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Meka studied them both before turning her attention to Samantha. “Are you okay with this? You don’t have to go with him if you don’t want to.”
Bryce would have been annoyed if he didn’t appreciate how protective Meka was toward Samatha. He couldn’t get angry with anyone who was looking out for her. With Samantha held firmly against his side, they walked through the doors and into the bitter cold. The entrance to the garage was at the end of the block, and they walked in silence.
“Do you want me to take you home?” he asked once they were inside his truck.
She looked so lost sitting in the passenger seat that all he wanted to do was pull her into his arms and comfort her. It took a lot of effort, but he was able to redirect his attention to driving. He pulled out of the parking space and slowly drove to the gate, cash in hand.
“I don’t want to go home,” she breathed, her voice so quiet he nearly missed it.
“Okay. I’m taking you home with me, then.”
He meant for his statement to sound more like a question, but if he was honest, he wasn’t asking. He’d given her space as she requested, and now he was looking at a broken version of the woman he had fallen in love with. Never again would he doubt his instincts and do what he felt in his soul was the wrong thing.
“I’m sorry I disappeared on you.”
His gaze remained on the road as he waited for her to continue. When she didn’t, he waited a few minutes before he spoke.
“Do you want to talk about why? You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
She waited so long to speak he assumed she wasn’t going to. And that was fine. She didn’t owe him any form of apology.
“You’re a good man. Too good. I knew that you would stick around no matter what, and I don’t want you to do that just because you feel obligated. I’m not the only one fucked up by all this,” she explained. “I don’t want you to try to convince me that you’re okay raising your brother’s child. I know the relationship between the two of you was pretty bad. And I know that you’ll say you’re okay with it. Just because I’m keeping this baby doesn’t mean I want us to still be together.”
He let her words sink in. Sure, he had expected her to say as much, but it still stung. There were too many assumptions between the two of them. He assumed she knew how he felt about everything without having to tell her.
“Do you want to hear how I feel about all of this, or would you rather go with your version?” He didn’t mean to sound harsh, but he was annoyed that she continued to underestimate him.
He knew she was tired, emotionally exhausted by her morning. If she didn’t answer him or chose to go with her own version, he wouldn’t push. Not yet. She leaned her seat back and he figured she was going to sleep, which was also fine. He focused on the drive. The sky was gray and dreary which matched his mood, but at least it wasn’t snowing. He also took a moment to appreciate the lack of traffic. He had hit plenty of traffic on the way into the city which was why he had nearly missed her.
“Tell me,” she requested, her voice pulling him out of his thoughts several minutes into the drive.
“I wouldn’t do that, you know,” he began, unsure if he wanted to dive into a monologue, or just give her a short version. “I don’t say things I don’t mean, and I don’t do things unless I want to do them.”
When he spared a glance in her direction, he found her watching him carefully, waiting for him to go on. Relieved, she seemed to be returning to her usual self, he took a chance and continued.
“I was close to Brandon when we were kids. He was basically my shadow. We did everything together. I told you about my mom and how she was depressed. Well, I think that really did a number on him. So, while I don’t think I’ll stop being pissed at him anytime soon, for all the shit he did then and to you, I can understand why he was the way he was. I wish I had reached out to him, or suggested he get psychological help—”
“It wasn’t your fault, Bryce. He was a grown man who made his own choices.”
“I know. I’m not saying it’s my fault, I’m just trying to explain my mindset. I’m not very good at this sort of thing. Haven’t had much practice.”
Samantha placed a warm hand on his thigh. “I didn’t mean to interrupt you. Sorry.”
She was kind to a fault. Thinking of him and how she made him feel instead of thinking of herself. Telling her exactly how he felt was the only way to go. He took a deep calming breath and spared one more glance at her before he went on.
“I love you. The way I feel about you is nothing like I’ve ever felt before. So, while, yes, I would do anything in my power to make you happy, I would never lie to you. The thought of you carrying my child made me so happy, I can’t explain it. Was I disappointed to find out the child might not be mine? Yes. Of course, I was. But assuming the dates are correct, Brandon will have a piece of him go on. I love that for him.
“He fucked up and did a lot of shit he shouldn’t have, and treated people in unforgivable ways, but this is almost like the chance for a do-over and I would be honored to have the opportunity to be in his or her life. To see a part of my brother going on—” he cleared his throat when his voice cracked. “To see a part of my brother get a chance to be happy and make the world a better place is not something I’m just pretending to want. It’s everything to me.”
He was met with silence. He didn’t dare look at Samantha, instead looking at the road ahead. They were nearly to his house. The drive felt short even though he was holding his breath most of the time. He didn’t want to come on too strong, knowing what a rough morning she’d had.
After he pulled into the driveway, they sat in silence for a few minutes until Bryce stepped out and rounded the truck to open her door. She looked up at him with red-rimmed eyes brimming with tears. She looked so vulnerable, that it nearly gutted him.
“Please don’t cry,” he said gruffly. “I can’t stand to see you cry. Tell me what I can do.”
“I’m not crying.” She allowed him to help her out of the truck and continue holding her hand as they walked to his door. “It’s just what you said…”
He unlocked the door and allowed her to step in first before he followed. Once he closed the door behind them, he placed his hand on her shoulder and gently turned her to face him.
