Page 71 of Jamie
“Was it making you happy?”
He shook his head.
“Then, I think it was the right move for you.” Bran grabbed a couple bags of tea and put them in the cups.
“I thought so too,” he whispered. But he’d lost everything for it.
Bran cupped his face. “That makes it sound like you’re not sure anymore. Tell me what you’re thinking, what you’re feeling. I’m here to help.”
“Everyone hated me. My folks—we’re estranged. It was awful.”
“Oh, Jamie.” Bran pulled him close and hugged him. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that. Sometimes taking care of yourself means you lose people who don’t have your best interests at heart, and it hurts, but it’s better for you in the long run.”
“I hope so. They were all so disappointed in me.” And he knew that he was the cash cow. The star. The one they’d all hung their hopes on, but it didn’t matter.
“It was their dream, though, wasn’t it? Not yours.” Bran’s arms tightened around him. “The people who love you should love you foryou, not for who they want you to be or what they want from you.”
“I wish that was how it always worked, don’t you?” Life would hurt less.
“Yes, that’s how it should always work. But I know it doesn’t. However. Silas and I? We want you to be happy. We want tonurture you as you explore who you are and become the best version of yourself.Youare what’s important to us.”
“I want the same thing for you. I want you to be comfortable in your home, and I’m worried.”
“I’m going to call a friend who runs a security guard business for a consultation. He’ll let us know how we can safeguard the place so it’s safe for all of us. We’ll get this figured out, I promise.”
“You think so? You think he can help?”
“I really do. It’s his job, after all, right? I’m a big believer in sourcing people in the know for things unless it’s something I’m good at myself. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel here, just find a specialist.”
“Right. I used to have security, once upon a time.”
“And then the money dried up when you stopped making movies, eh?” Bran kissed the top of his head. “Let’s get you a cold washcloth for your eyes. They’re a little swollen.”
“I was a little wigged out. I never got fired before…”
“Did they really fire you? Because I would have thought having all those people at the coffee shop would have been somewhat of a boon.” Bran grabbed a washcloth and ran it under the cold water.
“They told me to take my stuff and they’d send me my final check.” That felt like firing.
“Yeah, you’ve been fired.” Bran dabbed the cold washcloth beneath his eyes, then pressed it gently against them, the coolness soothing. “Their loss, but your gain. Now you can focus on your writing.”
“Yeah… Can…” He needed another hug, so bad.
“Always,” Bran told him, tossing the cloth at the sink and wrapping him in those strong arms, tugging him close. “I have you, Jamie. Daddy has you.”
He sobbed, just totally undone. “I’m so sorry for getting fired.”
Bran held him and stroked his back. “Shh, shh. That’s it, let it all out. And then we’ll go sit so you can get the spanking you’ve earned.”
He shook his head, but Bran hummed softly. “Sweet baby boy. I have you. Right now, you don’t have to worry about anything other than letting it all out. Your worry, your pain, all of it. You don’t have to carry it anymore.”
Jamie cried as if his heart was breaking—for all the things he’d given up and lost, for all the things he’d been scared of.
Through it all, Bran held him and rocked him and told him he was good, that it was okay, to let it all go. Bran was there for every second of his storm, absorbing his sadness and his heartbreak, taking it all in and holding it for him.
Finally, the tears faded, leaving him empty and raw.
“How about we share a shower, boy? It’ll help.” Bran took his hand and led him to the stairs.
