by Jenni James
Hey, this is Bryant Bailey. Wanted to give you a heads-up, since you know Indy. Her aunt and uncle are being investigated by the state for child abuse, and she’s staying here with me for the time being. If you’d like to come by and see her, you are welcome anytime. Thanks.
He showed it to me before he pushed send. After I agreed, he asked, “Happy?”
“Yes.” It was much better than what I would’ve said.
He chuckled and wrapped an arm around me. “That’s because you’re a girl.”
“Shh!” His fourteen-year-old sister hushed us.
“Roni, you have seen this movie a hundred times. Do you really need us to be quiet?”
“Gah!” His youngest sister looked like she was going to throw a pillow at him. Her dark braids seemed to huff with her.
I tried to muffle my laughter. “So, are these the family movie nights I’ve been missing all these years?”
He gave me a rueful grin. “Pretty much. Popcorn, fighting, and movies we’ve seen hundreds of times.”
I couldn’t think of a more perfect way to spend a school night. The warm glow in my heart seemed to expand all the way to the top of my head and down to the tips of my toes. Nothing felt better than that. Nothing.
Just before bed, Maxton texted again.
Sorry to put you on the spot like that. Bryant texted me and told me what happened. We have a lot to talk about. I’ll come over to the Baileys’ house after school tomorrow. If that works?
I responded pretty quickly. Thanks. Yes, that works. Bryant’s dad is working my case, so it’s complicated, but I probably won’t be at lunch tomorrow again.
No worries. We’ll catch up. Goodnight.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE:
Bryant and I were kind of in limbo—and I don’t mean relationship-wise. I mean with school. Dr. Bailey was still debating with the caseworker on whether or not I should attend the same high school as my cousins, or move to a charter school nearby. Before he’d even asked Bryant what he thought, Bryant volunteered to move over with me to keep some sort of consistency going, which I was really grateful for.
After more long talks with Jeff in his study—and more specifically, about how I was treated by Jayda and Kaitlyn—it became apparent by the end of the day that I was not to attend the high school again. Which sort of stressed me out and relieved me all at the same time. I’d had no idea how much my life would change when I’d first agreed to head out the door with Bryant.
Dr. Bailey then spent a significant time on the phone with the charter school and their counselor before hanging up and announcing Bryant and I had the rest of the week off and would be enrolling next Monday. I admit it, I sort of cried then too. And we all hugged once more, standing outside of his study.
It’d been a long couple of blurry-eyed days for me, but there was so much healing and relief. It was nice not to have to be the one to make all the decisions. That feeling, that I was actually being taken care of, was simply wonderful.
By the time Maxton rang the doorbell, my eyes were already swollen, and I’d forgotten he was coming.
“Hi!” I smiled a little too brightly and ran my fingers through my hair. “How are you?”
Maxton stood in the doorway for a minute, just looking around. Then he asked, “You want to talk outside?”
Yeah, the house was a bit much. I’d almost forgotten that part.
“Let me get my coat.” I grabbed it from a hidden closet near the door and joined him on the porch. “Hi,” I said again. “Let’s head over here.”
I walked him to the side of the house. It had a pretty little garden that probably looked gorgeous in the spring, with a swing that Margo, Bryant’s twelve-year-old sister, had shown me that afternoon. We sat down together and began to rock.
“So, new digs, huh?” He smiled. “This place is crazy.”
“Yeah, it is. You have no idea.”
Maxton took a deep breath and turned toward me. “I really don’t fit anywhere.”
“Why do you say that?”
“I just don’t—you have Bryant now, and I’m stupid for not trying for you sooner.”
Right. He’d brought up the topic of us without asking how I was doing first. I admit, it kind of hurt. Especially since he’d been so kind to me all this time—I thought his first priority was me. I sighed. It was selfish of me to dump such a history on Maxton anyway. He knew some of what had happened to me, but he really had no clue. I’d kept most of it hidden away. It wasn’t until Bryant that anyone learned the truth.
After I didn’t respond, he added, “Look, you’re an awesome girl. I’ve known it since we were in grade school together. You’re funny, you’re tough, and you’re quick. Getting to spend the last few years with you was a dream come true for me. It really was. You made it worth going to school every morning.”
“Seriously?”
“I’ve had the biggest crush on you forever.”
“Thank you.” I smiled, reached over, and took his hand in mine. “You cared for me and were a friend to me when I had no one. On some of my deepest, hardest days, I looked forward to eating lunch and chatting with you. You made me feel normal, and made me forget how bad my life was.”
“Good. I’m glad, though I had no idea you were suffering that much. Did you really get removed because of abuse?”
I looked out toward the large field to the side of the house. “Yeah, but I’m safe now. And I can already feel myself beginning to heal from everything.” I glanced at Maxton and tried to relieve a bit of his confusion. “Dr. Bailey is my psychiatrist. He’s the one who turned my aunt and uncle in. He’s working with me, helping me with my mom’s death and the unfairness of the last six years or so. And he says he’ll help me with Mrs. Wiggins too.”
“That’s cool. He sounds like a really nice guy. I mean, looking at this place, I wouldn’t want to like him, you know? But he seems decent.”
“And I’m not going to Flagstaff High anymore. I’ll be attending the charter school.”
“I kind of figured that already.”
“Found out today.”
“So, I guess that means I don’t have to eat nasty cafeteria food anymore.”
I laughed and nudged him. “That alone should prove you deserve a medal.”
“It’s amazing what a guy will go through to hang with the girl he likes.” His large hand gently squeezed my much-smaller one.
Then it hit me. I had the perfect excuse we’d both been sitting here hoping for. “So, Dr. Bailey doesn’t think I should have a boyfriend right now. He says I’ve got too much emotional stuff happening that I need to address before I get caught up in a relationship.”
“Wow. So, you really are going to break up with me?”
I nodded slowly. “Yep. Doctor’s orders.”
We were silent for a little while as the swing moved back and forth. It was calming. And a sort of perfect way to end our complicated relationship.
After a few more minutes of chatting, Maxton said he had to go. So we hugged, one final big bear hug, and I shed a few tears when I wasn’t quite ready to let him go. Then he left. Even though I knew we’d keep in touch, I also remembered what Bryant had said—Maxton was never going to be the same again. And he wasn’t. We weren’t. But it was okay. It was time.
I needed to find me, and that meant being fine with moving on.
***
As luck would have it, Jeff wasn’t just good at his job—he was really good. Between his testimony and the state’s, my aunt and uncle decided not only to relinquish custody of me, but to pay me almost three hundred thousand dollars in restitution. Three hundred thousand dollars that Dr. Bailey’s snooping found belonged to my mom’s life insurance claim. My aunt and uncle had taken it, as my legal guardians, to raise me, but since they hadn’t done that and instead sold all of our belongings, they agreed to pay an additional two hundred thousand to make up for the missing assets and any emotional trauma it could’ve caused me.
I couldn’t touch more
than twenty-five grand until I turned eighteen, but holy cow! I was loaded. What teenager needed that much money anyway?
Jeff promised he’d set me up with his personal wealth manager on how best to invest the money to get the greatest return. Thankfully, I had such awesome people in my life now. Jeff believed that if I only used what I needed for college and bought a nice used car now, the financial advisor could easily triple or quadruple the money by the time I turned twenty-five.
Funny thing was, I never wanted the money. Never even thought I’d have any. I only wanted to belong. Now I had both.
That summer, after I took my much-needed driving course, Bryant and his dad went with me and helped haggle a good price for a used car. Nothing too fancy. I wanted great gas mileage and safety features, and I wanted something blue. I got all three, and a whole lot more. It even came with a sunroof! I love sunroofs.
But that wasn’t my biggest surprise. Our new school was small, but fun. And most of the teens there were pretty welcoming. Bryant, of course, had friends the very first day—but then again, so did I. Real, actual friends who were girls. Girls who didn’t care if my hair wasn’t perfect, or my shoes didn’t match. Girls I could laugh with and do things with.
Bryant’s oldest sister, MacKenzie, took me aside and helped me with social skills—basically how to communicate without accidentally offending people. But she also taught me that I was funny and a great listener, and someone people actually wanted to be around. It was such a new experience for me—turning into a girl again. Not that I went out and did a ton of shopping, because I honestly still couldn’t stand the mall, but I could talk and laugh and enjoy myself when the girls and I were together. I miraculously grew a family within my friends too.
I belonged. I couldn’t believe it.
In many ways, it reminded me of when I was younger and would play with dolls and climb trees and giggle uncontrollably for no reason.
A month before school ended, Bryant blew me away. We’d developed a deep bond, one where he was still my best friend. He still made my heart flutter every time I was near him, but we didn’t kiss, or hold hands, or any of it.
However, Dr. Bailey must’ve liked how well I’d healed because he secretly gave Bryant the green light to surprise me. After school, we’d driven to a small ice cream shop—our favorite—and were arguing over the different points in Mr. Addington’s debate class. Honestly, I can’t even remember what the argument was about—knowing us, probably politics. Anyway, my sundae came, and at the bottom was a small plastic container. Like one of those things you get out of gumball machines that have a little ring or toy in them.
“What’s this doing in here?” I fished it out, a bit worried, hoping I hadn’t eaten anything weird.
“Do I have one?” Bryant made a pretense of looking through the rest of his sundae and then shrugged. “Nope. Open it and see what’s inside. Maybe you got a prize or something.”
“There’s never been one before.” I was about to take it up to the counter and ask about it, but curiosity got the better of me. Might as well open it first and then take it up to the counter.
It popped open easy enough, and a paper came out. “It’s a note!” I unfolded it and should’ve realized something when I noticed Bryant’s grin, but honestly, I had no idea until I read it.
Cinderella,
Will you do me the honor of going to prom with me?
I promise to behave as princely as possible.
Love,
Bryant
“Prom?” My jaw dropped, and I probably squealed. “Are you serious? You had them put this in here?”
He laughed and nodded. “All me. So, will you go?”
“Is your dad okay with it?”
“Yep. He said you’re doing so well, we might as well have fun together.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“Gah! I can’t believe I’m going to prom! I never thought I would.”
“Oh, prom definitely would’ve happened for you. I just can’t believe I’m lucky enough to be the guy you go with.”
Clarise never would have let me leave the house, but there was no reason to bring that up. I was in a different reality now. My life was so much better. And I officially got Bryant back, too. Scrambling around the table, he picked me up and hugged me for the first time in months. And I was happy. Oh, so wonderfully happy.
Until I pulled back. “Wait. Do I have to wear stupid heels? Because that so isn’t happening. I’ll do the dress, but please don’t make me wear the shoes too.”
Bryant laughed and swung me around—thankfully, we didn’t hit anyone. “I love you,” he said. “I love everything about you. And I don’t care what shoes you wear—come in combat boots. I just want to go with you.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO:
The day of the prom was magical. I found a gorgeous yellow dress—it was vintage and retro and perfect, with layers and layers of light, fluffy tulle that swished as I walked. MacKenzie, Bryant’s older sister, found a gorgeous crystal-encrusted headband and helped put my hair up. I wasn’t into the whole going-to-the-salon thing, but it didn’t matter because she was just as good as any actual hairdresser. I felt like a fairy princess as I floated around my room.
I’d chosen the pretty green-and-purple bedroom next to the girls months ago. There was a white bed and a white dresser and a white desk and a white mirror—they reminded me of the set from my mom. It was so fun. And girly. But not overly-pink girly, just feminine. I felt alive in that room, especially with my new dress.
I grinned as I swished back and forth in front of the mirror, watching the dress hit a few inches above my ankles. When it was time to go, I opened the box to a brand-new pair of black Converse. They weren’t high-tops—I’d opted for a more flattering look and chose slip-ons.
I did a quick spin in front of my mirror, admiring my cute shoes. The whole shebang, from the sparkly tiara headband, to the fluffy vintage dress, to the Converse. I couldn’t have chosen something more me and more fun if I tried.
Bryant was waiting for me as I practically skipped down the stairs. Having shoes you could walk in was a major plus. He grinned as he strode forward and met me at the bottom step. “Every time I see you, I fall a little more in love with you.”
“Good.” I gave him a cheeky smile. “I like to know I still have my superpowers.”
He laughed and handed me a beautiful corsage of yellow roses, with sprigs of blue flowers.
“Wait!” Jeff hollered from his study. “Are you two doing all the prom stuff without me?”
When my eyebrows rose, Bryant whispered, “He wants to take pictures.”
“Oh.” Pictures. I’d forgotten all about those.
We endured several poses, including the official slipping-the-corsage-on-my-wrist one. Jeff was sadly charming in his own way, but really? I’d much rather get on with it!
“How about in two more minutes, we just make a run for it?” Bryant murmured in my ear.
“Two? Let’s do it now!” I answered.
“Hey, I heard that.” Jeff grinned and clicked one final picture. “Fine. You can go now. And have fun!”
We bolted out the door before he changed his mind. Bryant drove us to my new favorite restaurant. It was Italian, and so good. We ordered from the sweetheart menu—something they brought out for Valentine’s Day and prom. After many giggles, we abandoned our half-eaten dessert and headed for the dance.
They’d rented out a large building in the center of town and decorated it with pretty twinkle lights. The whole place was like a fairy tale as we presented our tickets at the door and walked in. Our new friends rushed us and teased Bryant about his outrageous yellow tie. It was vintage and paisley, and that’s all anyone needed to know about that.
But thankfully, we were left alone once a slow song came on. Bryant swirled me out in the middle of the floor and swayed to the music. He wasn’t the best dancer, but he was mine, and it didn’t matter to me if he stepped on my
feet or was off the beat. All that mattered was that his smile was for me.
“Do you have any idea how beautiful you look tonight?” His gaze tugged at mine.
“I have no idea—what I do know is that for the first time in years, I actually feel beautiful.”
“Do you?”
“Yeah. And it’s all because of you.”
“No.” He surprised me with our first real kiss. My insides completely melted—and for the record, his kiss was way better than any of his hugs. “It’s all because of you. Your bravery, your zest for life, your ability to shake off the negative. You are radiant now because you chose to be happy and forgive your past.”
“A little deep for tonight, isn’t it?” I chuckled and rested my cheek on his chest.
He held me tightly against him for a moment and then said, “Even your forgiveness of me—about your cat—shows how amazing you are. If it wasn’t for that, we wouldn’t be here now. You have chosen happiness. So many people don’t, and look what they’d miss out on.”
“I love my philosopher.”
Bryant stepped back and looked down at me. “Did you just say what I think you said?”
Grinning, I said, “I love you, Bryant Bailey. I love how wise you are and wonderful you are—but mostly, I love how you cared about me and taught me how to love again.”
“You taught you how to love again.”
“I learned to hope, which led to living again, which allowed me to let go and fall in love.” My arms wrapped around his middle. “I can see what you mean. I’m so grateful you were there and didn’t give up on me. Thank you.” Then I unwrapped my arms, stood on tiptoe, and pulled his head down to mine. For that bit of time, we’d forgotten anyone else was in the room.
Life was simply perfect. And it was about time.
