Page 37 of Be Your Forever
Bri sighs, tension quickly evaporating from her body.
“Do you trust me?”
Bri looks at me with a pained expression, her chin wobbling as she attempts to hold back her tears.
“Bear?”
“Why did you come over that day?”
I flip through every interaction we’ve had, trying to figure out what day she’s talking about.
“Baby, what day are you talk—”
Bri interrupts me and my stomach drops. “Avery told me she asked you to look after me. I—Why did you do it? Am I really that pathetic that you feel like you need to look after me?”
Wait, what? How can she eventhinkthat she’s pathetic? The fuck?
“Brianna, I’ve never seen you as pathetic.Youare a goddamn warrior. Anyone would be lucky to bathe in the glow of your strength. I should have told you immediately after she asked me. I have no excuse for hiding that from you. I’m so sorry for feeding into that thought. I’ve always been amazed by your bravery. I’ve always been amazed byyou.”
Bri scans my face, looking for a lie I know she won’t find. After a thorough, albeit anxiety-inducing assessment, Bri nods her head, and all the air whooshes from my lungs.
“Okay, but I need you to be honest with me. I…You’ve become an important person to me, and I need you to be open.”
I cup her face in my hands before responding. “I promise to be honest with you. Full disclosure, Max also asked me to keep you company, too. And before you overthink things in that pretty head of yours, they just want to make sure you’re okay. They love and care about you, Bri.”
“I—Okay,” Bri replies.
I don’t fully believe her, but baby steps. “Now, back to the mirror thing. Do you trust me?” I await her answer with bated breath, hoping she’ll say yes, but I’ll understand if she doesn’t.
Bri looks at me, and a soft smile plays at her lips before she utters four words that make my heart soar. “I trust you completely.”
“Be ready tomorrow at twelve-thirty.” I give her forehead a quick peck when someone knocks on the door. We adjust our positions so that we are cuddling on the couch instead of lying down.
“Are you planning on telling me what we’re doing?”
“Hell no. It’s a surprise. Do you need a ride home?” I ask, knowing she still doesn’t have a car.
“Yes, please.”
“Get everything ready and meet me at the bar when you’re done.” I place a chaste kiss against her mouth before walking out to help Gage with the closing duties. I’m at the door when I remember something she said earlier.
“Hey, Bri?”
“Yeah?”
“You really had a crush on me, huh?” That interaction I’d had with Max is all starting to make sense now. I’m about 99.9% sure that’s what he had been about to say.
“Yes. Clearly, I haven’t learned my lesson.” Her response reminds me of the old Bri. The one who wasn’t afraid of putting me in my place.
“The feeling was mutual, babe.” I toss a wink in her direction before closing the door to the office.
Gage and I work in silence, but his gaze glances over in my direction from time to time. He’s probably trying to assess the situation with Giselle. I could have called her out for her hateful rhetoric, but Bri needed me.
“You good, man?”
I huff out a sigh, eyes cast toward the ceiling. “I will be. I just, I don’t get why Giselle had to tear into Bri like that.”
“I’m about to say something that might piss you off. I need you to hear me out fully before you get mad.” Gage waits for my curt nod before he continues.
