“Yeah. It’s just a room,” I repeat, looking up at him.
Brady looks down at me with tears in his eyes. Then, he looks up at Devon standing behind me. “I was so scared that I wouldn’t be able to be here after what happened. I’m sorry I pushed so hard, but Ihadto,” he says, his voice cracking with emotion as he reaches up to grip the back of my neck, pulling me to him.
I let go of Devon’s hand to wrap my arms around Brady’s waist gently. Devon steps forward to wrap his arms around both of us, holding us together like he always does.
After dinner we’re all lounging in the living room watching movies when the doorbell rings.
“That will be dad with the nurse,” Devon says with humor in his voice that doesn’t quite match his statement.
“Damn it,” Brady groans. “I told him he didn’t need to hire a nurse. I’m fine. When the hell did Timothy become an overbearingdad?”
Devon just chuckles. “This one isn’t so bad.”
“Be nice,” I tell them as I get up to go answer the door.
When I pull the door open, I gasp in shock at the “nurse” standing there with Timothy. I glance up to see his smirk before looking back at her.
“Julie?!” I squeal, wrapping her in a hug before stepping back to let them in. “What are you doing here?”
She glances back at Timothy before answering. “Timothy thought it would be good for you and Brady to have someone here to help when Devon leaves tomorrow. He said if he was paying for a nurse, he wanted it to be someone you were both comfortable with.”
“Thank you,” I say, looking up at Timothy.
“No thanks needed, Sweetheart,” he says before leaning down to kiss my cheek.
I walk back into the living room with a huge smile on my face. “You better be nice to this nurse, Bulldog. She’ll be following us home.” I snicker as Julie and Timothy follow me into the room.
When Brady sees Julie, he laughs before wincing in pain. “Well, shit. I guess you’re right, Devon. This one isn’t so bad.”
I offer to give Julie the tour of the house while Timothy sits to visit with Brady and Devon. I don’t miss the way Timothy’s eyes follow Julie until we’re out of sight. I bump her with my shoulder as soon as we turn the corner to head up the stairs.
“What’s going on with you two?” I whisper when we step into the bedroom.
“Nothing...” she says, blushing.
I raise a brow at her, silently calling her out on her bullshit.
“Okay.Something,” she admits, giggling. “I’m just not sure what. He’s… intense.”
“It took me a minute to come around after knowing how he was with Devon most of his life, but Timothy is a great guy. He’s done so much for Brady and me all because Devon asked him to,” I tell her honestly.
“Yeah. I can see that,” she says, smiling. “He lights up when he talks about Devon. I can’t believe they were so estranged until recently. It breaks my heart a little—for both of them.”
I sigh, agreeing with her. “Well, at least they’re making it count now. Does Devon know about you and Timothy?”
“It’s not like that. We’re nottogether,” she says, attempting to dodge the question. When she sees my raised eyebrow, she continues, “We’re not hiding anything from Devon. I promise. Timothy wouldn’t risk their relationship like that when they are finally getting close. There’s just nothing totellhim…” Her voice trails off.
“Yet,” I finish her statement. “I can see the way you look at each other. There’s definitely something there—for both of you.”
“Maybe. We’ll see.” She shrugs.
Brady
I raise a questioning brow at Timothy when he finally drags his gaze away from the doorway after the girls turn to go upstairs. He just smirks and shakes his head.
Devon laughs. “You know you’re not fooling anyone. Right, Dad?”
“Am I that obvious? I usually have a better poker face.” Timothy chuckles.