Ask Me Why(81)

Maybe I should have gone for a walk. Or grabbed a beer at the bar across the road. But leaving didn’t feel right. Neither did going inside. I agreed to bring Ollie, but there was no discussion of my involvement beyond that point.

I’m minding my own damn beeswax next to the awful lollipop sign. The blinking neon lights are mocking me. I can almost hear a scolding tone through the electric hum. I’m keeping busy by counting the hundredth car to drive along Maple Street. The next one cruises along with loud-ass music blaring through the speakers. Real awesome, dude.

Ollie bursts through the door with a clang of wind chimes and that awful bell. His smile is brighter than the mid-morning sunshine.

“All done, buddy?” I stop myself from asking if he wants to stay longer. Again with this wild desire to stick around.

“Nope. I have something for you. Here.” His little hand thrusts forward. He peels open his fingers, exposing a little pouch.

I study it with a wary eye. “What’s that?”

Ollie lifts his arm higher, shaking the so-called gift a bit. “Miss Braelyn made it for you.”

A lift a skeptical brow. “Oh, did she?”

“You have to open it. Like right now.”

He drops the leather package on my palm. The item is small. I picture a wad of used gum or belly button lint or a stink bomb. Anything could be hiding in here. I cautiously untie the strings and peek inside. Light catches on the edge of colorful glass. My mind whirls as the contents become abundantly clear.

She was right about these things seeming insignificant upon first glance. I would have continued thinking that until this piece landed in my grasp. It’s us. This small piece of glass is a combination of Braelyn and me. Damn, I love her.

I love her. That fact is more solid than the concrete beneath my shoes. Those three words have never passed my lips. No woman has received them from me, not even my mother. But Braelyn will.

Green and blue reflections catch my focus. I stare down at the aqua fragment in my palm. The truth is a lead weight sinking to my very core. This was my fault. I’ve been a coward. I let her leave. I didn’t fight for us. But I will now if it’s not too late.

Ollie pulls at my shirt. “Miss Braelyn is still sad. You need to make her happy, Daddy.”

“You’re right, buddy. I do.” This piece of glass gives me faith that we’re not beyond repair. I can fix us.

He claps and bounces on his toes. “Yes! She’s gonna be so excited.”

Ollie’s confidence is infectious. The need to see her barrels into me with the strength of a sonic boom. My pulse rockets with newfound energy. The window behind me rattles with the force. Those three words need to be said, and so much more.

I’m going to need additional backup. And that fucker owes me.

After taping out a quick text, I gesture to the entrance. “Lead the way, little man.”

That’s all he needs. Ollie takes off at the speed of light. He’s opening the door before I’ve straightened off the wall. I barely catch the frame as its closing. After whipping off my shades, I step inside.

Braelyn is standing directly in front of me. The counter is behind her. It appears she’s using the surface to keep her upright. Her beauty sears into me, burning into my memory. How did I ever let her out of my sight?

I can tell she’s unsure. Her fingers fidget and knot together. She’s biting that plump bottom lip. I’m going to kiss her worry away. Permanently.

Ollie darts across the room, turning down a far aisle. If he’s giving us space on purpose, I’ll reward him with an extra juice box at dinner. I don’t waste time moving slow either. My stride to Braelyn is fast and long. We’re separated by a mere few feet before either of us can blink.

Is it fucking weird that my stomach is in knots? Too damn bad if it is. One more pansy-ass thing to add to the list I no longer give a shit about.

“Hey,” I whisper.

“Hi, you.” There’s a rasp to Braelyn’s voice that touches the soft spot in my chest.

“I got your gift. Thanks for this.” I rub the glass between my fingers.

She glances up from under shuttered lids. It’s my job to take that doubt away. “Do you like it?”

“More than you know.”

The catch of her inhale draws my attention to her mouth. “Really?”

I tuck a few stray strands of hair behind her ear. “I never told you how special these pieces are. Especially this one.”

She lifts a slim shoulder, leaning into my touch. “I found those glass parts and thought of you. The colors make sense for… us.”

“They do. I got your meaning right away.”

Braelyn swipes across her forehead. “Phew. I was concerned it was way out there.”

A few beats of silence pass. The pause is thick with everything hanging between us. I breathe deep and dive in. “I’m so damn sorry, babe. Mostly for the shitty way I treated you last Monday. But there’s plenty else for me to apologize for. I’ve been fucking rotten since we met. Over and again, I shot you down. I never gave us a real chance past some superficial bullshit. Not sure how you put up with me.”

She sucks on the inside of her cheek. “The amazing sex didn’t hurt.”

My tension deflates, and I release a heavy exhale. I grab her hand, sliding our palms together. “There’s that smartass wit I love.”