Page 56 of Desired By you (Always & Forever #3)
Chapter Forty Seven
Brad
Shit!
I clutch my head; a wave of dizziness and nausea hits me as I bring myself to a seating position.
Blurred memories of last night fight their way to the forefront of my mind.
Gabriella, whiskey, tears, flashbacks. I pray it’s all a bad dream, but when I swallow and the taste of stale whiskey hits, I know it’s all true.
The banging gets louder, and I throw back the sheets. I’m still in last night’s suit pants and nothing else. I make my way to the front door.
“What the fuuu…” I stop when Jack, holding Elle in his arms is the only thing I see.
“Language,” Jack scolds.
“What are you doing here?”
“Well good morning to you too, sunshine,” Jack says sarcastically. He pushes past me, not waiting for an invite.
“Look as lovely as it is to see you both, I’m kind of busy. I’ve got things to do.”
“By things to do you mean drowning yourself in whiskey and avoiding your responsibilities?” Jack eyes me as he balances Elle on the edge of my kitchen counter and hands her a snack out of what can only be described as a carryon bag.
“You are not changing her diaper on there,” I say in a panic, remembering the horror of diaper-gate last year.
“Calm down, she’s in big girl pants. We are using the potty, aren’t we, sweetie?” he says, stroking her hair out of her face. Elle nods, biting down on her cookie. “Coffee,” I ask, needing to distract myself.
“Please.”
“Does Elle want some juice?” I ask Jack, but I look at Elle. When she turns her head and her angelic face smiles it calms me in a way I’ve not experienced. Had she not been here, I’d have slung Jack out, yelled and banged around, and blocked out the world. But she doesn’t deserve to see that.
I make our coffees, black for me, creamer for Jack, and pull one of my nephew’s plastic cups I keep here for when he visits and fill it with apple juice.
“So…” Jack begins, clearing his throat. “Gabby came to see me.” My spine stiffens. “I don’t need to know. I’m not here to judge and I’m all ears if you wanna talk, but she’s worried about you, and so am I.”
I pass him the drinks, and lean back against the counter, resting the coffee mug against my bare stomach, not giving a damn that it’s scolding hot.
“I’m fine. She didn’t need to worry you.” I shrug.
He eyes me like I’m full of shit.
“Look, I’m just going through some stuff. I don’t want to talk about it and I may have had a drink or two but it ends today.”
“Really?” Jack questions.
“It was just a little relapse. It’s been a lot lately and…” I stop, my emotions getting caught in my throat.
“I’m fine, but I do appreciate you coming over.”
There’s a knock at my door.
“Am I running an open house today,” I mutter, heading for the door, opening it with force and my tenses when I see Harry standing there.
He looks up at me, and I brace myself for his anger, his hurt, his pain. But instead he steps towards me, wrapping his arms around me. “I’m sorry.” His broken words hit me in the chest.
“You don’t have anything to be sorry about, I—” He cuts me off pulling back, his face looking war torn and broken.
“Yeah, I fucking do. I took my anger and my fear out on you. I was wrong. But I want to thank you. She told me what you did for her. How you took care of her after what happened to Cassidy. I’m glad she had you. I’m glad I have you.” His nostrils flare and he clears his throat.
All I manage is a nod of acknowledgment. We’ve been through so much together, too much to have anything break us, and though I didn’t need his apology, it means everything that he gave me one anyway.
“So, you look like shit. What’s eating your ass?” he teases, fist pumping me in the chest and I let out a sigh of relief. We are back to us.
“Fancy breakfast? I have a house full.”