My stomach tumbles and my eyes veer to the basement to hide. I can’t escape to my room, and even the closet sounds mighty nice right now. Taking the pizza, I toss it in the trash, and run over to the couch. I grab the blanket lying along the back and spread it over my body.
Just as the key inserts in the back door, I lay my head down and pretend to sleep. Shit. I should have faced the back of the couch. I attempt to keep my face straight, no emotion and pretending to breathe heavy.
His footsteps don’t stop until he’s right in front of me and this act is way too hard for the outcome to be successful.
“Paige,” he whispers, his hand lands on my cheek and I pretend to flutter my eyes open. “I know you’re awake. I saw you through the window when I drove up.”
My eyes open and I can’t help but smile. Those blue eyes are brighter if possible. They’re clear of worry and hold a determination now. “Sorry, I got scared.” Why is he so easy to open up with?
“You’re mine.” He doesn’t beat around the bush and I move to sit up, the blanket falling off my shoulders.
“What?” I scrunch my eyebrows.
“My number one. Paige, you’re it.”
Tears well up again in my eyes and he kneels in front of me, his hands on my legs. He smirks at my pajama pants and then eyes me again.
“You cracked the code and opened my heart to possibilities I thought I could never have.” We share a smile and he continues. “Paige, you know what I just realized on the way home?”
“What?” my voice cracks.
“It’s always been you, Paige. I love how you reach for the radio to change the station to what you want. I love how the scent of your shampoo lingers in the fabric of my car. I love that you’re the first person I want to call and hear laugh when I see something funny. But one thing I don’t love is—” I gasp and fall back into the couch. “Besides your pants.” I stare down at the ‘check this out’ print on my pajama pants and laugh. “No one needs to be checking that ass out.”
Then his face goes serious. “I don’t like that you cast everyone more important than yourself, and I think it’s time someone puts you first. And I’m that someone.”
My stomach somersaults and my heart leaps while tears stream down my face. I inch forward and place my hands on his cheeks. “I love you.”
“I love you. Do you think bacon will make this even better?” He winks.
“You are what makes everything better.”
A smile creeps up his face and then his lips land on mine.
“THANKS FOR COMING with me, man.” I trail out of the Registrar’s office with Brady by my side. The man has connections at Western that I couldn’t deny access to.
“I told you two years ago I’d go with you. Nothing changed that.”
He’s the best friend a guy could have. Which only brings guilt to me since I was such a horrible bastard more times than not.
“Well . . . thanks.”
Appreciation is still hard for me to give, but I’m learning.
“Don’t get all sappy. I just sweet talked a few people.”
“You asked for favors and I know your dad yanked on a few strings.”
He grins and then shrugs his shoulders.
“It’s what friends do.”
I wish I could be half the man Brady is.
“So, the wedding?” I change the subject before the conversation overtakes with emotions.
“Yep. The wedding.” He glances around the hallway, waving to a few people I don’t know. Not surprising, Brady’s been roaming this campus forever.
“Don’t sound so excited.” I stuff my hands in my pockets as we exit the building. Amazing how the cool air of fall is already here.
“It just sucks. When I asked Sadie to marry me, it was because I loved her so much, you know? All I wished for was her to be next to me as we walked the path of life.”
“No need to use the lines on me.”
He chuckles. “You know what I mean. Now it’s turned into a fucking napkin matching a dress and five-star food; you have no idea how much a damn cake costs.”
Brady’s the guy who’s in a good mood almost all of the time. But each time the wedding comes up, a scowl comes across his face and he usually slides out of the room.
“You thinking about calling it off?”
He gapes over at me and then straight ahead as we proceed to the parking lot.
“Hell no. It’s just, I want it to be about us. The commitment we’re reinforcing. Not the dress, the food, the guests, or any of that bullshit.”
“Why don’t you talk to her?”
“And catch her between the incessant phone calls to her mom and her counseling sessions? I’ve tried, it’s hopeless.”
“She’s in counseling?”
“No dumbass, she is the counselor.”
We reach Brady’s Camaro and he opens the door, standing inside.
“I’m sorry. I’ve got nothing. I guess I’m too new in this area to offer any advice.”
He laughs. “It helps venting. I’m sure after the wedding it will all be back to normal . . . I hope.” His fingers weave through his hair as he rotates the stress of his neck.
“It will. Hang in there.”
He eyes his watch. “I’m already late for the caterer. Don’t forget tux fitting this weekend. Guys only, we’re going out after.” He points at me and I hold my hands up in defense.
“When have I ever been against a guys’ night?”
He smirks and shakes his head. “Since Paige entered your life.”
I nod, he’s got a point. Lately, it’s been me canceling practices and shows due to a baseball game for Matty, or just a night in with Paige.
We say our good-byes and then I jog over to my car.
I dig out the crumpled up sheet of paper with a list of errands that Paige shoved in my pocket this morning. The best route runs through my head so I make sure to get them done before picking up Matty at preschool.
An hour later, I’m waiting in the pick-up line outside Matty’s school. After stopping at every damn store in Western, I’m fifteen cars back, which sucks because I’ll have to wait for each kid to be escorted to their car, and strapped in. God forbid any of the teachers not chit chat with the mom.
Man, how my life as changed in only a few months. I used to wait for a tattoo and now I’m waiting for a kid I’ve grown to love as much as his sister. I’m even surprised how my world spun on its axis and flipped me completely around, but I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.
Paige and I still have a few hurdles. We’re waiting on final paperwork that states she’s Matty’s guardian, but as far as we know it’s only a technicality. They had no problem with Matty staying in the house with all of us, as long as he had his own room. Which he did, after Paige moved into mine. Lucky for Paige, her dad did release her trust early, which loosens financial pressures on her. There are times I see her sadness at night during one of those commercials with a daughter and a mother. All I can do is be there for her when she needs me; I can’t take her pain away, no matter how much I wish I could. Linda disappeared from that hospital room and hasn’t contacted us once.
My fingers drum my thigh as I crawl forward every four minutes until Matty’s skipping to the car holding Mrs. Williams, his teacher’s hand. I climb out to slide my seat forward so Matty can get in.
“Hey, buddy. How was school?” I ask, smiling over to Mrs. Williams.
“Thanks. See you Monday,” I say directly to her.
“Have a great weekend.” She peeks her head into my car. Matty’s too preoccupied trying to strap himself in. “Have fun at your birthday party.”
He lifts his head. “Thanks.”
Mrs. Williams follows the sidewalk to the next car and I slide into the driver’s seat, looking at Matty through the rearview mirror. His head is hanging low and he’s unusually quiet.