CHAPTER 25
Ryan
I looked at my dad sitting with Elle on our couch as I went over the instructions. I was worried about leaving her alone with him, or anybody for that matter. She was only a couple months old and so tiny. What if something happened?
“There’s plenty of milk in the fridge for her. She should eat in about an hour and a half, and right now she is eating about two ounces at a time. Warm it with some hot water from the sink. Just run the bottle under it so it’s not too cold for her tummy. Beyond that, she sleeps a lot and makes really cute faces.”
“We’re only going to dinner, Ryan. If anything happens, we will be in town and can come right back. It isn’t a big deal,” Brea said from beside me as I looked down at Elle. “Come on. We’re meeting them.”
“She is going to be fine,” Dad assured me, and I sighed. “I’m just going to sit here and talk to her about life and what we have to look forward to. When she sleeps, I’ll keep her close to me. I will keep her safe.”
“We know. Just text or call if you need anything at all.” Now I heard the worry in Brea’s voice, and I looked at her. We walked out of the house and into the garage, and I helped her into the car.
“You look pretty,” I told her as we pulled out. Brea had chosen a light green sundress that hung down above her knees and had straps that brushed over her shoulders. She had paired it with some heeled sandals. She looked great after having the baby, and I eyed her large breasts as I stopped at the end of the driveway.
“Thanks. I’m surprised it fits,” Brea admitted, and I chuckled. “I guess the walks on the beach and the nursing are doing the trick.”
“You’re young and you were healthy during the pregnancy. You are now, but no matter what, you’ll always be beautiful to me,” I said. She shook her head.
“You know just what to say,” Brea said, and I smiled at her. We headed to a seafood restaurant, and I parked as I looked around for Lewis’s flashy red sports car.
“Great. He’s here,” I muttered. Brea looked at me with concern.
“Come on,” she said as she slipped out of the seat and waited for me. I joined her and took her hand as we walked to the building. Lucy was standing up and waving to us. Brea pulled me forward and gave her friend a hug. Lucy hugged me afterward, thanking me for coming before she pulled away and sat beside Lewis. I took my seat and nodded at him as Lucy asked about Elle and they started talking.
The girls were great together, but Lewis and I struggled with what to say. It was small talk, and several times throughout the process of ordering, I watched him look at Brea with a hunger in his eyes that was pissing me off.
“She looks good for just having a baby. Really good,” Lewis told me softly, and I glared at him.
Lucy turned her head sharply, catching the glint in his eyes. “You are a fucking pig. I knew you weren’t the boyfriend type, but Jesus. You’re ogling my best friend, who just had a baby with your best friend. I’m glad I finally see the light bulb that everyone else has.” Lucy pushed back from the table and turned to leave, a full plate and a drink still in front of her.
Brea stared at him before she stood up and crossed her arms over her chest. She turned to follow Lucy, and I glared at Lewis as he shrugged. “Women.”
“You can’t talk about my girlfriend that way. You can’t talk about the mother of my child like that. What the fuck is wrong with you?” I stared at my former best friend, seeing him for who he really was. “I was your closest friend and you look at Brea like that. You treat my cousin like shit.”
“What happened to bros before hoes?” Lewis asked. I shook my head in disgust. “You’re going to kick my ass over a girl? That’s what this sounds like.”
I stood and looked at the table covered with plates and drinks for a moment. “I have to get out there and be with the people who actually belong in my life. I trust you’ll handle the bill. You have plenty of money.” I left and walked outside, chuckling when I saw that Lucy was already talking to a brunet guy and laughing at something he said while Brea sat on a bench, looking at her phone.
I glanced at my cousin and walked over to Bree before sitting down and taking her hand. “I’m sorry about that. He shouldn’t be allowed to talk to you that way, and he’ll never do it again.”
“It’s not your fault he’s an asshole,” Brea told me as she looked up. “Where is he?”
“I left him inside with the bill. How about we go grab some food elsewhere and then go back to the house?” I asked, and she smiled at me. “Do you think Lucy will want to go? How did she meet a guy running away from her date like that?”
“They bumped into each other and she’s Lucy. I think he’s an artist too or something,” Brea looked over at them. “Lucy?”
My cousin glanced over and brought the guy along with her. “Guys, this is Preston. Preston, this is my cousin Ryan and my best friend, Brea.”
Preston smiled politely at both of us as he shook our hands. He was more into Lucy than he was either of us, and I liked him better than Lewis already. “Great to meet you.”
“So, since we abandoned our dinners in there, I was thinking we could go get some food. There’s a great diner on the corner,” I suggested. Lucy laughed, and Preston shot her a curious look.
“I trust the bill is being handled?” Lucy asked, and I smirked and nodded. “Let’s go.” She glanced at Preston and asked if he wanted to join us, and he nodded with an easy grin. I could see that he was smitten with her already.
We got into my car and I drove to the diner, where we got a booth and all ordered shakes and waters. We got to know Preston, who was an artist and owned a small gallery. I thought it was a match made in heaven. We ordered burgers and fries and laughed as we all got to know each other. He laughed when he found out that Lucy’s best friend and cousin were together with a baby, and he said the right things about Elle.
We finished, and I looked at Brea with a smile. She had been texting my dad throughout the night to check on our daughter. “How’s Elle?”
She blushed and smiled. “She’s great. They’re having a good time together.”
“Shall we do something else then?” I asked. She looked at Lucy.
“Do you have beer?” Lucy asked. I nodded and she looked at Brea. “I think we should go to your house and drink on your balcony. There are stars out tonight and the breeze is nice.”
“Are you okay with that?” I asked Brea, and she smiled widely.
“I am.”
We drove back to the house and walked in as Dad looked up from the television. “You’re back.”
“Yeah. Things got weird and we just had dinner and came home. Dad, this is Preston.” I gestured toward the guy who was currently looking around the house. He greeted Dad politely. “We’re going to sit on the balcony and chat a little. Do you want to take one of the rooms upstairs for the night?”
“That would be great, Son. The house feels a little lonely without your mom there,” he admitted sadly.
“Want to have a beer on the balcony with us, Mike?” Lucy asked, and he grinned.
Brea laughed as she picked up Elle from the bouncer. She asked Dad when she ate last, and, like clockwork, Elle started to cry.
“I’m going to grab a blanket and feed her outside if you don’t mind,” Brea said. Everyone shook their heads, and she picked up a blanket from the couch to walk outside first. I smiled at her and went to get the drinks with Preston. I glanced at him once we were in the kitchen.
“Be good to her,” I told him. “I know this is new and all, but the last guy she dated was an ass. I don’t want that for Lucy again.”
“Is that what happened at the restaurant?” he asked. I nodded. “She looked pretty upset when she bumped into me. She got over it though. She’s a sweet girl. I’ve seen her work around town, and she’s talented as well.” He held out a hand and took two of the beers as he glanced at the water curiously.
“Brea and I don’t drink at all,” I said, and he smiled at me.
“That’s cool. I don’t drink heavily myself.”
We were chatting as we walked outside and joined everyone else. I sat next to Brea and glanced over at her as she stroked Elle through the blanket. “How’s she doing?”
“Hungry,” she told me. I leaned in and kissed her.
“You guys make a cute couple,” Lucy observed as she grinned at us. Dad looked confused, and I shot her a look with a smile.
“Thanks. I’ve always thought that,” I replied as she covered her mouth with her hand. We went on to discuss the town and what it had to offer as well as the center. Dad wanted to hear every detail about it and added his own thoughts after seeing Mom go through a few rehabs. I appreciated his opinion, and we talked softly as the others filled the air with laughter. It was a perfect night, and I looked around the deck as something crossed my mind.
Brea took the blanket from Elle’s head, and I looked over at her for a long moment. She stroked Elle’s back and I glanced at the house. “I’ll be right back.” I stood and walked inside the house and jogged up the stairs. There was one more thing I’d done when Brea had been going into labor. Everything had been so busy since that I hadn’t pursued it. Now was the time. I looked down into the drawer for a moment before walking downstairs empty handed.
I dropped beside Brea’s chair. “Will you marry me?”
“What? Are you serious?” Brea asked, and I smiled.
“I love you and Elle. I want forever with you,” I assured her. She looked around at everyone and then back down at me.
“Ryan…I don’t…oh my God.” Tears streamed down her cheeks as she wiped them with one hand. “Yes. I want to marry you.”
I stood up and leaned down to cover her mouth with mine as Lucy screamed in delight. Everyone started talking, but I only felt Brea’s lips against mine until Elle started to fuss. I pulled away and sat down to help her calm the baby before looking around at everybody.
We talked about the wedding until Dad told us he was going to go to bed. He offered to take us all out to dinner to celebrate next week once he could share the news with Mom. We agreed. There was a lot to celebrate.
Lucy and Preston took a cab to his place, and I watched her with worry in my eyes. Brea held Elle, looking at me with a smile. “She’s going to be okay. She’s Lucy.”
We walked upstairs and placed a sleeping Elle into her bassinet before Brea stretched. “Are we really engaged?”
“Yes, we are. I wanted to ask you when you moved in with me, but our baby came. That kind of threw us off, but I had the ring when you came here that day. I just was waiting for the right moment, and it was tonight when I saw you out there feeding Elle. It just hit me and we were with people who love us. Well, I don’t think Preston does, but he may never show his face again. He might be the rebound guy,” I said.
I walked over to her and found the hem of the dress to lift it from her body. Brea smiled up at me as she slipped her arms around my neck to kiss me. “I love you.”
“I love you, and I am going to make you my wife.” I leaned down to kiss her as she moaned into my mouth. We went to bed to make love, knowing that this time it was forever. Brea snuggled into my arms and smiled as she kissed my neck.