Page 16 of Grumpy Spring Sunshine
“Thanks. Have you been around my house all this time, naked?”
“Yup. Tim isn’t here. Assuming he’s with his girl, since he stays with you, right?”
“Uh, yeah, I guess so.”
“Is that odd for you?” She asked, her eyes still on the sunrise. I looked outside, the sight still taking my breath away. Again, I loved the view of nature out here.
“My best friend banging my cousin? Nah, it’s totally okay.”
She looked back, a smirk on her face and an eyebrow raised. Okay, maybe it wasn’t okay, but I wasn’t the type to get all caveman and say he couldn't do it. Friend or not, I’d kick his ass into next week if he hurt her though. And that’s saying a lot because Tim is a great guy and she couldn’t really find better. He’s also a far cry better than her damn ex.
“Come back to bed,” I told her, holding the covers up for her. She did, setting her mug down. “What is it?”
“What is what?”
“The look in your eye. Like you’re worried over something and not sure how to express it.”
“Maybe because I am. Look, don’t be mad, I’m just going to say it. The last few times we’ve been together, there’s been no protection, you’re aware of that, right?”
I thought about it, my head tilted slightly. I slowly nodded, realizing that she was right. We hadn’t used anything because we were so caught up in the moment.
“And?”
“I’m the worst at remembering to take my pill, especially since it’s not like I have a lot of sex. I just…wanted to remind you that…if this keeps happening, something could happen in nine months.”
I chuckled as I brought her close.
I still wasn't sure what our label was. I didn’t want a girlfriend, but I didn’t want casual either. Maybe it wasn’t something to discuss why we were the way we were. But I also knew that if a child came into the world, I’d be there with you. I wouldn't want to miss one step of their life just because their mom and I weren’t together.
“Look, I may be a grump and a douche sometimes-”
“Just sometimes?” she asked, cutting me off. I glared at her, causing her to giggle.
“Okay, a lot of the times, but that doesn’t mean I shrink from my job. If it happens that we had a child, no matter what, I’d still be here.”
I took her hand, linking our fingers.
“Why not tell me about your past, Brittani. You have one, I can see this.”
“It’s not pretty.”
“No past is, but it’s what makes us, us. So, why not share what happened? I might understand a little more and might not be so grumpy.”
She laughed and wrapped the sheet around herself, almost as if it was a shield.
“Nothing is going to make you less grumpy. And I like that about you Keith, I really do. Because like this, when it’s just us, I don’t see it a lot. But when the world comes knocking, and you are, all the ladies stay away. It takes someone strong to want to see you, you know?”
“I do. Which is why I have to give you props that you wanted to see me. You weren’t afraid.”
“I probably should have been.” She sighed, dropping her head. “I had an ex, and it was pretty serious. We were even planning our marriage but were never engaged. I used to live in New York; did I tell you that? Which is why I love the quietness of Storyville.
“Anyway, I was dress shopping, not sure why when I didn’t have a ring when this gorgeous woman, a petite thing, walked in. I thought she was looking as well, even though she had this huge diamond on her finger. I expected her to stop a clerk, but instead she walked right up to me. Her eyes trailed over the dress, said she liked it, it suited me. But it was also illegal to marry a man that was already married.
“To say I was stunned was an understatement. I found out I was the other woman. I apologized to her, told her I really hadno clue, that the times I didn’t see him didn’t seem fake. Nothing seemed or felt like a lie. She said he was a lawyer so lying was his job. I didn’t even know that. I told her he was all hers and that I was sorry.
“She didn’t want him, said I could keep him, but I didn’t want that either. However, I knew I’d run into him again and didn’t want that. So, I packed up everything, stayed with my friend for a spell in Alaska, and then searched for a new home. It’s how I came to Storyville and why you'll never be able to run me out.”
I finally unclenched my jaw, her words gutting me. Brittani was beautiful, smart, funny, demanding, but a ray of sunshine. She was always happy and someone wanted to betray her, wanted to use her. If I ever saw him, he was a dead man, there was no two ways around that. But I expected I'll never meet him, and I was okay with that too.
