Page 104 of Kaden & Keegan
He didn’t speak right away, choosing to drink his coffee, staring out at the cars lined up out front.
“Sittin’ in the closet … it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”
Sitting in the… Bristol frowned. What was he talking about?
“Sooner or later, someone’s gonna figure it out. Then what? How will you handle it then? Small town, Bristol. Word’s gonna spread and then you’ll be left defendin’ yourself. For what reason? Because you don’t want someone else to look at you cross for bein’ who you are? For lovin’ who you love?”
Bristol stared at him, wide-eyed. She wasn’t sure she’d ever heard him speak so much at one time, much less on a topic that was so deep.
Then again, this was a man who’d spent a good chunk of his life in the closet, something the LGBTQ community still had to contend with on a daily basis.
“Not bein’ accepted,” Rex said softly, “it sucks. But not everyone’s gonna look down their nose at you. What’re you gonna do when the baby’s here? Hide the truth from it, too?”
“No. Of course not.”
“So why start now?”
She started to answer, but he kept going.
“Do you love them, Bristol?”
She met his stare, held it for a few seconds. “Yeah. I do.”
“So why not embrace it? Jump right on that train and ride it. God knows you deserve some happiness.”
He’d been saying that for a long time. Rex was one who had known her ex-husband and he hadn’t been a fan.
“And I say fuck those who think it’s their place to judge.”
She frowned.
“I mean no disrespect, but ever since Baxter, you’ve changed. Buried that wild streak I know you’ve got. It’s still there, still revved. Just because you pretend otherwise doesn’t make it so.”
Her gaze shifted to the table. “I’m not wild anymore.”
“Liar.” He shook his head and smiled. “Remember that girl who went searchin’ for the biggest stick she could find? She was bound and determined she was gonna give my old man the beatin’ he deserved the next time she saw him.” Rex met her gaze. “I remember that girl. God, you had an attitude back then. Didn’t take shit from anybody. I admired that about you. Hell, I’d go so far as to say I thought it was hot.”
Bristol chuckled. “Whatever.”
“If I’d ever been into chicks, you’da been my girl and you know it.”
She felt herself blush.
“That girl … she’s still in there, Bristol. But you only let part of her out. You’re fierce when it comes to your business and your independence. You’ll defend those who’re important to you, but you won’t defend yourself. When it comes to what you think others’ll think about you … you hide in your shell. Don’t you think it’s time you let that girl out? Let her stand up for herself rather than let others beat her into submission?”
She smiled because Rex was always calling her out on her crap. He was the one person she couldn’t lie to. He knew her too well. He’d been with her through thick and thin. Besides Bianca, he was the only other person who had stood by her side when she’d found out Baxter had been cheating on her. He was the one person who’d threatened to shoot off his kneecaps if he didn’t leave her alone when Baxter decided he wanted to work things out. Rex had also been right by her side when her father died, taking care of her, making sure she wasn’t alone. She loved him like a brother.
“Hey.”
Lifting her head, she met his dark stare.
“Ain’t no one judgin’ you. This is your life. You live it how you want to. It’s too damn short to ignore what matters. And no matter what you tell me, I know they matter to you.”
They did. More than she wanted to admit, even to herself.
But Bristol wasn’t naive enough to believe they were ready to settle down. Pregnant or not, she was not expecting anything from them.
“What’s on your mind, doll?” Rex asked, his voice soothing, his concern evident.
