by J. L. Leslie
Chapter Thirty-Six
Lillian
The photo of Brady has gone viral. The entire time we spent in Applebee’s, people were whispering and staring. I could tell it was making him highly uncomfortable, so we finished up our meal in a hurry and got out of there.
“Okay, I really think you need to file harassment charges against her. Because that is exactly what she’s doing to you. She’s harassing you, Brady.”
“I’m not going to do that.”
“Why not?” I ask. “Are you worried about looking like, I don’t know, like a wimp?”
He laughs. “A wimp? No, I’m not worried about looking like a wimp, Lilly. I’m just not going to file charges against someone over a silly picture.”
“It’s not silly at all. It’s a private picture of you that now the whole world has access to.”
He grins over at me. “You don’t want everyone seeing my dick?”
“Look, I know you’re upset about it. You don’t have to pretend that you aren’t.”
He shrugs as if he doesn’t care. “It’s my dick, Lilly.”
I roll my eyes and punch him hard in the arm. “Stop letting her get away with this shit! You don’t deserve to be treated like that!”
“I’m just saying, a lot of people have seen it, and I’m sure a lot more will.”
I frown at his comment. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He does that shrugging motion again as if he doesn’t have a damn care in the world. “You’re leaving at Christmas. You said so earlier. You don’t have to pretend that you aren’t. So, that’s why filing charges is silly.”
He throws my words right back at me. So, he’s going to use the fact that I’m leaving soon to brush off what Kelly’s done. Pick a fight with me so that he doesn’t have to stress about the fact that his private parts aren’t so private anymore.
“I haven’t been pretending that I’m not leaving. We both knew that from the start.”
“Right. I guess that’s why you haven’t mentioned you were going home at Christmas, until, I don’t know, right here at Christmas.”
“Brady, we both know that’s not what this conversation is about. It’s about Kelly violating your privacy.”
“I just don’t see why you care so much when you’re not even going to be around. Let me deal with her.”
I twist in the seat so I can face him. “You think I shouldn’t care because I’m leaving Hollis?”
“Yeah, pretty much,” he replies with nonchalance, pulling into the parking lot at Jack’s.
I tell myself again that this is his way of dealing with the situation, but it still pisses me off. He’s taking it out on me, and he has no reason to do that.
“I guess I shouldn’t,” I agree. “After all, it’s not like you care about me either. I was just a bet you had to win, right?”
My remark gets the reaction I hoped it would. He glances over at me, this look of pure shame on his gorgeous face. I open the door and slide out.
“Lilly, wait ―”
“Save it, Brady. It doesn’t matter. None of this did.”
I slam the door and go inside. I immediately see Jade and Casey giggling at the bar, Casey’s phone in her hand. I shake my head, knowing they’re looking at Brady’s famous foot-long.
“Hey, Lilly, have you seen the latest internet sensation?” Casey asks.
“Yeah, I saw it at lunch,” I answer. “Marlene called Brady and told him. She was pretty upset about it.”
“I knew it,” Casey says. “You owe me five bucks.”
“The two of you bet on me too?” I ask. “Unbelievable.”
“Hey, wait,” Jade says. “We weren’t doing it to be vindictive. We just noticed the two of you looked flirty lately. That’s all.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter. I’m going home at Christmas, so whatever is going on between us has an expiration date.”
“Sweetie, every relationship with Brady has an expiration date,” Casey says. “Well, except his and Caleb’s friendship. They’re like cockroaches. They have a friendship that will outlast the apocalypse.”
“You did warn me.”
“Yeah, well, she warned me too,” Jade says. “I didn’t exactly listen either.”
“Stupid bitches,” Casey jokes.
“In all seriousness, I think Brady has matured,” Jade says.
“You do realize his peen pic has gone viral. That’s not mature.”
Jade rolls her eyes. “What I’m saying is that he hasn’t been acting like his usual self since Lilly came into town. Don’t act like you haven’t noticed that. He broke things off with that psycho, Kelly. That’s the only reason his goods are out there like that. Maybe Lilly is giving him a run for his money. Let’s face it; it’s not like he shared the fact that the two of you were sleeping together.”
“That’s true,” Casey puts in. “Logan and Tate still act like they have a chance. And I have to admit, it would serve him right to be bested by a city girl.”
I shake my head, not completely in agreement with them. Not after the conversation I had with him on our way here.
“Oops, I’m up,” Jade says when some customers start coming in. “I’ll let you take care of the crew. If you’re leaving soon, you deserve all the time you can get with him.”
I try to tell her it’s not necessary, but she walks off, and Casey heads behind the bar to grab the patrons seated there some fresh beers. I grab an apron and tie it on as I approach their table.
He’s sitting there joking and laughing with everyone as if our conversation didn’t happen. How can he do that? How can he act like our relationship didn’t shatter? Then, I remember. We don’t have a relationship.
Landon shakes his head. “Seriously, man, you really put it all out there.”
“Wasn’t exactly thinking it was going to get put all out there,” Brady replies with a half-laugh. “Don’t act like you’ve never taken a peen pic before, Landon.”
“Never,” he vows. “Phones add ten pounds. There isn’t a screen big enough.”
I chuckle at that. “Didn’t know everyone was coming back into town.”
“We wanted to come check out Brady’s display,” Amelia says and then instantly blushes. “Not his display. His display at the store. He did a great job. Not with the pic. At the store. I’m going to shut up now.”
Brady flashes her a teasing smile and a wink, causing everyone to laugh as she blushes even more.
I seriously hate him right now.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Brady
I groan and pull my phone from my pocket. Since the picture went viral, my phone has done this nonstop. I’m rarely even on my Facebook page, but I have more friend requests than I can count. People I don’t even know suddenly wanting to know me. People I haven’t spoken to in years, that moved away from Hollis, are now commenting on my social media accounts and messaging me. Distant relatives are sending me the pic and asking if it’s really me. Gross.
I do what I should have already done. Deactivate my accounts. No more notifications.
I want to be angry with Kelly. Lash out at her for fucking me over with what was supposed to be private, but I can’t seem to get pissed off enough to do that. I guess all my anger with her came out when I paid to have my truck repainted. Now, I just feel sorry for her.
Before my dad died, he treated my mom like she was gold. I know he was doing his best to raise me to treat women the same way. At the time, I just thought girls were girls. Pretty, but nothing spectacular. I’d kissed a few by then, but I’d rather go ride four-wheelers with Caleb than hang out with a girl.
My mom warned me as I got older that my playboy ways were going to come back and bite me in the ass. That my dad would be ashamed of how I was running around with all the girls in town. I would laugh at her and throw it in her face that my dad wasn’t there. I’d walk out before I could see her cry.
But she was right. I treated Kelly like crap, and now it’s coming back t
o bite me in the ass.
I think about Lilly, at how beautiful she is with her blonde curls and bright green eyes. In truth, she doesn’t know what she wants any more than I do. Maybe that’s why it’s been easy for me to play the good guy for a little while. Pretend that I can be a one-woman man when I’ve never really done that for anyone. With Lilly, I feel that I can pretend anything and maybe it will eventually come true. If I’m even pretending anymore.
That’s why I couldn’t stay at Jack’s any longer. Not after the conversation we had in my truck. It was too real. Too honest. She admitted to caring about me, but it’s not going to keep her here. Besides, what would she do here? Waitress at Jack’s? That’s not enough of a life for her. She’s supposed to be a doctor or surgeon or something important like that.
I couldn’t keep sitting there joking around with everyone and acting like everything was all right. Sure, I was a dickhead to her. I am frustrated about the photo, but I’m more frustrated that I’m going to lose her soon, and I have no idea how to stop that from happening. Especially when I know it’s probably the right thing for the both of us.
I’ll only wind up hurting her the same way I did Jade. If she sticks around, I’ll have to watch her move on with someone else, someone better. And I can’t do that.
I found my escape at the store. I used the key Madden lent me to let myself in. The display is assembled, ready to go, but I wanted to put a finishing stain on it. Make the wood really shiny and pretty for Amelia.
“Wow, Brady, it’s amazing. You built this?”
I turn around at Lilly’s voice. “Hey, I didn’t even hear you come in.”
“It’s gorgeous. Amelia is going to love it.”
“That’s the plan.”
“I figured we should talk,” she says.
I walk over to her and position myself between her knees. “I’m sorry about the bet. It was before I knew you. I never even told the damn guys about us.”
“I know.”
I lean down and give her a light peck on the lips. “Lilly, I’m sorry I’ve dragged you into all this mess with Kelly. My truck...the picture...it was never my intention for this to turn out this way.”
“I know,” she replies again, and I feel her unbuckling my jeans.
“What are you doing?” I ask, a smile spreading across my face.
“I think I need a better look. I’m sure that picture was photo-shopped.” She grins, pushing my jeans and boxer briefs over my ass.
“I changed my mind about talking.”
Lilly gives one of my bare cheeks a resounding slap and then pulls me to her, crushing her lips to mine.
I break the kiss and point up to the ceiling. “You know there are security cameras in here.”
“Holy shit!” Lilly scurries off the stool and does her best to right my jeans.
Her cheeks are a deep shade of red, which I find damn adorable. “The damage is done now,” I tease. “Your brothers will know just what kind of woman you are.” I wiggle my eyebrows, giving her a look to let her know exactly how much trouble she’s in.
“Brady Thompson!” she shrieks and takes off.
Of course, she isn’t fast enough, and I catch her on the other side of the counter, pinning her in the corner.
“We can’t,” she says breathlessly. “The cameras.”
“Won’t see us right here,” I explain. “Trust me.”
I turn her to face the counter and let her prop her elbows on the surface. She stands perfectly still as I unbutton her pants and shove them down her thighs, letting them rest around her ankles. The thin scrap of lace of her thong follows. I slip my calloused hand between her legs and tease her clit, realizing she’s already drenched.
“Damn, baby, you’re soaked.”
Lilly’s response is a moan, and I damn near come undone. I glance up once more to the camera. I don’t want to add voyeurism to the list of shitty things that’s happened to me lately. I scoot us a little closer to the wall before pushing my finger inside Lilly. Her hands grip the counter, her ass pushes back against me.
“Brady, please. Don’t make me wait.”
I push my pants down – again − and line my cock up with her entrance. I’m so caught up in the moment that a condom doesn’t even cross my mind. I just need to be inside Lilly. I need to have this with her so I can be reassured that we’re fine. That no matter what Kelly does, what I’ve done, I still have this. At least for a little while.
I sink in deep, letting her warmth and tightness wash everything away. Nothing else matters while we’re together. Not losing my dad too soon. Not my stupid past mistakes. Not the fact that this shit is temporary. None of that fucking matters.
I slam into Lilly, taking everything she’s willing to give and giving her everything I have. I fist my hand into her hair, and she cries out my name as she climaxes. I chase my release right after, pouring myself deep inside her. Together, we lean against the counter, breathing heavily and enjoying the aftermath. I ease out of Lilly and look down, closing my eyes and cursing myself for what I’ve done.
“Lilly...I...”
She turns around and looks down at my bare cock. I can see the apprehension on her face. The worry. The “oh shit” look. She pulls her clothes up and then cups my face, pressing a soft kiss to my lips.
“It’ll be okay, Brady,” she whispers. “It has to be. I mean, you’re clean, right? And I’m on the pill.”
It takes a moment for me to register what she’s said. The fact that she trusts me like this means a lot. I’ve never been stupid enough not to use a condom. Never wanted to take that risk.
“Brady? You are clean, right? My God, please tell me you’re clean,” she mumbles, and I can hear the worry in her voice.
“I’m clean, Lilly,” I assure her. “You’re the only woman I’ve been with like this.” I cup her face with my hands and gently kiss her lips. “And the only woman I want to be with.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Lillian
When you know your time is limited, you seem to cherish it more. I want to spend all my spare time with Brady. Of course, this sort of puts my plans to tell my brothers about me on the backburner. Keegan and Landon are still in Hollis, though, so I have time before I leave to go back to Dallas.
We’re all having Christmas dinner at Marlene’s. My time with Brady is coming to an end. Sometimes I convince myself that it won’t end. That we’ll make a long-distance relationship work because Dallas is only a few hours away. It’s not impossible. But in all honesty, it’s improbable. Brady hasn’t mentioned it, and neither have I.
Brady picks me up outside of the bar, and I hop in, the butterflies in my stomach an indication of how nervous I am, but also how he makes me feel every time I’m around him.
“You look beautiful, Lilly,” he says as he kisses my left hand and then pulls out of the parking lot.
We ride in silence, and I wonder if he’s thinking the same thing I am. How this is one of the last times I’ll be riding in his truck. If he is, he doesn’t say a word.
When he pulls up at his mom’s house, he looks over at me and gives me his signature smile before getting out of his truck and coming around to open my door. The move reminds me of how he said his mom raised him to be a gentleman.
When we get to the door, Marlene greets us both with a big hug and invites us in. The house is simple and homey. I love it. When she pulls out of the hug with Brady she holds his shoulders and looks into his eyes.
“You look so much more like him the older you get.”
I know she’s talking about Brady’s father, and I see him shift the weight from each foot, clearly uncomfortable. It’s no secret that Brady has a hard time talking about his father. I imagine the holidays are the worst for both of them.
“It smells good, Mom,” he says and kisses her cheek.
I give Marlene a kind smile, who pats my shoulder and then leads us into the beautifully decorated dining room where Jack and his wife are already seated. A
fter greeting them, Brady pulls out a chair for me, and I sit down.
“How you doing, Loraine?” Jack asks, and I stifle a smile when I hear Brady chuckle.
“I’m doing good, Jack,” I answer, still not correcting him on the whole Loraine business.
“Jack, you do know her name is not Loraine, right?” Brady pipes in, and I swear Jack blushes a little.
“I know. I’ve just been waiting on her to get brave enough to correct me,” Jack says solemnly.
I open my mouth to say something, but Brady and Jack just start laughing, with Jack’s wife shaking her head in embarrassment. Brady leans over and kisses my cheek, still laughing.
“Should you go check on your mom? She seemed a little upset.” I lean over and ask Brady, noticing how Marlene seemed to be on the verge of tears when she walked into the kitchen.
“She gets like this during the holidays,” he explains. “She’ll be okay.”
Before he can stand to go help her, Marlene brings out a delicious looking turkey, all tears gone and just a big smile left on her face.
“All right, everyone, dig in!”
Brady wasn’t wrong; his mom’s cooking is incredible. It makes me miss my parents, not that our Christmases are anything like this.
Will that change once I’ve told Madden, Keegan, and Landon? Will they want me to attend the Steele’s annual Christmas Eve party?
I know I should tell them. Know they have a right to know just like I do. But they’re in my life now. What if telling them the truth ruins everything?
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Brady
We finish up supper, and Jack finally starts calling Lilly by her name. No more Lorraine. He and his wife, Ruthanne, call it a night after she and Lilly help my mom with the dishes. I settle onto the couch and pull Lilly down beside me. I flip the television on, and It’s A Wonderful Life is playing.
“I don’t think I’ve ever eaten home-cooked meals like that before,” Lilly confesses.
