TRUSTING YOU
Brittany Bromley
Copyright © 2015 Brittany Bromley
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any printed or electronic form without permission from the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, and events either are the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Table of Contents
Prologue
Brody
Leighton
Brody
Leighton
Brody
Leighton
Brody
Leighton
Brody
Leighton
Brody
Leighton
Brody
Leighton
Brody
Leighton
Brody
Leighton
Brody
Leighton
Brody
Leighton
Brody
Leighton
Brody
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Books
Finding You – Chapter One
Prologue
“What do you mean she’s not our sister?” Collin asks, sitting in a chair by Molly’s bed. “How can she not be our sister?”
“Of course she’s your sister, she’s just not you biological sister. I don’t know how it happened, but apparently we took home the wrong baby from the hospital,” my mom says between sobs.
“So, we have a sister out there somewhere that has no idea who we are or that she is a part of our family,” I say slowly, trying to wrap my head around this horrible situation. How can that even be possible? Aren’t hospitals supposed to be careful about things like that?
“We have to find her,” Jaxon says, speaking for the first time.
“I’ll find her,” I say, grabbing my phone out of my pocket. I don’t really care if I find her or not. I just really hate seeing my mom upset. Molly is a nightmare as a sister and if they are all like that, I don’t want anything to do with another one. I can’t even begin to imagine what it must feel like knowing you have a twenty six year old daughter out there you know nothing about.
“Put your phone up, Brody,” my dad says, staring down at Molly. “We have to be smart about this. I already have a list of all the babies that were born that day. There were four baby girls total. I have the names of two, but the other one seems to have disappeared. The hospital has called the two we have and they have all agreed to a DNA test to be sure they are with their biological parents. They are doing the tests this afternoon,” he says, looking back at me. “I know we can find the missing girl quick if all of these come back that they really are who they think, but I think we need to go by the rules. I don’t want to mess up. I just want to find my daughter. We will just have to wait and see what they find out first.”
“How long does it take to get results from a DNA test?” I ask assuming it will take a while.
“They said they would put a rush on it and we are hoping to find out within the next twenty four hours,” he says, going over to sit by my mom.
“What do we do until then?” I ask knowing there is no way I am going to be patient enough to wait.
“We wait,” my dad says ending this conversation. They may be able to sit around with no answers, but I am not.
“I have to go into work for a little while. Call me when Molly wakes up or you hear from those tests,” I say, walking out the door.
“Brody, wait,” Jaxon says, running behind me. “We have to do something.”
“I’m already on it,” I say, turning around. “Just stay here and keep me updated. I may not be able to rush those tests, but I can find this missing girl in case none of the others are our sister. I can’t believe Molly isn’t even our sister,” I say finally realizing what this means. Growing up with two brothers was a lot of fun. Growing up with one sister has been a living hell. I should probably feel bad for feeling that way since she is laying in the hospital in a coma, but I don’t. She has made it impossible to even like her the past few years. Knowing I may have to deal with another sister is not something I am even a little bit excited about.
“Call me if you find out anything. I’m going to try and get Collin to leave for the night. I’m sure it’s not the greatest news finding out your twin isn’t really your twin. I wonder where her family is,” Jaxon says reminding me this isn’t just about a sister. She is going to have another family we are going to have to deal with too, Molly’s family.
Brody
I cannot believe my life has come to this. This has to have been the longest week of my life. It’s not every day you find out the only sister you have ever had is not even your real sister. My poor mom, it was hard enough watching her find out Molly had been in an accident and was in a coma in the hospital, but to watch her find out she has a daughter out there she has never met, that was almost more than I could watch. That’s probably why I agreed to come down to Miami and keep an eye out on her. At first, I didn’t really care if I met her or not. Growing up with Molly was mostly a nightmare and has been even worse since we have become adults. I guess I can’t complain too much. It’s not like I talk to her that often. I can’t imagine any woman out there worth spending much time with. If there is, I haven’t found her yet.
I am just glad Clayton finally found Callie. I have always thought he was an amazing detective, that’s why I called him in the first place to find her. I never thought it would take him a week to find her. I know she has practically disappeared off the face of the earth, but even I had an address the day after I found out.
I do know one thing for sure, this is going to be more complicated than I originally thought. She is just like me and my brothers, stubborn. There is no way I am going to be able to talk her into doing something she doesn’t want to and right now, I’m not sure she wants to know us. I have already showed up unannounced at her house once this trip. I thought that went really bad until I got a text from her saying she would do the DNA testing with me. Unfortunately, the results are going to take a little longer than I want and now I need to convince her to come home with me tomorrow, back to a town that she doesn’t want to go near.
I take my phone out and dial Jaxon’s number while I’m on my way to surprise her again. Maybe he will know how to handle this.
“Hello,” he answers on the first ring.
“Hey, how is everything there?” I ask.
“It’s still the same. Molly still isn’t awake, but the doctors think she will be within the next forty eight hours. I know this sounds bad, but I dread when she does wake up,” he says. “How are things there? Have you convinced her to come home with us yet?”
“Not yet. I have learned a few things though. I don’t know if we are the reason she doesn’t want to come with me or if it’s about her parents. She’s the one that found them murdered and she saw the man who did it. That’s why she disappeared. They were protecting her. She is still afraid he is going to find her if she goes anywhere near Nashville,” I say hoping he can give me some advice on how to get her to trust me.
“That’s awful. I hate she had to go through that. I can’t even begin to imagine what that would feel like. You have to get her to come back with you,” he says sounding as overprotective of her as I feel.
“I’m on my way over there now. I’m taking food, maybe she will let me in if I have food,” I say. “I’ll call you later and let you know how it goes. Tell everyone I said hi and I will see them tomorrow,” I say, be
fore hanging up. I really hope I can convince her to let me in.
Leighton
This has to have been the worst week of my life. I have no idea why I thought going anywhere near that woman was a good idea. I don’t care if she is my sister and says she wants us to be close again. There are just some things that are unforgivable. She has done most of those things to me. I am just ready to go see Callie. Thank goodness I met her. She is definitely the best friend anyone could ever have. I really wish she had been born my sister and not the horrible one I have.
I am fixing to knock on her door when it opens and a very unfamiliar face is staring back at me. At least one of us has had a good week. When did she meet this guy? She usually won’t give a guy a second glance and she never lets them in her house. What have I missed this week? I wish I had been here so I could have met this one first.
“Well hello there handsome. Callie didn’t tell me she had plans tonight,” I say trying to figure out what is really going on with these two.
“Come in Leighton, he was just leaving,” Callie says, grabbing my arm and pulling me inside.
“I’ll be back in the morning. Please be ready,” hot boy says to Callie, before walking out the door. Oh how I wish I had stayed in town this week.
“You have been holding out on me Callie. How could you not tell your best friend about him? I know I have been gone a whole week, but really, he is definitely something you tell your friends about. He is hot. Does he have any brothers?” I ask, finally turning around to look at her and stop staring out the window.
“He actually has two brothers and they are all off limits to you,” she says making me pout. Why is she keeping them away? I definitely need some excitement in my life after my week.
“You’re no fun Callie. It’s not like you can have all three of them. I really hope you haven’t gotten into that in the last week while I have been gone,” I say.
“Actually, you have missed a very exciting week. They actually are all mine,” she says watching my face closely. I can feel my eyes getting larger. Is she really trying to tell me she is into that? “They are all three my brothers. I’m not trying to be mean. I would just really like to get to know them before you start taking them away from me with all of your charms,” she says starting to look a little sad. I guess she has had a pretty rough week.
“They are all yours, I completely understand,” I say, holding my hands up. “I had no idea you had any family. The only person you ever talk to other than me is Clay. What is going on Callie?” I ask trying to figure out what is going on with her.
“Sit down and get comfortable, it’s going to be a long story,” she says, sitting on the couch.
“Should I grab hot chocolate first?” I ask. We have always been hot chocolate drinkers. There is nothing better than a mug of hot chocolate and a blanket. Add a book or a movie and I am in a very happy place.
“Sure, but this story may need something stronger,” she says from the couch. She never drinks, so this must be bad. Maybe I should find some wine.
I decide on the hot chocolate and meet her back in the living room. For a solid hour I listen to Callie tell me about finding out she has a whole family out there who actually came looking for her. I don’t know if she really is this girl or not, but the more I look at the picture of this family, I can definitely see the resemblance.
“This is unbelievable. To think you have had this whole other family out there your whole life you had no idea about. You even have a twin brother. How amazing is that?” I say, still looking at this picture. I don’t know what it is about this boy in this picture, the same one that opened the door earlier, but he looks so familiar to me. I don’t think I have ever met him, but I think I have definitely seen him somewhere.
“I still don’t think I should go,” Callie says causing me to look up.
“What do you mean you don’t know? Callie, you have to go. You have a family. You get a second chance. Some people never even get a first chance. I know it doesn’t seem like it right now, but this is a good thing. I am really happy for you. They aren’t even my family and I can’t wait to meet them,” I say, looking back down at the picture. They are definitely a good looking family. I am having trouble understanding how they never realized they had the wrong daughter. A red headed fair skinned child in the middle of a bunch of dark headed dark skinned people really should have raised some eye brows.
“What happens when Molly wakes up? How do you think she is going to feel when she finds out she has been replaced?” Callie asks.
“You are not replacing her Callie. If anything, you will be gaining a sister too. I don’t know anything about this girl, but I do know how great you have told me your parents were. If she is anything like them, she will be able to handle it. You have to know that,” I say not understanding why she doesn’t want to meet these people. I mean, they are her biological parents. I would do anything to go back and have my parents again.
“Thank you Leighton. You really are the best friend a girl could ask for, but stay away from my brothers please, at least for now,” she says, looking at me.
“You know I have your back. I’ll just look. No touching, I promise,” I say, smiling at her. As much as I would love to touch what just left here, there is no way I would ever do anything to hurt Callie. She is definitely the closest thing to family I have. “Now, let’s go get you packed up. You have a big day tomorrow,” I say, standing up and heading to her bedroom. Callie hates shopping and clothes. I love shopping and clothes. So thanks to me, she should have everything she needs. I open her closet door and start going through all of her stuff. I grab a couple of her suitcases and start filling them with everything I think she may need for her trip.
“How long do you think you will be staying? I don’t know how many outfits I need to pack for you,” I say, heading over to start going through her drawers.
“I don’t know. Maybe a week,” she says sounding very distracted.
“A week, you can’t get to know them in a week,” I say, still trying to figure out why she thinks this is such a bad idea. “Callie, they are going to love you. I don’t think you will be ready to come back in a week.”
“I know, but I don’t want them to think I am planning on staying a long time. I think I should just make them think I only plan on staying a week or two, so they aren’t expecting anything from me. You know I am horrible with people. Kids I love, but not adults,” she says.
“Okay, I’ll just fix you up with things you can mix and match. You know I can always bring you more if you need it. I am really going to miss you. I can’t believe I just got home and now you are leaving me,” I say.
“Oh my goodness, I almost forgot. How did it go with Josh and Manna?” she asks.
“Horrible. I made it one night and then checked into a hotel. I would have left, but the lawyer said I needed to stay since technically half of everything my grandparents had is mine. There was a lot of paperwork and meetings to attend. I would have gladly let her have it all. It was the worst week of my life. I still can’t believe they are still married. I honestly didn’t think he would stay with her,” I say trying my best not to have a break down in front of her.
“Well, I know he has to be miserable being stuck with her when he could have been with you,” she says.
“He made that decision without me. Oh well, sometimes life sucks. I’m still holding out hope that everything happens for a reason,” I say really wanting to change the subject. “I am starving. Do you want to order a pizza?” I ask remembering I haven’t eaten since breakfast.
“That sounds great.”
“I’ll order one. Can I borrow your phone? I left mine in my car,” I say, going over to get her phone off of the dresser.
“Of course, just make sure you order no mushrooms. I’ll be cleaning the kitchen up,” she says, walking out of the room. I quickly order the pizza and then I scroll through her numbers. Brody, there it is. I text his number to my phone and delete the text. I k
now she said to stay away from him, but I really need to make sure she is going to be okay with him. The last thing I want for her is to have to deal with a messed up life like mine.
Brody
I have just gotten out of the shower when my phone starts ringing. I look down to find a blocked number. I just really hope Callie is not calling to back out on me.
“Hello,” I answer.
“Is this Brody?” asks an unfamiliar voice.
“This is Brody, who is this?”
“I’m Leighton, Callie’s friend. We met a little while ago. Actually we didn’t meet because Callie didn’t introduce us, but we saw each other,” she says. Why in the world is this flirty blonde girl calling me? I can’t stand girls that flirt with every male they come in contact with and I can’t stand clingy girls. This girl comes across as both.
“Is Callie okay?” I ask not thinking of any other reason this girl could be calling me.
“She’s fine. I was just hoping I could talk to you about her before she leaves with you tomorrow. I think there are some things you need to know about Callie.”
“What makes you think she is leaving with me tomorrow? She never said what she was doing,” I ask, trying to figure out how I can avoid this girl tonight. I am exhausted.
“I just left her house and I know for a fact she is going to go with you tomorrow. I know it’s late, but can you meet me somewhere tonight. I really need to talk to you about some stuff.”
What is with this girl? It’s after ten o’clock at night and she wants to meet me. There is no way I am going out tonight.
“You can come by here if you want. I’m too tired to go anywhere tonight. If it’s important enough for you to meet a strange man in a hotel room at night, then come on,” I say hoping she will get the hint that I don’t want to talk to her tonight.
“It is that important. What hotel and room number?” she asks. I cannot believe this girl is actually willing to meet me in practically the middle of the night in a hotel. What is with girls these days?
Trusting You: The Switched Series book two Page 1
