Wherever It Leads(101)

I gently, so as not to wake up Sleeping Beauty, slip off the side of the bed. I’m naked, too exhausted after making love not more than a few hours ago to get up and find something to wear. I pad across the room and into the closet and find a heavy black robe of Fenton’s to put on. I close the curtains so he can rest before heading into the kitchen.

After making a cup of coffee, I grab my phone and head onto the deck. The sea breeze dances over me, the salty air the perfect accompaniment to a perfect morning. I kick back and take it all in before calling my parents’ house.

“Hi, Brynne!” my mom answers. I can hear her smile through the line. “Where did you go? Brady said you and Presley took off to meet a friend, but that had to be late, sweetheart.”

“It was pretty late,” I laugh. “But I’m fine. How are you guys? How’s my big brother?”

“We’re great. He’s getting a quick check-up this morning and then has a few appointments with the FBI. They want to debrief him some more, but he didn’t want them coming here. The media has been outside for a few hours now. It’s crazy.”

“Don’t let them onto the lawn, Mom.”

She laughs. “I know. Your father has already taken care of it. They’re on the sidewalk, which we have no control of. But we’re going to make a family statement later and then ask for privacy.”

“Sounds good.”

“Are you coming by today?”

“I’d like to. I don’t want to overwhelm Brady though, you know?”

“I’ll see how he’s doing when he and your father get home. He was great this morning though. A little scuffed and a little jumpy, but he seems so good, Brynne. It’s so, so nice to have him here. To see him in his room, even if he was on the floor,” she laughs. “To make him breakfast and see his stuff all over the place. He wants to go to his apartment tonight,” she sighs.

I can hear the sniffle in her voice, the gratitude she feels having her family together again. My heart swells, knowing I have the man I love to thank for that. I can never repay him.

“Call me when they get back. I’m going to call work now and try to get off. I’m supposed to work today.”

“For the first time ever, you’re going to hear me say this—don’t work,” she laughs. “I want things to get back to normal. Go back to school. Focus on that now. If you lose your job, your dad will pay your rent. It’ll be fine. I just want . . . I want everyone happy right now and I want my kids all at my house today. Call me crazy or call me greedy but I do. I need it.”

“Okay, Mom,” I smile. “I’ll call in again. You twisted my arm.”

“Good girl. I’m making a bunch of food today because I expect we’ll have visitors whether we like it or not.”

“Relax! I’ll come and help you.”

“No, no, you won’t. This is my job. This is what moms do and what I’ve been dreaming of doing for a long time now. But Brynne? I have one question for you?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you with Fenton?”

I bite my lip, unsure as to what her reaction is going to be. “Yeah. I am.”

“Bring him with you today, sweetheart. Okay?”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m absolutely sure. I don’t know what he is to you officially, but he’s a friend of the family at the very least.”

I hesitate and then make a decision. If I’m going to do this, I’m going to do this. “I love him, Mom.”

She doesn’t say anything for a minute. “If that’s the case,” she says finally, “he’s family and I fully expect him here this afternoon unless he has . . . other things.”

“Let’s hope he doesn’t,” I whisper, afraid to even think about that.

“We will pray that he doesn’t,” she says, understanding my fear. “Call me later and let me know. I love you.”

“I love you, Mom.”

When I click the phone off, I hear the door opening behind me. I don’t move, just wait on him to come up behind me.

His hands land on my shoulders and I see the cuffs of a grey robe just like the one I’m wearing on his wrists.

“I like having you out here when I wake up,” he says, his voice heavy from sleep.

“I like waking up and coming out here.”

“We should make this happen more often.”

“Well, my mom just told me to quit my job. So if Presley kicks me out, I’ll be looking for a place to crash,” I joke.

He laughs, coming around and sitting in the chair beside me. We both gaze across the water, watching the waves roll in and out. We are silent for a long while and I wonder what he’s thinking.

“Can I ask you something?” he finally says.

“Sure.”

“What would you say if I asked you to take a few weeks off with me.”

“For what?” I ask, twisting in my chair to face him. He tilts his head and watches me.

“After this whole thing is settled, I want to get away.”

“And go where?”

He shrugs like he’s not thought about it. “I don’t know. Where do you want to go?”

I shrug too. “You sprang this on me. I don’t have a ready-made answer.”