Page 10 of Once Upon A Valentine
“Sure. Sure.” Bran shrugged indifferently, “You want to pretend you’re spending all your time with him because you have a sudden urge to be a wedding planner go ahead. Who am I to tell you to cut the shit and ask the guy out already?”
Dawson’s cheeks heated pink but his eyes narrowed dangerously, “Like you’re one to talk.”
“You don’t want to go there, little brother.” Bran warned.
Dawson knew how to find a weak spot just as well as he did. Bran was the one that had taught him after all. Only Dawson was too kind to slice him open with the truths he didn’t want to face.
He was the best of them. The only one of them that wasn’t scarred, physically, mentally or emotionally, from the fallout of losing their parents on that fateful day in December all those years ago. Dawson had been so young. They’d all done their best to protect him and be there for him so that he wouldn’t feel the loss as heavily as they did.
He hadn’t been thrust into the role of responsibility Gibson had. He hadn’t been forced to wear the scars of that car wreck the way Roman did. He hadn’t spent every day since knowing that the last words he’d spoken to his father were that he hated him like Branson. Dawson had been a child and he had been protected so that he could grow up as normal and complete and whole as possible.
He deserved happiness and love and affection just as much as Gibson did and Bran truly hoped that his little brother woke up and saw the gift that Beau was while he was still there waiting for him.
“Fine.” Dawson let it go, just as Bran had known he would. “I’ll leave since that’s clearly what you want. But you better be here to apologize to Uncle Roman and make things right.”
“I am.”
“Good.” Dawson squeezed his shoulder as he moved past him and then called back, “We’ll talk more about the wedding later. It was good to see you again Ash. Bye Uncle Roman.”
“Goodbye Dawson.” Roman smiled warmly before turning his attention back to Bran, who was still standing in the doorway. “Well, now that you’ve driven away my guests, I suppose we better have that chat you wanted. Come in.”
Bran moved into the room, taking a seat on the couch that Dawson and Beau had vacated. He couldn’t find a comfortable position. He wasn’t even sure how to start. He had done a lot of shit in his life that he wasn’t proud of, but he’d never directed his pain at his uncle… not until last night.
He’d regret it the moment he opened his eyes this morning, sober and hurting, and he knew if it hadn’t been for the conversation that he and Julian had shared the night before that he would have immediately gone in search of another drink to numb the shame. Instead, he’d gotten up, showered and dressed and headed to Roman’s house to make amends. Now he just had to find the words.
“I think I’ll leave you two alone to talk. I’ll be in my office if you need me.” Ash patted Roman’s chest and brushed a kiss over his temple.
Roman grabbed his hand as Ash pushed to stand, “I think you should stay. Branson owes you an apology as well.”
“He already apologized.” Ash gave a small smile before shifting his gaze to Bran. “And we’ve come to an agreement that it won’t happen again. Haven’t we?”
“We have.” Bran nodded.
“Like I said, if you need me, I’ll be in the office.” Ash gave Roman’s hand one more squeeze before letting go and retreating from the room. He gently shut the French doors behind him so they could have more privacy. And then they were alone with nothing but the tension filling the air.
Bran turned his gaze back to his uncle, “He’s a good guy.”
“The best.” Roman said in a flat tone that told Bran he needed to say more and fast.
“I’m sorry about last night. I know you hate excuses so I won’t give you any. I said and did things I shouldn’t have, as per usual, but I do regret causing a scene at the first family event you brought Ash to and if I could take it back, I would. I hope you’ll forgive me, like Ash did, but if you can’t I’ll understand and I’ll stay away.”
Roman’s eyebrows shot up “Stay away? Why on earth would you think I’d want you to stay away from your family, Branson?”
He shrugged. He didn’t really know. Didn’t have an answer. He just knew that it would hurt him to do so and that if Roman wanted him to suffer, that kicking him out of the family would be the best way to do it.
“Oh, Bran.” Roman sighed heavily, shaking his head. “You’re not getting out of this family quite that easily, my boy.”
“What?” Bran looked back up.
“You think I don’t know how you punish yourself by pushing people away? You’ve been doing it for years. Ever since the accident that took your parents from you and left me like this.” Roman motioned to the scars on his face. “I don’t know exactly why you do it. If you’re scared to let people in because you might lose them the way you lost your parents or if you think life will somehow be easier for those of us who love you if something were to happen to you and you had kept us at arm’s length. I’m not a psychiatrist but I have seen my fair share over the years and I know that the way you deal with the trauma is by building a wall around yourself and not letting anyone get too close.”
“That’s…” Bran gaped at his uncle but before he could say more Roman cut him off.
“Not true? Or so close to the truth it scares you?” Roman brushed the words away as if they weren’t threatening to tear holes in the armor Bran had put around his heart ages ago. “It doesn’t matter. My point is that last night, I think you got a glimpse of what your life is going to be like if you keep going down this path that you’re on. You didn’t like it so you drank too much and caused a scene and then you ran away. And you’re right, that is your usual style. But you’re here today, apologizing and trying to make amends, so I think there’s still hope for you.”
“Hope for what?”
“That you’re finally beginning to believe you don’t have to be alone.” Roman leaned forward, elbows on his thighs, “Last night, I think you realized that your family is pairing off. Gibson has Felix and I have Ash. Hell, even Dawson has Beau though he seems unable to accept that for whatever reason just yet. It’s not the four of us against the world anymore and you don’t know where you fit in this new, bigger, happier family that we’re building. But you do fit, Branson. You do. You just have to stop running away from the things that can make you happy. I would never ask you to stay away from the family. As much as you push us away, we’re not going to let you be alone and it’s time you accepted that.”
