people you know close by.” She watches me as she realizes what moving back in with them really means. “Braydon,” she whispers.
“I know. It’s ok. He has a life. He has a job and a side job and too much going on. This is for the best, mom.” It has to be.
“He’s such a good kid, Alexis. You’re his world… he hasn’t left your side this whole time. He’s going to be shattered…” She trails off, watching her fingers as they play with the knit blanket on my bed.
“It’s not that far. We’ll still see each other.” I have to stay positive about everything or I’m just going to turn into a depressed mess. I’m leaving behind everything I’ve known for years to head back home and move back in with my parents. There’s a lot of things depressing about my life right now, but I can’t focus on that.
I’m alive. I have to live for me.
“Well,” my mom huffs. “I’m looking forward to having you home, Alexis. It’s been too long.” She hugs me again then starts fussing over my sheets and clothes, making sure everything is just so. It’s an entire hour of my mother. Something I’m not used to enduring. Something I kind of missed.
“How’s my baby girl?” My dad asks, walking in with a bag of takeout in his hands.
“Peachy, daddy.” I smile, missing his smiling face. “You bring mom dinner? She refused to eat hospital food when it was offered and I know she’s getting hangry.”
“Hangry is an understatement,” he laughs. “I know how she can get. And I brought reinforcements.” He nods towards the door as it opens and Braydon walks in, making my heartbeat immediately spike. How does that happen? How can one person walking into a room make my entire mood and being feel so… different?
“Hey,” I say, smiling at him. He gives me a tight-lipped smile and nods.
“Mrs. Grant, if I could have a couple minutes with Alexis…” he trails off, still standing by the door. My dad clears his throat, nods my mom to the door, enticing her with the bag of food he’s carrying. She smiles at both of us before following my dad out to the waiting room.
Leaving just the two of us.
“You’re heading home,” he says, walking over to me. Why do I feel like crying again?
“I am,” I whisper, feeling guilty for leaving him all alone here in LA.
“’I’m driving you.” Plain and simple. No request, more of a demand.
“All the way to Santa Barbara? Bray, my parents aren’t close. It’s not like we’re going to a neighboring city… it’d be a long haul for you and I’m sure you’re busy-”
“Listen,” he cuts me off, “you’re going to let me help you, Al. I’m fully aware where your parents live, and your dad has already agreed to let me join you three tomorrow. Stop trying to push away my help, because I’m not going anywhere.” His brown eyes bore into mine, I feel guilty that that’s exactly what I was trying to do.
“I just don’t want you going out of your way for me.” I feel like a scorned child the way he’s looking at me.
“I want to go out of my way for you, Al. You’re it. Deal with it.” And then, without any warning, he leans in, presses his lips to mine so soft and gently it’s like he’s afraid he’s going to hurt me. The touch of his lips on mine springs my senses to life, eliciting feelings that I’m not supposed to be having for him. Wanting his lips on more of me that just my lips. Wanting his hands roaming over me. Wanting so much more than I should, but loving everything that I’m getting. His hands cup my face, the kiss lingers on my lips before he pulls away, eyes still closed, and sighs.
“Shit,” he huffs, backing away. “I’m sorry, Al. I just, I don’t-”
“It’s ok,” I whisper, my fingers going to my mouth, missing the touch of his lips on mine.
So damn soft.
“No, it’s not. Now’s not the time for any of that, and I just fucked shit up, and I’m so sorry.” He’s shaking his head and looks panicked, like
“I know. It’s ok. He has a life. He has a job and a side job and too much going on. This is for the best, mom.” It has to be.
“He’s such a good kid, Alexis. You’re his world… he hasn’t left your side this whole time. He’s going to be shattered…” She trails off, watching her fingers as they play with the knit blanket on my bed.
“It’s not that far. We’ll still see each other.” I have to stay positive about everything or I’m just going to turn into a depressed mess. I’m leaving behind everything I’ve known for years to head back home and move back in with my parents. There’s a lot of things depressing about my life right now, but I can’t focus on that.
I’m alive. I have to live for me.
“Well,” my mom huffs. “I’m looking forward to having you home, Alexis. It’s been too long.” She hugs me again then starts fussing over my sheets and clothes, making sure everything is just so. It’s an entire hour of my mother. Something I’m not used to enduring. Something I kind of missed.
“How’s my baby girl?” My dad asks, walking in with a bag of takeout in his hands.
“Peachy, daddy.” I smile, missing his smiling face. “You bring mom dinner? She refused to eat hospital food when it was offered and I know she’s getting hangry.”
“Hangry is an understatement,” he laughs. “I know how she can get. And I brought reinforcements.” He nods towards the door as it opens and Braydon walks in, making my heartbeat immediately spike. How does that happen? How can one person walking into a room make my entire mood and being feel so… different?
“Hey,” I say, smiling at him. He gives me a tight-lipped smile and nods.
“Mrs. Grant, if I could have a couple minutes with Alexis…” he trails off, still standing by the door. My dad clears his throat, nods my mom to the door, enticing her with the bag of food he’s carrying. She smiles at both of us before following my dad out to the waiting room.
Leaving just the two of us.
“You’re heading home,” he says, walking over to me. Why do I feel like crying again?
“I am,” I whisper, feeling guilty for leaving him all alone here in LA.
“’I’m driving you.” Plain and simple. No request, more of a demand.
“All the way to Santa Barbara? Bray, my parents aren’t close. It’s not like we’re going to a neighboring city… it’d be a long haul for you and I’m sure you’re busy-”
“Listen,” he cuts me off, “you’re going to let me help you, Al. I’m fully aware where your parents live, and your dad has already agreed to let me join you three tomorrow. Stop trying to push away my help, because I’m not going anywhere.” His brown eyes bore into mine, I feel guilty that that’s exactly what I was trying to do.
“I just don’t want you going out of your way for me.” I feel like a scorned child the way he’s looking at me.
“I want to go out of my way for you, Al. You’re it. Deal with it.” And then, without any warning, he leans in, presses his lips to mine so soft and gently it’s like he’s afraid he’s going to hurt me. The touch of his lips on mine springs my senses to life, eliciting feelings that I’m not supposed to be having for him. Wanting his lips on more of me that just my lips. Wanting his hands roaming over me. Wanting so much more than I should, but loving everything that I’m getting. His hands cup my face, the kiss lingers on my lips before he pulls away, eyes still closed, and sighs.
“Shit,” he huffs, backing away. “I’m sorry, Al. I just, I don’t-”
“It’s ok,” I whisper, my fingers going to my mouth, missing the touch of his lips on mine.
So damn soft.
“No, it’s not. Now’s not the time for any of that, and I just fucked shit up, and I’m so sorry.” He’s shaking his head and looks panicked, like
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