Taking Chances (Taking Chances #1)(131)
I grabbed my husband’s hand and led him to our bedroom, he hadn’t put a shirt on when everyone got here, so after undressing myself and helping him out of his jeans, I helped him fall onto the bed and climbed in beside him. He threw an arm over my waist and buried his head into my neck, pressing a soft kiss there. The muscles in his back and shoulders relaxed when I began running the tips of my fingers over his buzzed head and down his neck, with a muffled “I love you”, he was sound asleep within a minute. His deep rhythmic breathing had my eyes heavy and closing not long after.
***
My body jerked awake and I sat up confused when I didn’t hear Liam crying, either of our phones going off, and Brandon’s breaths were still heavy and relaxed. Being careful not to move Brandon, I crept down the hall to Liam’s room and almost had a heart attack when his crib was empty. Before I could scream for Brandon, I remembered Carrie took him home this afternoon and started back for my bed. I froze when I heard the door knocker, and my already increased heart rate took off in a dead sprint. Tiptoeing to the bedroom and throwing on one of Brandon’s shirts, I crept back down the hall and warily took a peak at the side windows.
“Jesus Carter,” I sighed and swung the door open, “you scared the crap out o–.” my words and breath rushed out when he squeezed me tightly.
“Thank God you’re okay.”
I tapped his shoulder until he let me go with an awkward grin, “I’m fine. What are you doing here? What time is it?” It wasn’t fully dark outside, but that didn’t help much.
“Almost eight?” He looked at me like I should know this.
“Brandon and I were sleeping, your knocking woke me up.”
“Is he still asleep?”
“Mhmm.” Which reminds me…I’m standing in a darkened house with Carter in nothing but a shirt. No bra, no underwear. Just a shirt that grazes the top of my thighs. Folding my arms somewhat under, but still over my chest, I looked down to make sure the rest of me was still covered and asked again, “What are you doing here Carter?”
“I wanted to talk to you, alone if that’s okay.”
Mashing my lips together, I stepped out of the way and waved him in. I led him to the living room, turning on a few lamps on the way and sat on the chair opposite the sofa he was seated on. “So let’s talk.”
“Are you okay?”
“Carter, I told you I’m fine.”
“Okay, I know. But you were really upset Saturday night, and then you just disappear? Obviously this fight was something Brandon shouldn’t have done if you’d leave, so I was surprised when Konrad said you were back.”
“Leaving was a really immature thing to do.”
“But you did it Blaze. And that’s why I need to talk to you.”
Oh no.
“Look,” he began again and rested his elbows on his knees, “I know I said I wouldn’t do anything since you’re married, but if you feel like you need to get out Blaze, I’ll help you with that. If you’re afraid of Brandon, all you have to do is tell me and I’ll do everything I can to get you away from here.”
“Oh my God. Carter. You have taken this way out of proportion. I do not want to get out of my marriage and I definitely don’t want to leave Brandon.”
“You left. People don’t just leave their husbands unless something is wrong Blaze.”
I wanted to tell him he should know, but I kept that back, “I didn’t leave Brandon, I just needed a minute to think.”
“About how bad he is for you? He hurt you, that was extremely apparent Saturday night. And did you see him throw his brother into the wall? I know we’ve talked about this before, but he’s dangerous Harper. He’s a f*cking bomb just waiting to explode.”
“You’re wrong.” I whispered and shook my head, “You’re so wrong Carter. The few times you’ve hung out with him haven’t been the best times, but even you should see how wrong you are. That night at the party, he didn’t hit you when he had every right to. He let you become a member at his gym and invited you to our home for a barbecue. I have the sweetest, most caring and selfless husband in the world. Yes, he likes to fight, and yes he’s extremely protective of his family. But I love that he is.”
“Blaze, the way he is with you –”
I held up my hand to stop him, “Don’t finish that. Do you not remember me telling you I cheated on him and got pregnant with his friend and housemate? He didn’t even yell at me when he found out Carter. He was devastated, but he didn’t raise his voice or call me a million things that I was already calling myself. Then he took care of me when I wouldn’t take care of myself, and despite everything I did to him, he’s still here with me.”
“So that’s it. You’re with him out of guilt? You feel like you owe him something?”
“Of course not!” I hissed and narrowed my eyes at him, “I love him more than anything. He is everything to me. When we broke up, I felt so lost. I tried moving on with my life the way I knew I should, and I would have happily, had Chase not died. But no matter what, being happy with Chase or not, a few months without Brandon by my side was painful and incomplete. I couldn’t even imagine a life without him.”
“Alright, I’m sorry I shouldn’t have said that. But that doesn’t change the way he is with you. He doesn’t let a guy even come near you without threatening to beat him to a pulp.”