Page 55 of That Time I Kissed The Groomsman Grump
“A log?”How attractive.“I was… was I… have I been… on you all night?”
He shakes his head. “I left you for a while. Checked on LuLu. Updated some files. Did a little”—he takes a beat—“work. And Doc Swanson called. Looks like Mrs. Swanson’s going to be all right. Once I heard that, I got tired too. I would’ve slept on one of those chairs”—he darts his eyes at the seats across from the couch—“but it was cold in here.” He nods down at me. “And you had all the blankets.”
I rub my sleep-crusted eyes. “Where did they come from?”
“Me. I put them on you,” he says. “And under your head. I didn’t let any sky elves in, in case you’re wondering.”
I let out a small chuckle. “At least I didn’t slobber all over you.”
“You did.” He shrugs. “At first. But only a little. By the time you started snoring, you’d pretty much stopped drooling.”
“Ugh.” I groan, swiping at my mouth. “I’m so sorry. I promised to keep you company, then I passed out cold while you were talking. And I drooled on you. I’m the worst.”
“Far from it,” he says. “You were just tired.”
“Yeah.” I nod. “I got more sleep on this couch with you last night than I did in my bed the night before.”
“I’m glad.” He runs a hand over his face, and I glance down the hall.
“How’s LuLu doing?”
“Resting comfortably, last I checked. And her stats are stable. Doc Swanson’s coming in to relieve me at some point.”
“I’ll stay with you until then,” I tell him before he can suggest sending me away.
“When are you supposed to meet Kasey and the bridesmaids at the salon?”
“Same time you’re going to the barbers.” His eyes sweep over me, and I feel a blush coming on. “It’s going to take a miracle for the ladies at Sadie’s to make me look good today.”
“You’re already beautiful.” He says this plainly, like it’s a fact not worth debating. My flush only increases. Being beautiful in Brady’s eyes makes me happy. Probably too happy, considering there’s an expiration date hanging over us. Still, I lean toward him, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. Closer. Closer.
Until he grits his teeth. “Hold on.”
“Oh no.” I gasp. “My breath is probably terrible.”
“It’s not that.” He shakes his head. “It’s just… we need to talk.”
My stomach lurches, like I’m driving past a car crash. I don’t want to see, but I have to look. “About what?” I ask.
He takes a beat and clears his throat. “Last night, while you were sleeping…”
“What?”
“I saw your rental agreement.”
My stomach flip-flops. “You went through my bag?”
“I’d never do that,” he says. “But I knocked the bag over, and everything spilled out. And now I can’t stop thinking about the fact that you’re leaving for real. And I’m staying.”
“Oh.” An ache spreads through me. I haven’t even read the contract yet, but Sloane is still expecting me to take over Kasey’s room. And I researched positions all over Los Angeles. St. Joe’s is a great fit. Then there’s Kasey and Beau. It was their idea for me to move to LA in the first place. I can’t let them down. And anyway, I don’twantto give up on my hopes of living closer to my brother either. My future on the West Coast is wide open, and I have to follow through.
“I’ll visit,” I say softly, but my pulse begins to race, thinking about having to fly. Of course, I’d always expected to come home for the holidays, but I was also hoping my parents would visit me. Half the travel means half the airplanes.
“Sure,” he says. “Maybe a couple times a year. And I’d visit you out there too. But that’s no way to build a relationship.”
My heart jumps into my chest. “You want to build a relationship?”
“I told you I don’t mess around, Nat.” He locks eyes with me. “And I meant it.”
