Braxton

For once, I want to be her hero. I can make this right and I will. I just hope Heather doesn’t smack the shit out of me. This is such a sensitive matter. I’m nervous I’m going to fuck this up.

None of this is about me. I needed to figure this out to help Heather find peace again. If she still runs from me after this, I’ll at least know she got what she needed to get to a good place in her life.

With Ryan away, this is the best time for me to do this. I just need to get the execution right. Dad has done some romantic shit for mom over the years. I can only hope that shit rubbed off on me.

I look around the living room of my apartment. I had to move the pool table and pinball machines out of the way on my own. There was no way I could explain this to one of my brothers. They’re nosey as fuck. The questions would’ve been endless.

I shift on my feet, looking at the puddle of white roses in the center of the living room floor. I pushed the sofa right in front of it for Heather to have a seat there. In the center of the roses, rests a little blue jewelry box.

I looked it up online. Blue is the color for healing. There is a purpose to every single thing I’ve done. From the color of the jewelry box to the white rose petals. I thought out every detail.

“Fuck, you better get this right,” I wipe the sweat from my forehead.

I have to get this right. Ultimately the end result is up to Heather, but the goal is to offer her what she’s been seeking. I see the lust in her eyes, when I tease and taunt her. I know she wants to be free from her personal prison.

My heart nearly beats out of my chest, when the doorbell sounds. Time is out, I have to see this through whether I’m ready or not. I make my way to the door with my heart in my throat.

My breath leaves my lungs, when I open the door to Heather. She hasn’t done anything special with her outfit, but she looks pure gorgeous. Grey jeans wrap her shapely legs, with bike chains resting against her right thigh. The black t-shirt she has on barely gives a hint of the body beneath it. Yet, I’ll take her just as she is.

“Come in,” I say nervously and want to kick myself.

Heather steps inside, with a smile on her face. When she sees the rose petals and jewelry box, she spins on her heels, looking up at me. Confusion takes over her pretty eyes. I can see her chest heaving.

I hold my hands up. “Relax,” I give a nervous chuckle. “I’m not proposing tonight.”

Her brows wrinkle, but her posture and face seem to relax. I reach for her hand and lead her over to the bed of petals. Nodding my head at the box, I gesture for her to pick it up.

Instead of moving to the couch, Heather kneels on her knees on top of the roses. I sit beside her, feeling my own knees get weak. I’ve never felt more like a little pussy. My stomach flips, as she just sits with the box in her hands, not moving to open it.

“It’s okay,” I coax hoarsely. “Open it.”

Heather rolls her lips, wiping her right hand on her jeans, before opening the box. Her brows wrinkle, as the small diamond covered charm comes into view. Ironically, I spent a fortune to have the little thing made.

Heather reaches into the box, pulling out the charm connected to a charm bracelet. She lifts it up in front of her, looking perplexed. I roll my lips, trying not to laugh. I don’t want to come off as a dick tonight.

“A fortune cookie?” she quizzes, confusion wrinkling her brows.

“Yeah,” I nod.

Her confused eyes move to mine. I rub the back of my neck, suddenly wondering why I chose to do this this way. I can feel my cheeks flush.

“Awe, fuck it,” I huff.

* * *

Heather

One of these days, you’re going to let me eat you until you’re dry and limp. I shudder from the words he spoke just this afternoon.

It doesn’t matter that I know he’s only teasing. My body doesn’t know any better. It reacts to him every single time. My body has never been the problem, when it comes to Brax. If I let my body have her way, I’d be sprawled out on this bed of rose petals.

Honestly, curiosity led me here. Now, I’m even more curious, as I hold up this diamond covered fortune cookie. My eyes bounce from it to Brax.

“Awe, fuck it,” he huffs, looking the most flustered I’ve ever seen him. “You said…you told me you felt like you had something stolen. Your innocence was taken away. You wanted to choose to give that away.

“I thought about that shit real hard. I know it won’t be the same, but what if you can get that back? What if that’s what you need to start healing? You know, the choice to give it away, when you want to, to who you want?”

I lower the charm, clutching it in my hand. My palm starts to sweat, as I take in his words and what they truly mean. I start to rock a little. Hope beginning to bloom in my heart.

I dare to ask. “What do you mean?”

Brax nods, rubbing the back of his neck. “There is a surgery. A hymenoplasty. It will take six weeks to heal. You will have to rest up and someone will need to be there to take care of you. You won’t be able to move too much.

“Dr. Nobi is a friend of Wyatt’s. He’ll do it. I’ll pay for it. I already have a place out North where we can stay. I’ve been working a case, I can make it look like I’m out in the field for six weeks. I’ll be able to cover, Ry will help.

“You can take a vacation. You haven’t taken one in like two years. I’m sure it won’t be a problem,” his words start to rush together, as tears gather in my eyes.

I bring the charm clutched in my hand to my chest, holding it over my heart. My lips tremble while I try to form words. I don’t even know what to say. I never even thought of something like this.

“You,” I stop and swallow thickly. “You would do that for me?”

“I’d take your place of I could. I’d do anything to erase the past if I had the power to,” Brax replies, swallowing pass a lump in his own throat.

“Wow,” I say, my hand trembling over my heart. “I just…just…I don’t even know what to say.”

“Tell me what you think, what you want,” he says gently.

I give him a trembling smile. “Let’s fix my cookie,” I say with small giggle.

Brax expels a long breath, his arms go around me pulling me into his chest. “Thank you,” he breathes into my hair.

“For?”

“Letting me fix this for you,” he answers.

“I should be thanking you,” I sniffle.