To Be Loved By You - A Bradley Bradshaw Story

Changed Plans

Author's Note: Here is chapter five of To Be Loved By You! This one was hard to write - I think it's because it's the transition from making their agreement to the beginning of the month. But I do like how it came out. I hope you do too!

Before you start reading, I want to say thanks to everyone that has read, voted for, and commented on this story! I can't believe that this story has over 400 views! Thank you so much for that!

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The sun peaked through Thea's blinds as she rolled over in bed to turn the alarm on her phone off. She smiled when she saw the text from Brad waiting for her.

Good morning beautiful. Have a great day at the gym. I'll see you tonight.

Stretching her arms above her head, she recalled the previous night. Brad had called her, just like he said he would, and they had talked late into the night. When she heard him trying to hide a yawn, she had made him say goodnight. He had to be up early to be back on base and he needed to get some sleep.

He'd only agreed to end their call when she had promised to see him after work the next day.

Good morning Rooster. I can't wait for tonight :)

She put the phone back on her nightstand and pulled herself from the bed. Opening the blinds to let the light in, she made her way across the apartment to get breakfast and get her day started.

She had a feeling today was going to be a great day.

—

Today has been an awful day, Thea thought to herself as she sat in her office.

It had started with burnt toast followed by the snapping of two of her guitar's strings when she tried to work on a song before heading to the gym. Today was the first of the month, so she had to deal with bills, which was always stressful for her. Then the washing machine had broken halfway through a cycle which had resulted in her spending the rest of her day mopping up the mess and calling repairmen.

"I'll just close up for you, Miss Thea," Jim said as he stood in front of her desk. Jim was a retired soldier she'd met when she had first opened the gym. His wife still worked and he liked to get out of the house while she was away, so Thea had offered him a job looking after the gym when she wasn't there.

"Marie is expecting you home, Jim. I can't ask you to do that." She looked at the laundry bag of dirty gym towels sitting next to her desk. She'd just have to go to the laundry mat after she closed the gym.

"She's at her book club tonight," he replied. "Besides, I don't like the idea of you out that late alone."

She sighed. "You really don't mind?"

"Wouldn't have offered if I did." He shrugged.

Standing, she grabbed the bag. "Thank you, Jim." She moved down the stairs to the main floor. "Take Sunday off to make up for it, please." Usually, Jim would open the gym on Sundays so she could sleep in after going out on Saturday night. She just couldn't ask him to work late tonight and come in on Sunday.

"All right, Miss Thea."

She opened the door, pulling the bag along with her. She longed for her apartment and a hot bath after the day she'd had.

"Hey, sweetheart." She heard his raspy voice and the weight of the laundry bag lifted from her shoulder.

"Shit," she muttered. Somewhere, in the chaos of her day she had forgotten Brad was picking her up after work.

He laughed. "Not quite the greeting I was expecting."

She looked up at him and he was smiling at her, the skin around his eyes crinkling. He was wearing another brightly colored Hawaiian shirt but this time it was open with a white tank beneath it, revealing the tan skin of his chest. He certainly was a sight for sore eyes.