the two of them exchange an eye roll. “What?”
“Signing autographs?” Kat shook her head. “So you’re worried about what exactly? You’re not worried about him cheating on you? You’re literally worried about him being pawed at?”
“I guess. Yeah. Why are you guys staring at me?”
“Because, Bree, if you trust him, why do you care if women paw at him when he signs autographs? And pictures on the Internet? He’s a big-time racer. Of course he’s going to be photographed with women. Was he cheating on a wife or a girlfriend? Did you read anything about him doing dastardly things?” Kat asked.
“Well, no.” She sighed.
“Bree, you’re pawed at all the time at the tavern. Should he not trust you?” Kat asked.
“See. It is me. I told you.”Ugh. I’m an idiot.“I’m overthinking again.”
“You’re protecting yourself and Layla,” her mother said. “I understand. Go home, think about it, and the right answer will come to you.”
She found Hugh carrying a heavy-lidded Layla on his shoulder.
“Hi, Mom,” Layla said with a yawn.
She put her hand on Layla’s back and kissed her cheek. “Sorry I took so long, princess. I’m sorry, Hugh.”
“That’s okay.” His voice no longer carried the upbeat bravado that it had before Brianna had reached into his chest and pulled his heart out. She cringed at the thought of how she’d hurt him.
The tension in his voice tugged at her heart.
“Let’s wait for your mom and Kat to get their jackets. I don’t want them to walk out alone.”
