“Is that true, or did you just make that up?”
He removes his hand, shoving it into his pocket, and I take note of his stance and how odd he’s acting. The usual Brad I know is ruffled. Nothing in this universe ruffles Bradley Lucas. Nuclear fallout wouldn’t raise an eyebrow, but me crying? That makes him stop in his tracks. What does that even mean?
“It’s true. And the bank are fucked in the head, pardon my French. I’ll talk to my broker?—”
“It’s fine, Brad, you don’t have to do that, honestly. The repayments on a property that much would probably crush me anyway. The best I can hope for is that the new owners don’t want to run a bakery or turn it into a cafe, especially when my lease is almost up.”
“I don’t like seeing you upset,” he says, looking down at his shoes. “I can’t…” He clears his throat. “I don’t like it.”
“It’s just me being emotional.” I nudge him on the arm companionably. “You know how I get.”
He opens his mouth, then closes it again. “Let’s just explore the options,” he says after a few awkward moments of silence. “I could help.”
“You’re the sweetest,” I reply. “But I have to do this on my own. I can’t be relying on other people to get me out of a mess I didn’t know I was in.”
He’s about to say something else when Deaton comes running in with an empty container. “They loved it, Mom! And the cookies!”
I pull him into a hug, kissing his head as he tries to wriggle away. “Mom!”
“So which cake do you think Mason will pick?” I ask, hoping he won’t notice that my cheeks are no doubt red, and my eyes puffy.
“I think he’s gonna pick all three!” He goes running off again to find Mason to check.
“Listen,” I say, before Brad can say anything else. “I’ve gotta run, but please don’t feel bad. My reaction wasn’t meant to make you feel bad. I just always plan for the worst-case scenario.”
He nods, chewing on his lip; another thing I’ve never seen him do. “I’ll call you later.”
“We’re still okay for Friday, right?”
“Of course.”
“Great, thanks, B, you’re a lifesaver.” I squeeze his arm again as I grab the last container off the desk and go find my son.
I need to breathe because the way Brad is looking at me… I can’t even describe it.
Chapter Seven
BRADLEY
“He won’t even talk to a woman because he’s love struck on someone else,” Noah says, taking a long pull of his beer.
I glance sideways at my younger brother. “I don’t remember inviting you, why are you even here?”
“He’s got a point,” my friend Mitch agrees. “You have been a little grumpier than usual.”
Like a child, I flip them both the bird. “Fuck the two of you.”
“That someone being…Chelsea.” Noah drags her name out when I don’t bite.
“Would you grow up?” I mutter.
My other friend, Isaac, slaps me on the back. “Hold up, you’ve got the hots for Chelsea?”
I roll my eyes. “No. My brother is just trying to get a rise out of me because his own love life is a disaster and he wants to take the heat off himself.”
Noah yawns loudly. “When did you get so old and boring?”
“Old? You’re two years younger than me, asshat.”
