Page 25 of Choosing Skyler

“NO!” she yells. “Not that it’s any of your business.”

“Oh, but itismy business.” He grins devilishly. “Since you’re both my best friends, I get all the deets. Whether I get them from you or pry them from Brady is yet to be seen.” He smirks, making her blush travel to her chest. “Anyways, are we riding together today? I need coffee.”

“No, I’m not working today. I called Chelsea earlier this morning,” she tells him.

“You staying with Brady for the call to the lawyer?” he guesses, and she just nods. He looks at me. “I’m glad you saw some reason. I would have insisted myself, but I figured Stubborn Sky would be more likely to get through to you. You don’t need to be alone today. Dealing with this shit is bad enough, never mind dealing with that prick, Eric on top of everything else.”

I grimace. “I don’t actually have to deal withhimtoday, but thanks for reminding me that I eventually will. And you’re right. I’m used to dealing with all this on my own, but it’s nice to have people to lean on for a change.”

Devon runs over and wraps me in a bear hug, squishing Skyler between us in the process.

“You know I love you, man. Let me know when you talk to the lawyer, and I’ll call Timothy if you need me to. Like I said last night, he owes Jillian,” Devon tells me seriously.

“I appreciate it. I’m going to call her a little later this morning,” I tell him.

“Okay, I’m going to get ready for work.” He backs up and leans down to kiss Skyler’s cheek. “I’m glad he’s got you, today. Call me if you need backup, okay?” he tells her.

Chapter 11

Skyler

After Devon leaves for work, Brady and I decide to get the grocery shopping out of the way before he makes his phone call to his mom’s estate attorney. I’m pretty sure he’s not going to want to do anything after that, and the shopping is amustif we don’t want to starve. We are just about out of everything. So, we make a list and head to Kroger.

We’re walking through the aisles, grabbing things on the list and discussing our favorite dishes. We discover pretty quickly that neither of us are picky eaters and that we both have an arsenal of recipes. It’ll be nice to have someone share the cooking duties. Devon always buys us dinner on his nights because he can’t cook much beyond Top Ramen.

I’m walking just ahead of Brady as he pushes the cart since I know the store’s layout. Just as I turn a corner, I run right into someone and stumble back, bumping the cart Brady’s pushing behind me.

“I’m so sorry…” I start and then stop as soon as I see who I’ve bumped into.Dirk Sheppard.

“Don’t apologize, baby. You can bump into me anytime.” He leers like the creep he is.

“Ugh, what are you even doing here, Dirk? I thought you moved to California,” I say, trying to sidestep him.

I’m not quick enough to escape him, though. He grabs me around the waist and pulls me into him.

“Aww, don’t be like that, baby. I was gonna see if you wanted to go to Tracey’s party this weekend. You know I had to come back for that shindig,” he says as he tightens his grip on me.

Before I can say another word, I feel Brady behind me and instantly feel safer with him at my back.

“You’re gonna want to take your fucking hands off her unless you want a repeat of what happened the last time you touched her. That’s your only warning,Dirk,” Brady sneers his name.

I’m not sure how he even knows about Dirk or what happened before Christmas break my first year of college. Devon must have told him. It makes sense that he would since that was my first panic attack after moving here and it cemented Devon’s place in my life. Thankfully, Dirk graduated that year and was drafted to play football for the 49ers. So, we only see him at the occasional party at Tracey’s cabin. Though, he’s never approached me since then because Devon is always with me. I guess he thought he had an opening in Devon’s absence.He thought wrong.

“Who the hell is this guy?” Dirk asks me, tightening his hold on me, even though I’m struggling to get away from him.

Before I can answer, Brady is gone from my back and standing behind Dirk. He wraps one arm around Dirk’s neck as he whispers, “I told you to take yourfuckinghands off her.”

Then, Brady’s other arm goes behind Dirk’s head and he squeezes him in a perfect rear naked choke hold. Dirk freezes, his face instantly turning an alarming shade of red. He releases me to grab at Brady’s arm, but it’s too late. He’s already fading by the time his hands are up. Brady doesn’t let up. He squeezes until Dirk’s eyes roll back in his head and he goes limp.

I knew that Brady and Devon took MMA classes when they were younger. Devon always orders all the UFC pay-per-views. So, I’ve seen plenty of fights and I’ve seen the way Devon fights… loudly and with his fists.

Brady is more like a quiet predator as he eases Dirk to the ground and approaches me with his hands up like he’s approaching a wounded animal. His concern isn’t necessary, though. I’m not scared of Brady. I’ve never felt safer with anyone in my life. I launch myself into his arms and he catches me, burying his face in my hair and wrapping his arms around me protectively.

“You okay, Beautiful?” he whispers in my ear.

I nod and bury my face in his chest, breathing him in. “I’m okay,” I answer him. “Let’s get out of here before he wakes up. I don’t want any more of a scene.”

I look around, surprised we haven’t caused a panic. But the store is pretty empty this early on a weekday, and it doesn't look like anyone has even noticed the commotion. Brady raises my face to look at him.

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