Fierce - Brody

by Natalie Ann

  “You’re going to wear a hole in her back if you keep staring like that.”

  He turned to see Cade standing next to him. The last person he wanted to talk to. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Cade sighed. “You’re staring so hard at Aimee. So she has a daughter. Big deal.”

  Sometimes the obvious slid right over Cade’s head. In this case, that was good news. “I knew she had one,” he said.

  “Oh. Then what’s the problem?”

  “There is no problem. I told you that.”

  “Then why are you staring?”

  He opted for the truth. “Because her daughter is adorable. Look at her. She’s like a mini version of her mother.”

  “Since you knew about her, what’s her situation? Where’s the father?”

  “Her name is Sidney,” he said. “And I don’t know where the father is. It hasn’t come up, other than she’s a single parent. It’s not my place to ask.” Even if he wanted to. Even if technically he felt it was his place. After all, he was sleeping with Aimee now. Or at least had sex with her. Same thing in his eyes, but he couldn’t very well tell anyone that.

  “Maybe I’ll go over and talk to her. Sidney is pretty cute. Kids love me,” Cade said and walked way.

  Everyone loved Cade, it seemed. Even when he was annoying the shit out of people. But when Sidney realized Cade was there and talking to her mother, she wasn’t happy. And she wasn’t warming up. That’s my girl, Brody thought.

  “Maybe she needs a friendly face.”

  Brody didn’t even turn his head to look at his mother. “I talked to Sidney earlier. She’s just shy.”

  “I meant Aimee,” his mother said, then walked away.

  ***

  “It’s working, Gavin,” Jolene said, standing by the grill. “Just look at him over there with that sour puss on his face. Just like when he was a kid. Brody always pouted when he didn’t get his way or couldn’t figure out how to get what he wanted.”

  Gavin laughed. “I don’t know that I’d say Brody is pouting, but I understand what you’re saying. Still, he’s matured enough over the years to go after what he wants. I think you might be reading more into this. Just wishful thinking on your part.”

  “What do you think?” she asked, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes at him.

  “I’m not sure what to think. They don’t look all that friendly to me right now. I think you’re way off base.”

  She smirked at her husband. Now she knew where Cade got it from. Neither of them could see what was right in front of them at times. “Nope. Trust me. Something is going on. Turbulent waters are on the horizon for those two.”

  “I think you’re crazy,” Gavin said, leaning down and kissing her. “But I still love you.”

  “We’ll see which one of us is crazy soon enough. I’m telling you, it won’t be me.”

  Always the Way

  In the last hour, most of the staff had come over to talk to her and meet Sidney. But the one person who she wanted to come spend some time with them hadn’t. He was staying far away all by himself, staring at her and making her feel uncomfortable. Probably raising a few eyebrows in the process.

  Everyone was being nice, and everyone was being friendly, but Sidney wanted no part of it. She only wanted her mother. She might even go to Brody at this point if he so much as made a move toward them.

  “Are you having fun, Aimee?”

  “I am. Thank you for inviting me, Jolene.”

  “Not a problem. Gavin thinks he pulled one over on me, but I know you got the invitation last minute. Retirement makes him a bit forgetful, but don’t let him know I said that.”

  Aimee laughed. “I won’t. You’re as sharp as ever though, so no adverse effect on you.”

  “A mother always has to stay sharp.”

  “Especially with five kids. I’m not sure how you did it. I can barely keep up with one.”

  “Mama,” Sidney said. “I’m hungry.”

  “Aren’t you just the sweetest little thing? Just like your mama. Let’s get you some food then,” Jolene said. “What do you like to eat?”

  Sidney looked at Aimee, then to Jolene, hesitated a moment and said, “Hot dogs.”

  “We’ve got hot dogs. Lots of hot dogs. It’s the one thing Gavin loves to cook. Do you like fruit?”

  Sidney smiled and nodded her head. The soft accent of Jolene’s seemed to be winning her baby girl over. “Bananas. Berries.”

  “Oh, we have lots of different kinds of berries. Do you want to go check it out with me or does Mommy need to come, too?”

  “Food,” Sidney said, reaching her hand toward Jolene’s.

  “Wow. I guess you’ve got the magic touch,” Aimee said, feeling slightly proud and completely depressed. Seemed her baby didn’t need her at the moment.

  “Kids are like a pack of wild dogs. You’ve got to go in there confident and show them who’s boss. Why do you think my kids listen to me now?” she said laughing, then grabbed Sidney’s hand and walked with her to the table of snacks.

  That left Aimee by herself, standing in the kiddie pool until she got her wits about her and stepped out.

  “Want a beer?” Susan, one of the full-time waitresses in the bar asked, handing a glass over.

  “Sure. Just one, though.”

  “Your daughter sure is cute. I didn’t know you had a child.”

  She’d heard some variation of those words a lot today. Along with, “Are you single? Where’s her father? Who watches her when you work late at night?” All the reasons she kept it quiet that she had a kid. She never liked having attention on herself and surprising everyone this way was an absolute recipe for putting the spotlight right on her.

  “Yep, I do. She’s my world.”

  “I bet,” Susan said. “I’ve got two kids myself.”

  “You do? Where are they?”

  “With their father this weekend. I don’t tell too many people. Probably the same reason you don’t. It’s not easy being judged. I’m sick of being looked down on at times for working the hours I do and having kids at home. Like all working mothers should sit at a desk between nine and five.”

  “Exactly,” Aimee said, glad someone else got it. Someone that didn’t look at her like she was loose for working in a bar. Like she had a bunch of baby daddies and left her kids home alone with just anyone while she went out and had fun each night. “How old are they?” Susan didn’t look much older than her.

  “Five and eight. Nasty age for kids. Old enough to understand and be complete wiseasses, but young enough you can’t tell them what you really want to when they wise back.”

  “I remember those days.” At Susan’s odd look, she said, “My mother was a bartender, too. My stepfather worked second shift. I was home alone a lot as a teen. Thought I knew it all back then and made sure my mother understood that. Come to find out I didn’t know much at all.”

  “Isn’t that always the way?”

  “Are these parties always so lively?” Aimee asked, being distracted by the activity on the other side of the yard. There was a band setting up, kids were running and screaming, playing games. Food was bursting at the seams with Aiden at the grill by his father.

  “This is nothing. Last year was great. But that was mainly Craig’s doing.”

  “Who’s Craig?” Aimee asked. She knew most employees by name now, at least those in the bar and restaurant.

  “Brody’s best friend. Always the life of the party. Always had some plan or trick up his sleeve. Last year he brought clowns in knowing how much Mason and Ella are terrified of them. Waited until it was dark, and then from behind the bushes these two clowns with huge black-painted smiles come running at them throwing water balloons. Soaked everyone that night. No one stayed dry. Even Ella and Mason laughed once they stopped being chased.”

  “Is Craig here now?” she asked. Brody had never even brought that name up before.

  “No,” Susan said, starting to look uncomfort
able.

  “Where is he?”

  “Maybe you should talk to Brody about that. I just figured you’d heard the rumors.”

  She hadn’t. “What rumors?”

  “Nothing. Forget I said it. And actually don’t bring it up to Brody, either. I don’t know all the details of everything. I just know that Craig isn’t around here anymore. I don’t even know where he is.”

  ***

  Brody noticed Aimee all by herself. He’d watched his mother take Sidney’s hand and lead her away to the food. Part admiration and part jealousy in that move. He’d love to know how his mother managed that, but would never ask.

  He made his way over, pulling out the chair Susan had just vacated. “What are you drinking?”

  “Mason’s new cherry sour. It’s pretty decent.”

  “He’s putting it on tap tomorrow.”

  “Is he going to bottle this one?”

  “He hasn’t decided. I think he likes doing these special brews and getting a following that way. Supply and demand, he always says. If he does bottle it, I see it being a short-term thing, though.”

  “Definitely a good summer beer. A little too sweet for me, but I could see people liking it on a nice hot day. Perfect party brew,” she said, taking a small sip. If his eyes went to her mouth and then her throat, he tried not to think about it.

  He nodded, not really wanting the small talk, but not sure what else to say. “Enjoying yourself?”

  “It’s a nice party.”

  “It is.”

  “I heard it’s a tame party this year. That your friend Craig always livens things up.”

  His face hardened. “Don’t believe everything you hear about Craig.”

  She frowned. “All I heard was something about clowns and water balloons.”

  Brody grimaced, annoyed someone was running their mouth, and saddened over the memory of last year. A memory that just reminded him he never knew the truth about someone he thought he knew so well. “That’s true.”

  “So where is this friend of yours?” she asked.

  “He moved,” he said, trying not to be short, but not wanting to talk about this. Only his family had the gall to bring Craig’s name up to him, but he wouldn’t take it out on Aimee. She wouldn’t know what was going on and he didn’t want to say.

  But being short stalled the conversation and Aimee started to look around, her eyes landing on Sidney talking with Ella now. Maybe it was a good thing. Maybe Sidney just liked girls better than boys.

  “I’m sorry,” he blurted out before he could stop himself. Before he realized he was opening a can of worms during a time when he really couldn’t say what he wanted.

  She turned sharply. “For what?”

  “For everything.”

  “You should be more specific.”

  “The last few days,” he said. “For not being as…friendly as I normally am.”

  “What’s your reason?” There was heat in her eyes, but he wasn’t sure if it was anger or not.

  “I’m a guy and I was being a jerk,” he said, grinning at her.

  She laughed and some of the heat cooled. “The real reason?” she asked.

  “I really don’t know. This last year things have been crazy, then you show up and I’m all twisted around. I’m just trying to right myself without hurting anyone. I’m trying to put other people first.”

  “You normally do that,” she said.

  “Not always. Not lately. Or so I’ve been told. Either way, it’s not an excuse, but rather an explanation. And maybe a little bit of pleading for you to give me some leeway and some time to figure it out and try to do it right.”

  “I’ll only give you so much time to figure it out. You’re an adult, you should know by now how not to hurt people. How to think about others and what their reactions and feelings might be in certain situations.”

  “Knowing and succeeding are two different things. I really hope I haven’t hurt you,” he said. If he hurt her trying to prevent it, he’d feel even worse. It’d mean that no matter what he did or thought or tried, it didn’t make a difference. It was a hard bitter pill to swallow for someone who’d been a leader his whole life.

  “Not hurt as much as confused.”

  “I can handle confusion.”

  She laughed. “Glad to know you can.”

  “How’s this for being clear?” he said, his voice low. He’d made sure no one was real close when he started this conversation. “I’d like to take you out on a date on your next night off.”

  “I get out of work at seven,” she said smiling.

  “Yeah, but I work until midnight.”

  “Then it doesn’t matter which night I’ve got off.”

  Now she was playing with him and he found he was just fine with it. “Next Thursday. Can you find a sitter for the day? Spend it with me. Just the two of us. I’ll get you home early so that you’ve got the night with Sidney. I know I’m asking a lot of you to give up time with her, but I’d really like the two of us to have some time together.”

  “I’ll let you know tomorrow,” she said, then stood up and walked over to his mother and her daughter.

  She was going to make him work for it and he couldn’t blame her in the least.

  One Date

  Aimee made him wait until the end of her shift on Monday. They’d worked all afternoon together, nice easy smooth conversations with each other and customers alike. But not once did she bring up his offer of a date.

  Not until she was walking out from behind the bar and said, “Thursday works for me if it does for you.”

  Nothing more, nothing less, and nothing for anyone to think it was more than an innocent statement.

  “Sounds good. I’ll get some details to you in the next few days.”

  They left it at that, and went about their nights. Then went about their next two days of work just the same. Never once mentioning their one mind-blowing night together, their conversation at the party or their upcoming date.

  He’d had three days to figure out the perfect date for her. He couldn’t remember the last time he put this much time, effort, or thought into one date, but deep down he knew this was make or break for them. This was going to be the turning or crumbling point.

  He messed up last time. She gave herself willingly and then the days that followed, he’d ignored her and her feelings while trying to get a grip on his own. Selfishness on his part.

  The lecture he gave himself about having consequences was weighing heavily on his mind Thursday morning. “Are you ready to go?” he asked when she opened the door to him.

  “We are. Are you sure this is how you want to spend our date?”

  “I am.” If there was one thing he realized, the way to get her to understand he was serious was to involve Sidney. If he was going to win her, he had to win over her daughter. “Are you ready to see some fish, Sidney?”

  She was pushing a tiny stroller with a doll in it around the living room, but she stopped and looked at him now. “Yes. Dory.”

  He looked at Aimee. “Who’s Dory?”

  “A fish,” she said, laughing at him. “It’s a movie about a fish. Sidney likes Finding Dory. It’s one of her favorite movies.”

  He wished he’d known that beforehand. He would have tried to find a stuffed Dory for her. Anything to get her to open up to him.

  “Maybe you’ll let me watch it with you one day,” he said to Sidney. Never did he think he’d be practically begging a toddler to spend some time with him.

  Sidney stopped pushing her stroller and ran behind the wall where her bed was and came back holding a DVD case in one hand and a tiny blue fish in the other. “Dory,” she said again, flashing two dimples at him. Dimples he hadn’t seen yet, and he knew he was slowly starting the race. Whether he’d win it or not, who knew, but at least he was out of the starting gate.

  Aimee took the toy and movie out of Sidney’s hands and laid them on the couch. “Maybe later, but right now let’s see if we can find s
ome of Dory’s friends at the aquarium.”

  “Find Nemo,” Sidney said.

  “I know that name,” Brody said. “Do you want to stop and get lunch first?”

  “I gave her a snack about thirty minutes ago. I think it’d be best to let her see the fish first, then eat.”

  “Then let’s go find Dory and Nemo,” Brody said, holding his hand out to Sidney. Would she take it? No, she didn’t, but she did smile at him again, and that was almost as good.

  ***

  Aimee couldn’t believe that Brody actually wanted to take her and Sidney on a date. He even went so far as to say, “I’ll be the envy of everyone there if I have you two by my side.” He was only teasing, she knew, but secretly it meant a lot.

  She would have been okay with just the two of them going out to dinner tonight, maybe having a little time together. But when he mentioned bringing Sidney to the aquarium, she knew there’d be no way to say no.

  Not because her little girl loved fish. Not because it was a trip she’d been planning on bringing Sidney to herself. Not even that he thought to include Sidney.

  She couldn’t say no, because after they’d talked on Sunday at his parents’ party, he’d looked so lost and lonely standing by himself. A man that had everyone talking to him in the bar and wanting his attention was alone in a sea of people who actually knew him.

  And when she brought up Craig’s name, his demeanor had changed. Changed enough that she expected him to get up and walk away. Instead, he took a deep breath and changed the subject.

  But to say he was sorry, to just blurt it out where anyone could hear him, where anyone could eavesdrop on their conversation, that said he was more vested than she’d thought. It told her that maybe he wasn’t using her for a good time. A distraction from the crazy year he’d had…whatever that meant.