I got through the following show all right. Brad came to the cottage for the weekend, and I did feel like I needed him, but he also felt distant and I found myself wishing for Rev instead.
Jake insisted that he would not leave me alone with Brad, not that he could actually protect me, but he could call the cops in a second, as he told Brad angrily to his face. Brad accepted his anger and Jake stayed in the spare room, but there were no arguments of any kind. Jake did give him the cold shoulder and actually held up a middle finger to Brad once when he asked if he wanted to get something to eat with us.
"What did you tell my brother about your face?", I asked Brad. He didn't actually look at bad as Rev had, but part of it might have been that it wasn't as fresh. His left cheekbone had a scab, both eyes had some bruising, he had a small scab on his forehead, and both hands were bruised and scraped, along with both knees.
"The same as I told Steve. Most of the truth. You and I argued, I grabbed your arms and bruised them again, you told Rev, he kicked my ass".
"And what were we arguing about?", I asked.
"You wanting to talk to Rev".
I nodded. "Fine".
Drew's anniversary loomed around the corner after the weekend was done. Brad went home Sunday night and Tommy came back to the cottage, so I had Tommy and Jake, who were the two I needed.
Tuesday morning, Rev called me and told me he could still come stay with me if I needed him.
"Just call, love", he said. "If you need me, I'm there".
"Thanks, Rev. I love you so much".
The guys took me to the airport and I effectively distracted myself and kept my mind off what today was until I saw Brad. I started sobbing on his shoulder and I couldn't stop.
"I know, baby", he said, stroking my hair. "I know. I'm so sorry".
The whole way home I laid my head on his thigh and cried.
When we were almost home, Brad called Steve and let them know where we were.
"Meet us there in thirty minutes", Brad told him, and placed his hand back on my head after he hung up.
I felt sick already. Brad hadn't even asked what I wanted to do, but I agreed with this plan. I couldn't function until this part of the day was over.
"Brad?" I sounded stuffed.
"Yeah, babe?"
"When we get there...I want Steve. It's not for any reason other than...I can't have you getting mad...you know?"
"I know, babe", he said gently. "I'm sorry I'm such a dick".
"You're not", I sighed. "I'm sorry I don't always put you first".
He gently stroked my hair. My head was still on his thigh.
About thirty minutes later, Brad said, "Okay, baby. We're almost there".
I sat up and felt such a wave of nausea I almost threw up in my own lap. I cracked the window and took deep breaths of cold air, shutting my eyes.
Brad took my hand and squeezed it. "Okay, babe?"
I nodded.
I kept my eyes shut until I felt the Durango stop, and then I opened them. We were behind Steve's silver pickup. His door swung open, he raised his hand to us in greeting, and I could see he had already been crying, which made me feel better. He walked around to Bre's side and helped her out. She had on a long winter coat so I couldn't really see the pregnant belly, which also made me feel better.
YOU ARE READING
The Neverending Hangover
Romance*Second in the Fire Whiskey series* 'I had been amazed at the connection Brad and I had, and our connection was inexplicable, but this with Rev was something else. It was different but just as impressive. Was I cursed or blessed to have two amazing...
