Page 10 of Hope in his Darkness
Tomorrow Clay and Cole could decide that going against Brody wasn’t worth the hassle and kick me out. After his fit about me staying in Georgia’s room, it was entirely possible. They were family. I was just some waitress they hired. They would surely stick together, and I would find myself out on my ass. I needed to keep that trailer, just for a little longer, at least. What if they were outside the door talking about how to get rid of me right this second. Tiptoeing to the door, I crack it open to peer into the hallway.
I can hear Brody arguing with his father, demanding I be put in Dom’s room instead of his precious Georgia’s. Jealousy suddenly courses through me for a woman I didn’t know, and I hate myself for it. She was Brody’s sister for Christ’s sake, not some ex-girlfriend, not that I should even be jealous of his exes but try telling that to my subconscious. Clay is adamant I am staying, which makes me relax a little. At least for now he wouldn’t be kicking me out on my ass.
Clay quickly reminded him that Georgia wasn’t living here anymore, that she was with her mate, and she was expecting a cub. What the fuck, a cub? They made her sound like an animal and there was that word again, mate. Why did they keep using it to describe Georgia’s fiancé? So distracted with my own thoughts I miss whatever it was that Clay said, but Brody made a growling sound like a beast before stomping off to his room, slamming his door.
Clay stands there watching him walk away, releasing a sigh of frustration. I can feel the tension rolling off him in waves. This is my fault. I am causing strife within his family. He didn’t deserve this. Clay had been nothing but good to me, hell in the short time I had known him, he treated me better than my own father had my whole life. I would leave in the morning, and they could go back to being family.
“Don’t even think about it little girl.” Causing me to jump out of my skin and release a small squeal. His back is still turned away from me. How did he know I was there? Before I can respond, the door Brody just slammed, flies open, and he comes barreling out snarling.
“What happened? Who do I need to kill?” He looks like he was ready to kill someone, and he still doesn’t have any clothes on.
“Stop acting like an animal and go put some damn clothes on! Nothing happened, your dad just surprised me, that’s all. Jesus, do you know how to act like a human being?” Clay is barely containing his laughter, while Brody is glaring at me through slitted eyes. Well, fuck him very much.
I should be afraid of him, but for some reason, I don’t think he would ever hurt me, at least not physically. He’s bigger than I am by about a fuck ton, naked, and looking at me like I’m his next meal at the moment, but I’m still not afraid of him. Maybe it was Clay’s presence that gave me that confidence, but for some reason, I don’t get violent vibes from Brody at all. Anger check, dick-like behavior double-check, but violence towards me just isn’t there.
“She was just thinking that you were acting like a spoiled little brat who lost their toy about her staying here and she was planning on leaving to keep us from fighting. Ain’t that right, Hope?” What the hell? Could he actually read my mind or something? I sputter, unsure how to answer, considering that is almost exactly what I was thinking. Shit is getting creepy around here.
“I am not acting like a spoiled brat,” Brody says, crossing his arms over his chest before giving me another glare. Crossing my own arms under my chest, I glare back at him.
“Oh, you definitely are like a spoiled brat who lost their toy and wants to blame everyone but themselves for losing it.” Suddenly he is in front of me, his body practically touching mine. His warmth feels like it is pulling me closer to him and my body betrays me by leaning into him just a little.
“Brody.” Clay says in warning, but Brody simply held up his hand with one finger, asking for a minute.
“You have no idea what fuck you are talking about. I didn’t lose her. I let her go. I could have had her, but I let her fucking go. Not because I wanted to, but because she wasn’t mine to keep. Then fate decides to land your ass in my lap as a consolation prize. Well fuck that, I don’t accept you. I don’t accept their fucking consolation prize.” His words burn more than a slap to the face would have. I have no idea what the fuck he was talking about, but I am no one’s consolation prize. Before I could reply, he stomps back off to his room, slamming the door for the second time that night.
“Shit.” Clay stares after his son momentarily before coming over and enveloping me in a big bear hug. “He doesn’t mean it; he’s just dealing with...”
“Shit, yeah, I know you guys said that already.” I sniffle against his chest. Why did Brody’s rejection hurt so much? It isn’t like I am trying to date him, or even be his friend at this point. I just don’t want him to be an asshole to me for five fucking seconds. Is that too much to ask?
“Let’s get you tucked back in bed; things always look better with the beginning of a new day. It’s a whole new day with a fresh start and anything can happen.” Clay ushers me back inside my room, guiding me over to the bed before tucking me in. I couldn’t remember ever being tucked into bed in my entire life. Was this what it would have been like for Georgia every night with this man as her father? Why does that make me even more jealous of her? That’s when it hit me what Brody said, and I was even more confused than before.
“My wife always wanted a little girl, but we just kept having boys.” Clay looks away for a minute with a sad smile playing on his lips.
“Georgia was this little elfin girl who was abandoned by her parents and my wife fell in love with her instantly. She would have brought her own the same day if they’d let us. I was afraid the boys wouldn’t appreciate some girl coming into their home, stealing their momma’s attention, but they all loved her. Now I realize some more than others.” He gives me a wry grin and a wink before heading to the door. Well, at least for now it doesn’t sound like Brody is in love with his actual biological sister. I mean, they were siblings, just not that kind of sibling. For some reason, that doesn’t ease my mind at all.
“Give him some time, he’ll come around, and if he doesn’t, I’ll knock some sense into that thick skull of his.” I don’t care if he came around to not hating me or not, or did I? Shit, my emotions were all over the place, I need to get that shit under control.
