To Be Loved By You - A Bradley Bradshaw Story

What Happened?

Author's Note: Here is chapter three of To Be Loved By You! I don't have much to say here, other than a big thank you! As I am writing this, To Be Loved By You has almost 100 views, three votes, and has even been added to some reading lists! I have never had this big of a reaction to something I've written in such a short amount of time. So thank you!

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Thea groaned as she heard an incessant knocking at her door. "Go away!" she yelled into her pillow. It was her day off and she had no intention of getting up. Besides, she'd been in a funk all week, and as far as she was concerned she deserved a day in bed.

However, the person on the other side of the door had other plans. "Fine," she grumbled. She blew the tangled curls from her face and pushed herself out of bed. Stumbling through her loft apartment was harder this morning than usual. She rested her head against the door before turning the knob.

"It's about time you answered the door," Stef huffed as she came into the apartment. Thea closed the door before moving past her friend to the kitchen. She needed some water.

"Most people would consider being ignored an answer." She glared at the other woman over the top of her glass.

Stef studied her for a moment, then said, "You look like shit." At that moment Thea longed for the painfully shy woman Stef had been when they'd first met.

"Thanks."

"You have all week."

Thea put the empty glass in the sink. "I'm going back to bed."

She felt a hand on her wrist as she moved to pass Stef. "Nope. We have appointments at Jenny's."

"Um," Thea turned to her friend, confused. "It's not the sixth." She was referring to the monthly pedicures she and Stef got together. It had started as a way to get Stef out of her shell but had turned into a ritual. They would have their nails done, drink mimosas, and talk about anything and everything they could think of.

"Emergency appointments." She replied as if it explained everything.

"What's the emergency, exactly?"

Stef sighed. "You are. You've been off all week. So we're going to get our nails done and talk about what's been up with you."

Thea started to protest, but Stef would have non of it. "Go get ready. You have ten minutes." Stef walked into the kitchen and helped herself to the contents of Thea's pantry.

Throwing her hands up in the air and admitting defeat, she made her way over to her closet to grab a change of clothes. When she walked into the bathroom she closed the door and looked at her reflection. She did look like shit.

She tried combing her curls into submission before pulling them into a ponytail. She brushed the morning funk from her teeth and changed into a tank top and shorts. Checking her reflection again she muttered to herself, "Not much better."

She took a deep breath before exiting the bathroom. Stef stood by the door with a sandwich in her hand. "You're eating on the way."

Shuffling across the room, she took the sandwich and looked down at her friend. "You sure I can't go back to bed?"

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Less than an hour later she sat with her feet soaking in warm water with a mimosa in her hand. Usually, she would be enjoying herself, but she couldn't muster any excitement.

"All right. You haven't spoken a word since we left your apartment. Time to spill."

Thea shrugged. "I don't know. Just tired, I guess."