Page 84 of Losing Forever
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Grayson
Abroken man made whole by the love of a once broken woman. That’s who I am now.
I wrap my arms around Braylee’s waist from behind and kiss her exposed shoulder. Braylee softens in my arms and leans against me.
Noah’s mom glances over from the kitchen, where she’s making egg salad sandwiches, and smiles. This is the second time they’ve visited us in Clearwater. The first was two months ago, shortly after the open house, which sold for over the listing price.
We’ve since bought two other homes and are doing dual renovations. As I and most likely everyone else suspected, I’m an amazing Realtor. Noah helps, with his eye for choosing great investment houses. Braylee updates them to modern times with thoughtful colors and designs that appeal to buyers. We are the Three Musketeers of house flipping.
“Will you be joining us on the boat?” Lina asks.
I answer before Braylee. “We’ll have to skip it this time. I have a surprise for Braylee.”
“You do?” Braylee tilts her head to look at me.
“Do you mind?” I take in her eager expression.
“No, but—”
I press a finger to her incredible lips. “No buts. Go get what you need so we can go.” I nod toward the stairs toward.
As soon as Braylee and I worked things out, I moved back into the house to be close to her. She keeps her stuff in her bedroom, but she spends every night with me in my room. It's in the farthest corner, and Braylee can be loud, especially when she screams my name—which she does every time now.
My girl, my name. Heaven.
If it weren’t for Braylee, I never would have had the courage to push past my fears or the belief in myself that I could. She makes me feel worthy. I’ve never had that before.
Lina lowers her head with a knowing grin.
I’d told her and Brady about my plans and how I was waiting for the right moment. When Braylee leaned against me moments ago, visions of what I have for her danced in my head, and I decided I can’t wait a second longer.
Noah walks through the front door with his girlfriend at his side. Her smile is as gentle and as warm as I remember.
“Hey,” I greet them. “Nice to see you again, Siani.”
“Nice to see you, too.”
Noah glances around the room. “Where’s Braylee?”
“She’s getting ready.”
“For?” Noah inches farther into the house.
“He’s showing her,” Lina chimes in, stealing my thunder. She stands beside me and greets Siani with a hug. “So happy you could make it.”
Noah’s face brightens. “Bray’s going to love it.”
“She is. It’s perfect,” Siani adds before excusing herself to assist Lina in the kitchen.
Noah’s phone dings with a text. “It’s Dad,” he says to his mom. “The boat’s ready.”
“Tell him we’ll be down in a few.” She wraps the sandwiches and places them in the cooler with Siani’s help.
Noah pats me on the back. “I’m happy for you, man. You deserve this. You both do. I can’t wait to hear all about it later.”
Braylee patters down the stairs and stops beside me, her purse hung across her body. The lavender bag matches her floral sundress. Her dark hair falls in waves around her arms and back. Those powder-blue eyes smile at me from under a spread of black lashes. This woman owns me, body and soul. One look from her and I’m falling in love all over again—something I’d done long before I’d realized.
