Page 26 of Choosing Skyler

“Are you sure you don’t want to call the police? He touched you and wouldn’t let go. That’s assault,” Brady says, and I can see the anger in his gaze.

“I’m sure. He’ll deny it, and then you’ll get in trouble for choking him. He’s not worth it. Let’s just check out and go home.Please?” I beg.

“I’m not worried aboutme. But if that’s what you want to do, then let’s go,” he answers hesitantly before releasing me and guiding me back behind our shopping cart.

I know he’d rather call the cops, but I just don’t want to deal with all that today. It won’t make much difference anyways since Dirk’s family has been in this town longer than the University. I just want to go home and forget that we ever saw Dirk, today. So, I nod and start pushing the shopping cart toward the front of the store with Brady close behind me. Thankfully, we get checked out and in the car without anyone the wiser to Brady choking out another customer in the frozen food section.

We get all the groceries put away and decide on Mississippi pot roast and mashed potatoes for dinner. I pull the crock-pot out and Brady seasons the roast before browning it in a pan. We get all the ingredients in the pot to slow roast until it’s time to eat it this evening. I’m just loading the pan into the dishwasher when Brady comes up behind me. When I stand, he wraps his arms around me from behind and buries his face in my hair.

“I’m okay, Brady,” I tell him, leaning back into his arms.

“I know, but I needed to feel you in my arms for a minute. It calms me down in a way I’ve never been able to calm myself before. That asshole deserved so much more than a choke out. I should have beat the shit out of him,” he almost snarls.

I turn in his arms to look up at him. “What good would that have done? We would have been lucky to get out of the store without you getting arrested. The only reason we did is because he was unconscious when we walked away. I love that you were there and how protective you are, but I don’t want you to get into any trouble. Especially with everything you already have going on.”

He takes a deep breath. “I know you’re right. I just hate that he had the balls to touch you like that again. Devon told me all about the first time and your panic attack afterwards. That guy’s a real piece of work,” he says, shaking his head.

“Yeah, he is, but I’m in a much better headspace now than I was back then. As crazy as it sounds, I feel like nothing can touch me when you’re with me. I feelseenin a way that makes me feel safe. I can’t explain it. I guess you calm me too,” I say before rising up on my toes to kiss him.

His hand goes to the back of my neck as he deepens our kiss before pulling back to rest his forehead to mine. “I’ll always protect you, Beautiful. I know it happened fast, but I can’t imagine being without you,” he whispers, his voice husky with emotion.

I wrap my arms around his waist and squeeze. “I feel it too, Brady. I feel… I don’t know—a lot. I don’t want to be without you either,” I whisper into his chest as he tightens his arms around me.

“You won’t be. I choose you, Beautiful. I need you too, remember?” he says into my hair.

I just nod, enjoying the connection with him. The feeling of being wrapped in his arms. Protected. Seen. Chosen.His.

Brady

I stand with Skyler wrapped in my arms, breathing in the smell of her citrus shampoo, and matching my breathing to hers. I hate to think what would have happened if I hadn’t been with her at the store earlier. That asshole didn’t think twice about putting his paws on her and refusing to let go when she tried to push him away. I may not be as wide as he is, but I’m strong. I’ve worked out and surfed my whole life. Not to mention the Ju Jitsu classes Devon and I took as kids all the way through high school. Those definitely came in handy today.

Skyler pulls back to look up at me. “Can we make omelets for lunch again today? I feel like I kinda owe Devon.”

I scoff. “You don’t owe him shit after that hella bitchfit he threw. He’s such a damn drama queen sometimes. But we can make omelets if you want to. You want me to cook them?” I ask her.

She shakes her head. “No way. I want to do it. That way I can rub in the diva’s face when he’s going on about his ‘Brady’ omelet for lunch.” She laughs. Then, she sobers a little before asking, “What time do you need to call the attorney?”

I take a deep breath. “She just said to call anytime today. I guess I should get it over with. Whatever she has to tell me isn’t going to change if I stall. The sooner I know, the sooner I can make a plan to deal with it.”

“Okay. I’ll go get you a notepad and pen so you can write down anything important. Do you want me to sit with you when you call? Or would you rather be alone? I don’t want to intrude. I just want to be here for moral support and all that.” She says, looking down.

I put a finger under her chin and raise her face to look at me. “You’re not intruding. If we’re together then you have to deal with all this too. Or at least deal with me while I’m dealing with it. I want you with me. I know I pushed you to go to work this morning, but now that I’m about to call… I’m so relieved to have you here. You and Devon were right. I’ve dealt with all this shit on my own for so long I just expect to alwaysbealone in it.”

She smiles up at me. “Well, you’renotalone anymore. You’re here with Devon and now you have me too. No matter what happens, we’ll have your back,” she reminds me.

Sitting at the dining table with Skyler next to me, I dial the estate attorney and put the phone on speaker. I honestly don’t know how much I will comprehend of what she tells me. So, it will be good to have a second set of ears. The line is answered on the first ring.

“Sable Simmons’ office. How may I help you?” Ms. Simmons’ assistant, Connie answers.

“Hi, Connie. This is Brady Hargrove returning Ms. Simmons’ call. She left me a message yesterday,” I tell her.

“Oh, yes. She is expecting your call. I’ll transfer you as soon as she’s off the other line. How are you holding up, Brady?” she asks.

They saw a lot of me and my mom over the past couple of years. They even attended her funeral. Sometimes, it’s amazing to see the kind of people you meet when going through something so terrible.

“I’m hanging in there. Though I don’t know how true that will be after this call,” I tell her, honestly.

“Well, I’ll let you get on with it, then. She’s available now. You keep your head up, okay?” she says sympathetically.

---