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Brayden snorts out a laugh. “Of course she did. She cries so fucking much. I’m pretty sure it’s emotional manipulation.”
I’m not therapist, but I wholeheartedly agree. I don’t know that she’s doing it on purpose, though. It’s just her go-to reaction when things don’t go her way. Amara is mousy and soft-spoken. She likes to be rescued.
“So, he’s evicting her?”
Brayden shakes his head. “Well, yes and no. She asked if she could live with him instead.”
“No,” I huff. “This is a recipe for disaster.”
“Tell me about it. And, for the record, he reluctantly agreed.”
I feel guilty for letting Brayden move in with me, freeing up his room at Reid’s house. Amara probably saw that as an opportunity to move her and her daughter in since Brayden’s room was empty.
“It’s weird giving Dad relationship advice,” Brayden says with a smirk. “Not that he listens. I’m just happy as fuckwehave it so good.”
The thing with Reid and Amara is it’ll never work. He’s doing the noble thing by letting her move in, but it won’t be without consequences. I know this because me and Derek stayed together for all the wrong reasons. Brayden changed my life for the better. Amara is going to change Reid’s for the worse.
We move on to lighter subjects like what to name the baby and if Mo needs a cat friend, so he won’t get jealous. Brayden pulls me into his arms and rubs my belly with such reverence my eyes tear up. Stupid pregnancy emotions.
It’s hard to believe that six months ago I was depressed from my miscarriage and trying so hard to hold a toxic, failing relationship together. I’d held on so tightly to the life I thought I wanted.
But there was this better life out there waiting for me.
All I had to do was let go of the other one.
Nothing about me and Brayden makes sense, but it’s also the most sensical, real thing in the world.
Next week I’ll be Casey Foss.
A loving wife. Soon-to-be mother. Amazing cat lady.
Best of all, I’ll still be me. The me I’d somehow lost over the years, who was hiding behind insecurities, pain, and stubbornness.
Brayden found her in the wreckage of her life, dusted her off, and reminded her she was worthy, capable, and beautiful both inside and out.
My life irrevocably changed when I fell in love with the neighbor’s son.
And it keeps getting better.
The End