“I ain’t know that.”
“You weren’t around to know that. My family had to fly from two thousand miles away to be with me during the procedure because I wasn’t sure you would even bother to show up . . . which you didn’t.”
“Man, who the fuck wants to be there to see their son come out dead? You think I could’ve handled that? You think I wouldn’t have flipped over everything in that damn hospital? I did what was best for me.”
“You always have.”
He eyed me meanly. “That sounds like a diss. But fuck you. Because everybody on Earth has to choose what’s right for them.” He gestured toward the door of the bedroom. “I guess that nigga out there is perfect.”
I rolled my eyes to the ceiling. “Go to hell, Xander. This is dumb. I don’t have to do this with you. You are no longer my problem and I’m no longer yours. Have a good life.” I turned to walk away. I had spent five years letting this dude tangle me up in knots. I’d bent myself into a pretzel on numerous occasions for the opportunity to feel worthy of his love. He wouldn’t get not another second of my time. Fuck him, his momma, and everything he stood for.
“Hey! I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Bailey.”
The apology was unexpected but also too little too late. But I did turn back to look at him.
“I fucked up. I made mistakes. I’m man enough to admit that.”
I barely nodded, realizing for what seemed like the first time what an energy drain dealing with him really was. A five minute conversation left me spent. “It’s whatever. The realtor’s coming by tomorrow.”
Later that day, after we’d finished packing my belongings and loading them into the U-Haul while Xander watched, looking like a sad and lost puppy, I turned to Bright. I’d handed the keys to my SUV off to him because I wasn’t up to driving. So, I sat in the passenger seat taking in his profile.
He was such a handsome man. Not that Xander wasn’t. Xander was handsome as well. But the differences between the two men were vast. The way my nervous system responded to Xander as opposed to the way it responded to Brighton was something that could be studied.
I reached over and flipped on the radio, smiling at the song that came blaring out of the speakers. Sade’s voice crooning, “This is no ordinary love. No ordinary love.”
Chapter
Fifteen
Bright
September
It wasthe second week of September which meant that it was the week ofManor Days.Manor Dayswas a week-long event hosted by my parents’ lodge, Manor at Sierra Sunset Resort, on the property’s grounds. It was a display of all the best that both the Manor and the Strong family had to offer. There were nightly cookouts for the lodge guests, guided tours of the property, a rodeo, a parade, a chili cook-off, and all manner of festivity.
I stood in a circle with my brothers as Manor guests and our women participated in a flower bouquet arranging demonstration. Blossom was strapped to Beck’s chest, so I made silly faces at her just to get her to giggle in between keeping an eye on Bailey.
“Take a picture, it’ll last longer,” Brewer quipped while motioning for Beckham to take Blossom out of the carrier.
“Yeah, the little dude’s in love for real.” Bayliss gave me a cocky grin.
“Happens to the best of us.” Beck handed his daughter to her uncle and Brewer cradled her in his arms.
I didn’t respond, so they kept going.
“When are you poppin’ the question?” Bayliss probed.
I shook my head. “Nah. Bailey and me . . . we’re not on it like that. She just got out of a marriage?—”
“Like three months ago, though,” Beck reminded me.
I eyed him, my eyebrows furrowed in a frown. “Right. That was barely ninety days ago. She’s not looking to get re-hemmed up. She needs a minute to be free.”
“Like she’s had a minute to be free.” Brewer scoffed before taking an inhale of Blossom. “Since the minute y’all got back from her divorce trip, your ass has been tryin’ to live in her skin.”
I smirked because he wasn’t lying. I’d barely let the girl outta my sight. Truth be told, I loved her. “She has me on my ass,” I admitted.
They all chuckled.
