Page 128 of Brewer Family Collection, Part 1

Chapter Thirty-Four

G eorgia

“It’s been an eventful day,” I say, looking into the camera while stopped at a red light.

“I quit my new job because, unbeknownst to me, there is some very bad blood between the Downings and the Brewers. Well, it is worse than just an argument or clash of characters. But, while I don’t know where I stand with Ripley right now, I’d never do anything to hurt him. My loyalty lies with him.”

I tap my fingers against the steering wheel, thinking.

“Mom asked me if I’d talk to her today,” I say.

“She sent me a text as I was walking to my car after quitting my job. I wanted to be a brat and tell her no because I don’t want to hear a bunch of excuses, really.

And God forbid she actually takes responsibility for anything.

” I frown. “Myla, let’s not use any of this, okay? I just need someone to talk to.”

I need Ripley.

“Ripley also called. It was the first time we’ve really spoken since the whole showdown with Mom in my driveway.

He asked if I could swing by his house this evening and, of course, I said yes.

Am I nervous? Yup. Do I know what he wants?

No. Am I tired of living without him? Absolutely.

I just hope he doesn’t get me over there and try to let me down gently.

I don’t really think that’s what will happen, but he has to have had second thoughts about getting involved with my life’s drama. ”

My heart aches as I consider the idea of not having Ripley in my life.

Of not being his. I only got a taste of it, and it’s all I can think about.

I just know that he isn’t like the other guys I’ve dated, because if Ripley breaks things off with me?

I’ll be ruined. I’ve never felt that way before, even when I’ve blown dates off.

Knowing he has that power over me is terrifying.

“Okay,” I say as the light switches to green. “That’s it for now. Wish me luck!”

I toss the phone on the passenger seat next to the purple gloves Ripley gave me, and head toward his house.

Ripley swings his front door open before I’m even on the sidewalk. He steps onto the porch, gripping the railing as if he might fall off it if he doesn’t.

His eyes are alight, yet tired. They’re without their usual sparkle and mischief, and to see a part of him be lost to this mess kills my heart.

And it makes me resolved to find a solution—and that solution begins with me.

My steps quicken as I grow closer. I practice saying a casual hello in my head. Instead, I fall into his arms without thought.

He pulls me close, so close that I can almost not breathe, and buries his head in my hair.

I close my eyes and feel him around me, and for the first time in days, I feel like I can relax. I’m not alone. For the moment, at least, I’m safe and don’t have to carry everything by myself.

“I’ve missed you,” he says, kissing my forehead before pulling back and searching my face like he hasn’t seen me for much longer than a week. “How are you? You look tired, Peaches. And thin.”

“Well, it’s hard to eat when you’re upset.”

He pulls me into another hug.

I press a kiss to his chest before leaning back, needing the safety in his eyes.

It occurs to me that this is the place where I’m the calmest. The happiest. The most untouchable. Along with those feelings comes a fear that it’ll be robbed from me. It’ll be taken away. I’ll be discarded. Never called again because I’m not worth the effort or loved unconditionally.

Still, I hope, because I have Ripley. I need to have hope.

Because I love him.

I’m not afraid to name the feeling that’s been fluttering in my heart lately. It’s been growing and changing, twisting into a sensation that takes up my entire being.

How can you not love someone who goes so far out of their way for you? Who has your back when you don’t know you need someone watching out for you? Who takes punches for you?

He loves me in all the ways he knows I need loved—in ways I don’t even understand. And I’m not sure he even realizes that he loves me. But it doesn’t matter. His actions speak louder than his words ever could.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to hear them.

He holds my face in his hands and kisses the tip of my nose. “Before we go inside, I have to tell you something.”

My spirits plummet.

“Today, I went and saw your mom,” he says.

My mouth falls agape. “You did what?”

“Don’t be mad.”

“I’m not mad, I’m just …” I laugh in disbelief. “At least you’re still alive. Is she?”

He grins. “She’s sitting inside at the table, waiting on you.”

Excuse me ? “I’m sorry. Did you say my mother is in your house?”

He nods.

“ Your house ?” I ask. “This one? She’s here?”

He nods again.

“Holy shit. Did you kidnap her? That’s illegal, you know.”

His laughter fills the air, and it’s music to my ears. It might be the music just before his perp walk, I don’t know, but it’s music anyway.

“I’m glad you’re entertained by this,” I say. “But I need more of an explanation.”

His feet straddle mine as he brushes a strand of hair out of my face. “She and I had a talk. We talked about my dad and what a monster he is. I told her that I understood she was leery of me, and that I wouldn’t get between the two of you. But also, that I would always be there for both of you.”

I bury my face in his chest again, fisting his shirt in both of my hands. He sways back and forth with me in his arms.

“She asked me to help her apologize to you,” he says softly.

I jerk back. “What?”

“She’s nervous. She’s scared. And you don’t have to accept anything she has to say—that’s why we’re doing it here. I can kick her to the curb so fast she won’t see straight.”

I laugh nervously. “She’s really in there?”

He nods.

“Wow.”

“I don’t want you to feel tricked,” he says. “It all happened so fast, but I didn’t want you worrying while you came here. When you think of coming here, I want you to eventually feel happy. Like you’re coming home.”

Tears well up in my eyes.

“And I thought that if I could catch you outside, I could give you the option of seeing her or not,” he says. “You can go. You don’t have to do this. I’m on your side always and forever.” He kisses me softly. “But I don’t want you to leave. She knows that. She knows that I’m doing this because …”

His cheeks flush. Ripley blushing? That’s a first.

“Because what?” I ask him.

“Because I love you.”

My breath hitches as the tears I fought to contain spill down my face. “Are you serious?”

“I’m totally serious. I’ve loved you for a long time, I think.” He smirks. “Not when you were arguing with me about the existence of pickles. Or about how many steps are in Jeremiah’s house.”

I laugh, elated at hearing those three words from him.

“I didn’t tell your mom that I love you,” he says. “I wanted to tell you first, although I think she got the picture.”

His hands find mine, and he strokes my palms with his thumbs.

This is the feeling I never knew if I’d ever experience. I didn’t know if this kind of thing was out there for me. But it was—it is—and it was right in front of me the entire time.

“I love you,” I say, smiling from ear to ear.

His brow pinches together as if he didn’t hear me clearly.

“I love you,” I whisper again.

“You do?” He laughs, almost as if he’s in disbelief. “You love me? Really?”

I laugh, too—also out of disbelief. How can this crazy man not see how lovable and amazing he is? “Yes, I love you. Of course, I love you, Ripley.”

“Thank God.” He pulls me in for another hug. “Now, what do we do about your mom?”

I take a deep breath and step away from Ripley, but my fingers instinctively grasp for his.

“We should video this for the show,” I joke. “It has the potential to get super high ratings.”

“Not that high. I’ll remove her before it gets that froggy.”

I wish we were going inside alone. The only place I want to be is in his arms somewhere …

maybe with food. And a nap. Heaven knows that I need both .

But I need to take care of this situation with my mom because our patterns of behavior are unhealthy.

And then the enormity of what Ripley just said hits me.

“When you think of coming here, I want you to eventually feel happy. Like you’re coming home. I’m on your side always and forever. Because I love you. I’ve loved you for a long time, I think.”

Coming home. To Ripley. To the man I love. To the life I once dreamed of and now dream of again.

One that I never thought was possible.

I want this so much—more than anything.

It’s time to move forward … by letting go of the past.

“Let’s get this over with,” I say, leading him inside.

He rushes to open the door for me. Always the gentleman.

“Waffles!” I say, laughing as he leaps in circles like a ballerina. “Hey, buddy.”

He barks before jumping so high he nearly makes it into my arms.

“Don’t jump on people,” Ripley says, shaking his head. “We’re working on that.”

I bend down and pick him up, and he licks my palms. Then he scurries up my chest and puts his little nose in the crook of my neck and sighs.

Yeah, buddy. I’m happy to be back, too.

Ripley leads me into the kitchen with his hand nestled in the small of my back. I don’t feel like a stranger here anymore, nor do I feel like a visitor. I belong here. I feel it in my bones. Home .

We round the corner, and I spot my mom standing at the windows overlooking the valley. Her arms are pulled over her stomach, and when she turns to me, I see the sadness painted on her face. It kills me.

But I have to stay strong.

“Do you want me to stay here or go into the other room?” Ripley whispers in my ear.

I grab his hand and hold it, signaling for him to stay. He doesn’t move a muscle.

“Hi, sweetheart,” Mom says, her tone uneven.

“Hi, Mom.”

She drops her arms and sighs. “I hope you’re not upset that I’m here. I’m second-guessing everything now, and I don’t know whether it’s right to be here.”

“It’s fine. But why are you here?”