Brad

I’ve kept busy the past few months rekindling my relationship with Jacob and Tyson, and learning everything there is to know about being in a real relationship, one in which we’re equal rather than one being subservient to the other.

My brothers and I – My brothers. Man, that’s insane to say. – see each other weekly, and we do our best to not bring up the past. They told me they never filled my position; it just stays vacant and they even offered it to me, but I turned them down. I’m happy where I am and I rather enjoy toying around with computers. I don’t think I want to go back to a life where I always need to wear a suit, where I need to travel, and where I’m taken away from people that I love. My goal for family has been achieved with a mixed bag of old and new. I’m grateful for the new family I gained with Mika and Jared, and I’m also thankful I was able to fix the rift with my blood family.

Jared and Mika have become an extension of me. Not a day goes by that I don’t talk to both of them. Jared sends me weird text messages with pictures of his day, everything from his toothbrush in the morning to his glass of milk at bedtime. My favorite photos are the selfies he takes with Mika. I had one printed and it now sits beside the phone on my work desk.

Brad. Your three o’clock is here. A chat window comes up on my computer screen.

I open my email calendar and see that I have no appointments today.

Another impromptu meeting.

Hmm.

I don’t have lunch plans with Jacob or Tyson today, at least, not that I can remember. Mika never said anything about meeting today when I left her house this morning. I shrug and head up to reception.

Jared’s father, Derek, is standing by the front desk, flirting with the receptionist. When he sees me, he straightens, nods and then steps forward.

“Bradford Maddox, I presume?” he asks.

“What can I do for you?” I ask, shoving my hands in my pockets.

“I, um… can we talk privately?” Derek asks nervously. His hands are in his pockets and he’s rocking on the balls of his feet. I want to know what this is about, and I want to know why he seems so nervous.

I point him in the direction of one of the smaller conference rooms. Once he enters and sits, I take a seat across from him. I fold my arms over my chest and wait for him to speak.

“So, I know you know who I am, so I’m gonna cut to the chase. I’ve been awarded a new grant and will be relocating to Denver. The grant is for three years but it could become permanent, depending on how well I progress with my research.”

“Okay,” I say, dragging out the syllables.

“I wanted to meet you, to see who my son talks so much about. And to, I guess, hand over the reins.”

“Hand over the reins? Derek, you’re his father and that’s not going to change.”

“I know, I know. But you see, I can’t ask Mika to move to Denver just so I can be around Jared. He just started school this year. It wouldn’t be fair for me to ask that of them. I can’t expect any of you to pick up your lives and move it to another state, especially when I know I wouldn’t do the same if the roles were reversed.”

“So, what’s the catch?” I ask.

“There’s no catch. I wanted to meet you, in person, on your turf and apologize for judging you. I know that I had no right. I was jealous. For years, Mika hadn’t dated anyone, while I – I’ll admit I hadn’t been celibate. When I heard you were coming around, I freaked. I reacted poorly, obviously. I know you’re not a shitty person; my son talks about you a lot. And the way Mika fought so passionately for you, well, I won’t lie and say it didn’t sting that she didn’t fight like that for me.”

“I thought you guys weren’t a thing.”

“We were likely never going to be, but she’s the mother of my son. I had always thought that maybe, after a while, we would eventually end up together. She hadn’t dated anyone until you, so I got a little territorial and judged you when I didn’t have the full story. I put her in a shit spot and yeah.” He shrugs.

“Does Mika know about Denver?” I ask.

“I texted her before coming here; asked if I could stop by to talk to her tonight. I was hoping you could be there too?” he says, shaking his head.

“Why?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure. Maybe to be there for Jared when he asks questions. Maybe to show a united front?”

I nod in agreement. We discuss the minor details of the evening and exchange contact information, including addresses, just in case. I walk him back out to the reception area, shake of his hand, and then he’s gone.

“You really need to start reserving the conference rooms,” the receptionist says dryly.

I salute her in mock annoyance and head back to my cubicle to watch the minutes tick by before I can head out of here and home to Mika.

Mika

Brad surprised me by bringing over dinner tonight, and then by already knowing Derek was coming over. When Derek shared his news, first with me and then with Jared, Brad was there to support each of us. Jared had questions and Derek and Brad answered them together, which confused the shit out of me. But, after Derek left and Jared went to bed, Brad told me about Derek’s surprise visit to his work and everything made sense.

The fact that Brad is stepping up to the plate is huge and unexpected. If I wasn’t completely in love with him before, I am head over heels in love with him now.

Who would have thought that the guy who just got released from prison and paired up with my brother would become my knight in shining armor? A man who set out goals for himself and conquered each goal like a champion. A man who was terrified of commitment and freaked out when we first started dating. A man who has become my biggest supporter, my hero, and my best friend. In addition, a man who loves my son, and who my son loves in return.

I wasn’t expecting Bradford Maddox to be mine. I crushed on him hard and when fate threw us together time and time again, it only took a lot of junk food and a superhero movie or two to bring us together.

I’m not sure that I would have liked Bradford Maddox before prison, but I can say that the Brad Maddox I met after his release from prison has melted my freezing heart and brought me to back life when I didn’t know I needed it.