Page 13 of The Wreckage Of Us (US #2)

Ace

The morning sun filtered through the blinds, casting soft light on the hardwood floors of the apartment. It felt like an ordinary Saturday, but my life had been anything but ordinary these past few months. Brittany and I had been inseparable, our relationship growing in ways I hadn’t expected.

I was staying at her place, the apartment she shared with her friend Sylvia.

Sylvia was hardly ever here—she spent most of her time lecturing at Arkansas State University.

In the beginning, I was a little unsettled by how empty the place felt without her presence, but now, I had come to love the quiet moments with Brittany. It was just us, and it felt right.

I sat at the kitchen table, a cup of coffee in hand, as Brittany busied herself with breakfast. Her long hair was pulled into a messy bun, and she wore an oversized sweatshirt that hung off her shoulders. She looked so beautiful in the simplest of things. I couldn’t help but smile to myself.

“What are you grinning at?” Brittany’s voice broke through my thoughts, her smile teasing as she slid a plate of scrambled eggs and toast across the table.

“Just thinking about how lucky I am,” I replied, meeting her gaze.

She raised an eyebrow. “Lucky? Or just really in love?”

I chuckled. “Both.”

I was in love, that was certain. But the love I had for Brittany wasn’t just about the passion or the chemistry between us.

It was deeper than that—it was about the life we had built together.

Every moment with her felt like the start of something new, something exciting.

But today, as we sat across from each other in the quiet of her apartment, the future seemed to weigh on my mind more than it ever had before.

“I’ve been thinking,” Brittany said, her voice soft but purposeful. “About moving.”

I paused, setting my coffee down. “What do you mean?”

She leaned back in her chair, her eyes searching mine.

“I love LA, don’t get me wrong. But I love Arkansas now, too.

It’s become home in a way I didn’t expect.

I’ve been talking to Jasper and Corrine about moving the headquarters of my company here.

I think it would be good for the business—and for me. ”

Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. I hadn’t seen this coming.

Brittany had always been so attached to LA—her roots were there.

But here, in Arkansas, she had found something different, something she was passionate about.

And while part of me understood her desire to make this move, another part of me felt the panic creeping in.

“Are you sure about this?” I asked, trying to steady my racing heart. “I mean, this is a big change. For you, for your company…”

She nodded. “I’m sure. I’ve already spoken to Jasper and Corrine about it. They’re on board. They’re looking for a different environment for the kids. I think it’s the right move.”

I could see the excitement in her eyes. She was serious about this—this wasn’t just a passing thought. I swallowed the knot that formed in my throat.

“And you?” she asked, her voice softer now. “What do you think?”

The question hung in the air between us, a reminder of the crossroads we were at. I wanted to be supportive, to follow her lead, but I knew there was a problem. A big one.

I leaned forward, my elbows resting on the table. “I want to be with you, Brittany. You know that. I’d do anything for you. But the thing is…” I trailed off, trying to find the right words. “I have Karla to think about. Sierra is not going to just pack up and move here. It’s not that simple.”

Brittany’s expression softened, her hand reaching across the table to cover mine. “I get it, Ace. I really do. But have you thought about what this could mean for Karla? You don’t have to make the decision alone. We could figure this out together.”

Her words gave me some relief, but the reality of the situation still hung over me. Karla was my daughter, and her stability was everything to me. I couldn’t just uproot her life without her having a say in it. Sierra, her mother, wouldn’t let me make that decision without a fight.

“I’ll talk to Sierra,” I said, my voice low. “I have to.”

Brittany nodded, squeezing my hand. “I know you will. And no matter what happens, we’ll figure it out. I’m with you, Ace.”

The sincerity in her voice made my heart swell. I didn’t deserve her, but I wasn’t going to let her go. Not when I had the chance to build a future with her.

---

Later that day, I stood by the window, looking out at the view of the city. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out to see Sierra’s name flashing on the screen.

I took a deep breath before answering.

“Sierra,” I said, trying to keep my tone neutral.

“Don’t tell me you’re thinking about moving Karla to Arkansas,” she said, her voice tight with concern. “You know how I feel about that.”

“I know, I know,” I replied quickly, trying to keep the peace. “But listen, this isn’t just about me. It’s about Brittany too. She wants to move the headquarters of her company here, and I… I don’t want to lose her. I’m asking you to consider this.”

There was a long pause on the other end of the line, and I could hear Sierra exhale sharply.

“I can’t just pick up and leave,” she said finally. “Karla’s life is here. Her friends, her school—everything. You know how important stability is for her.”

“I do,” I said softly. “But this could be good for her too. We’re not just talking about a job here. We’re talking about a new chapter. I want to give Karla the best future possible.”

Sierra sighed. “I don’t know, Ace. It’s not easy for me either. I don’t want to stand in your way, but this is a huge decision.”

“I understand,” I said, my voice pleading. “But I need you to at least think about it. I’m not asking you to move tomorrow, but if I could get your blessing, it would mean the world to me. To all of us.”

Another long pause. Then, finally, she spoke. “Fine. I’ll think about it. But you have to promise me that Karla’s well-being comes first. No matter what.”

“I swear,” I said, relief flooding through me. “You have my word.”

---

That night, as I lay in bed next to Brittany, I could still feel the tension in my chest. But something had shifted.

I had spoken to Sierra, and she had agreed to consider the move.

That was the first step. I knew there was more to do, more to figure out, but for the first time in a long while, I felt like the future with Brittany might actually be possible.

Brittany turned to me, her hand resting on my chest. “You okay?”

I nodded, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Yeah. I think so.”

She smiled softly, her eyes shining with affection. “I’m proud of you, Ace. You’re doing the right thing. For Karla. For us.”

I kissed her forehead, feeling a deep sense of gratitude for her unwavering support. She was right. I was doing the right thing. For Karla, for me, and for us.

“I don’t deserve you,” I whispered, my voice filled with emotion.

Brittany smiled, her lips curving up into that soft, knowing smile I loved so much. “You do. You just have to believe it.”

And in that moment, I did believe it. I believed in us. In our future. In the life we would build together, no matter how complicated the path was.

I closed my eyes, holding her close, and for the first time in months, I felt at peace. Whatever came next, we would face it together. And that was all I needed.

Everything was going to be okay.