Just My Type(75)

“Hey, Ember,” Brandon says with a smile as he looks over my shoulder. “Where’s Lincoln? I have something to tell you both.”

“He ran out back to grab his sweatshirt he left outside last night, and to let R.J. crawl in the grass for a little bit,” Ember informs him, moving to stand next to me in the doorway.

Am I supposed to invite the guy in? This isn’t my house, but it seems like the polite, non-dicky thing to do.

I glance over at Ember, and she doesn’t look like she’s planning on having him stick around for coffee and a friendly chitchat. She looks like she’s two seconds away from slamming the door in his face.

That’s my girl.

Knowing she’s strong enough to handle whatever it is he has to tell her, I step out of the doorway and walk away to lean my ass against the back of the couch. Far enough away to give them some privacy, but close enough so I can move back around the door and punch Brandon in the nose before Lincoln gets back in, if he decides to let too much of his special brand of douche out of his mouth.

“Guess what?” I hear Brandon ask excitedly from the front stoop.

Ember sighs on the other side of the open door, and I cross my arms over my chest and let out a little snort, glad I don’t have to hide my amusement, since neither Brandon nor Ember can see me from where I’m at now.

“It’s been a long day, and I’m tired. Just spit it out,” Ember says, letting out another annoyed sigh.

“I know you’re mad, and you have every right to be. I’ve been a fool, Ember,” Brandon starts, making me roll my eyes.

Oh, for fuck’s sake, here we go. He’s going to tell her he never stopped loving her, and he made a mistake, and he didn’t realize what he had until it was gone. Or, you know, until he realized all her needs were being met by another man. Boohoo, cry me a fucking river.

“You haven’t been a fool; you’ve been a piece of shit. There’s a big difference,” Ember replies.

I silently pump my fist in the air.

“You’re right. You’re absolutely right,” Brandon agrees. “There’s been a lot going on with work. A lot of things I haven’t told you, and I’m sorry about that. But everything is going to be fine now. I’m fixing the mistakes I’ve made, and I’m going to make it up to you.”

“I don’t need you to make anything up to me, Brandon. It’s in the past. I’ve moved on. The only person you need to worry about is that little boy in the back yard, who doesn’t understand why his father doesn’t give two shits about him.”

“I know, I know!” Brandon argues. “I’ve screwed up so badly with him, but I’m fixing it. I’m fixing everything. You can be happy again, and Lincoln can be happy again, and everything will be the way it’s supposed to be.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Ember asks in confusion.

“I got demoted.”

This just keeps getting better and better. Karma is so pretty, and nice.

“That’s why I’ve been so distracted and busy lately, and that’s why I’ve had to cancel with Lincoln so much. I know it’s not an excuse, but it’s the truth,” Brandon rambles. “I’m so sorry for letting him down. For letting you down, when I’ve already done that enough. I freaked out, and I’m sorry. Ember… I’m broke.”

Bend over, Karma. You’re getting a nice, hard dicking and a bunch of orgasms as a thank you for your generosity.

“Jesus, Brandon,” Ember mutters from the other side of the open door.

I really wish I could see her face right now. I’m sure she’s making a valiant effort not to point and laugh right at him.

“But it’s fine! Everything is going to be okay. It’s happening kind of fast, but I know you’re not going to care about that. The faster the better, I’m sure.” Brandon chuckles.

“Brandon, what in the fuck are you talking about?” Ember asks him again when he just continues to ramble about shit that makes absolutely no sense.

“I’m talking about moving back to Montana in two weeks.”

A record screeches somewhere in my brain, and my body slowly lifts from its perch on the back of the couch, my arms dropping down to my sides when he says that one word. The one word that means everything to Ember—home.

“The company is moving me to Billings, the closest big city to White Timber. This is it, Ember. You can finally go home.”

I never thought one single word could make bile rise up from my stomach and get caught in my throat. Especially such a simple word that means love, and family, and all good things. All good things that Ember desperately misses.

“I could stay here, in the lower, junior-level position, but they won’t cover my rent anymore unless I move where they tell me, and we both know how expensive it is living in Chicago.”

Brandon lets out a little chuckle, and I can practically hear the steam coming out of Ember’s ears right now.

Of course she knows how expensive it is, you piece of trash. She’s worked her ass off to put a roof over your son’s head, while you ate caviar and cruised around the bay on a fucking yacht.

“I’m sorry I forced you to move here when I knew you’d never really be happy in a big city,” Brandon continues, digging the knife a little deeper into my heart.