Page 116 of Forgotten Desires

Layla is asleep and Brynn is lightly brushing her hair. “I’ll miss you and be back as soon as I can.” She kisses her forehead. “Love you.”

Her breath catches when she sees me there, but just shrugs, taking my hand when she reaches me, and I fall even more in love with her than I knew was possible.

twenty-seven

BRYNLEE

The doctor came in, explained the surgery again to my father and me, answered any remaining questions, which Crew had about a thousand of, and left us.

Asher, Grady, and Rowan came in the room before they brought Howie in. He was going through his own prep and then they wheeled him in here.

All three of my brothers showered me with love, the way they always have, and left me to have time with Crew. There’s been something calming knowing that the four of them are here. As though the might of the Whitlock men and my husband can bend the whim of the world to their desires.

Now it seems my dad is going to have his moment. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough for this, my Brynnalynn.”

It’s been so long since anyone has called me that. My brothers never would because Howie did. Still, the nickname takes me back to being a kid.

“You don’t have to thank me, Dad.”

He sighs and looks to Crew. “And thank you. You’ve given her a love that every father prays for his daughter. Someone who will be there for her, treat her the way she deserves, and care for her.”

“As a father myself, I understand that, and you can rest assured that there’s nothing I won’t do for Brynn.” Crew looks down at me and my chest aches.

“I appreciate that.”

Crew grabs the side of the bedrails, looking over at my father. “I hope that Brynlee going through this surgery shows you the kind of woman she is. How selfless and willing she is to risk her own life, her future, and her family without even a second’s hesitation. All I ask is that you continue on whatever path you’ve been on this last year. I know I don’t have that right to ask it, and that you’re already doing everything to make amends, but she’s important to me and I can’t watch her be hurt.”

Crew may support me doing this, but he’s a lot like my brothers in the fact that he doesn’t like my father. He only knows of the pain Howie caused in my life and now, he sees someone who is going to put me at risk again. I understand his views, to some degree, but if all we do is remember the bad things about every person, we would never love again.

My father meets his eyes. “The gift she’s giving me is one I’ve tried so many times not to take. I don’t want her in surgery. Hell, I prayed that she wouldn’t be a match because I knew that Brynn would be the first to be in this hospital if she was. I struggle with this more than you can know. I have tried to convince her not to do this, not to risk her life for me, someone who has hurt her, but here we are.” Tears fall from my father’s eyes, and I wish I could get out of this bed to hug him.

Crew walks around to his side of the room and takes my father’s hand, squeezing tight before releasing it as I fight back the intense emotions building. “She wouldn’t be the woman she is if she wasn’t willing to do impossible things for the people in her life. She loves you, Howie, and whatever feelings of unworthiness you struggle with, she doesn’t see it. If she did”—Crew’s eyes meet mine—“I wouldn’t be in her life either.”

There’s a knock on the door, breaking the moment, and it’s Asher. He looks at the three of us who are all in varying states of emotion. “I see I came at a good time.”

I laugh because only Asher could ease the tension. He looks to Crew. “There’s a lawyer here that belongs to you. She keeps asking where you are and why you’re not answering your phone.”

“She can wait.” He walks over to my bed, taking my hand.

“I figured you’d feel that way, but she’s truly terrifying and I don’t say that easily.”

I look up at him. “You know she’s here because of Layla. Go see what she wants.”

“I’m not leaving you.”

“I’m not saying to leave the grounds, but go out there before Rowan says something or . . . God only knows. Just go, ease my mind before surgery.” I throw a little guilt on for good measure.

His blue eyes narrow and he sighs. “You’re impossible.”

“All I hear is you think I’m a delight.”

Asher makes a choking noise. “I’ll stay with Brynn, you go. I promise I won’t let them take her until you’re back.”

Crew nods once. “Use bodily force if necessary.” He kisses my forehead and leaves.

If I thought that Crew and my father were awkward, this is about a million times worse.

“Howie,” Asher says, coming to my side.

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