Heather

No, alcohol is not what has my mind racing. It’s more like the hot, mind blowing sex and the thoughts of who I had it with. I’m still trying to catch my breath and let what just happened set in. Not to mention, the thoughts crying out in the back of my mind. I won’t let those ruin this night for me. I’ll deal with them later.

“You promised you wouldn’t think,” Brax murmurs as his fingertips make circles on my shoulder.

I run my fingers across his taunt abs. “I’m trying,” I chuckle.

Brax brushes a lock of hair out of my face, fingering the strands. I turn my head up to look at his face. A small smile touches his lips, as his eyes roam over the uncharacteristic change. I’d picked the wig, wanting to complete the look exactly as I would if…if I had the courage to show the world who I really am.

“What made you change your hair?” He asks, smoothing a hand over my cheek.

“It was a part of the look,” I shrug.

“Have you ever thought about growing your hair back? I know how much you loved it long,” he questions, watching my eyes for my response.

I look away, focusing my eyes on the ceiling. I’ve thought about growing my hair back a million times. I’m just not ready. Some people hide behind their hair, I choose to hide without it. I know I’m stronger now, but I don’t know if I’m ready.

I shrug. “It’s just hair.”

Braxton snorts. “Bullshit, don’t do that with me. I think you’re beautiful either way. I just think it’s time you start claiming shit back.”

“Claiming shit back? What are you talking about?” I slide my eyes back to his face.

“You’re so much stronger now, Heather. You’re not ten or seventeen anymore. You don’t have to hide. You should consider being you more often,” Braxton says softly, but pointedly.

I reach to push my fingers into the soft hairs of the wig. I think his words over. I don’t want to look too deeply into the box he’s suggesting I open up. I mean, I’ve already dig so far inside to find the strength to do this all tonight.

“I’m so proud of you, Heather. Tonight, you took so much of your power back. All I’m saying is, you don’t have to stop here,” Brax says, as if reading my mind.

I scoff. “I went to see my mother,” I say before I can stop myself. “She…she just doesn’t get it.”

Brax reaches to turn my face fully to his. His eyes narrow as he looks at me. I can see the questions floating in his head.

“Has he tried to contact you again? Did you run into him when you went to see her?” Braxton asks, with rage pouring off of him.

I sigh. “No, I have a sister. Amanda, she’s thirteen. I…I don’t think he’s doing the same things to her, but I think he may have hurt her. Her arm is broken. I went to my mother to ask her about it,” I huff out. “Little good did that do.”

“Say the word and I’ll make his ass disappear,” Braxton rasps out angrily.

I shake my head. “No, I won’t let you mess up your life for him.”

“Oh, Heather, I’m going to kill that piece of shit. It’s only a matter of when,” he says with determination.

I groan and bury my face into his chest, causing his arms to wrap around me. Brax is still so young, with his life ahead of him. I don’t need him to get into this mess. I don’t want him to. I’ll handle this my way.

“Let it go,” I sigh.

“Hey,” he says, lifting my face. “I made a promise and I plan to keep it. You said we would do it together. So, I’ve waited. I’ve waited for you to say the word. If you don’t think you can do this. I’ll take care of it.”

I yank my face back. “I’m going to handle it. This just can’t make it’s way back to our door,” I start.

“Do you think I don’t know that. I know who he’s connected to. I’ve been watching and waiting. Trust me, it’s not going to be a problem,” he reassures me.

This time I narrow my eyes on him. Brax can be so reckless, I can’t let him just run into this. It’s not one of our little pranks. I don’t know what he thinks he knows, but I won’t let him get hurt over me. I’m suddenly exhausted. I don’t want to ruin the night we just had with all of this. I shake my head clear.

“It’s still your birthday weekend. I don’t want to talk about this,” I blow out.

“We need to talk about it sometime,” he grumbles.

“Yeah, just not now,” I roll my eyes.

“Heather—”

“No, Brax, please,” I warn.

The room falls silent. I can feel him brooding. I reclaim my place on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. The rhythmic sound begins to lull me to sleep.

“I have one more wish,” Brax says, just before I drift off.

“Name it,” I mumble sleepily.

“Stay,” he says the simple word.

I wrinkle my tired brows. “Huh?”

“Don’t run on me, Heather. When the sunrises, I don’t want things to go back to the way they were. Stay. No more pretending,” he says in almost a plea.

I’m shocked by the fear that grips me. My exhausted brain tries to catch up to all that has transpired. Braxton’s age, my insecurities, my fear,—the truth that’s screaming at my subconscious, demanding to stop being ignored,—all of it threatens to cut my air off.

I feel lame for the words I let slip out of my mouth. “Let’s just take the weekend as it comes. After all, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.”

* * *

Braxton

I can’t say I didn’t know Heather would run on me. I just thought if I asked,— if I tried, she would prove me wrong. I guess I just know Heather too well for my own good.

We have this weekend though. I plan to make the best of that. I grin to myself, as I think of getting her drunk enough to marry me in the next two days. That would be a task in itself. Heather holds her own.

That smile falls away as I think of pushing inside her with no barrier to break. I ache to ask her if she slept with someone other than me. I know with everything I am that I already know the answer. I have a new level of love and respect for Heather. She allowed me to be the one, because of that I could never force anything on her.

My thoughts shift, I look down at the sleeping angel on my chest. I huff out a breath. She still sees me as a baby. I know she does. Rage fills me as I think if her stepfather. I know she doesn’t want me involved because she still sees me as a kid.

“Patience, B,” I mutter to myself. “This woman is going to teach you patience.”