Becoming Mrs. Bryant

𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑

Aubrey

April 17, 2023

Nova was up and at it especially early today. Breakfast was made, she was out of her pajamas, and she was reading a magazine like some old lady. It was usual, yet unusual, of her. But then again, I assume that she was still on this whole "trying to save her marriage" mission, so fair enough.

"Morning" I said cheerfully as I grabbed bacon, "someone slept good I see." Nova looked up at me.

"I did" she said with glee, "I assume you did too, Mrs 'best kept secret'." I raised an eyebrow, "huh?"

"Oh nothing!" Nova said as she went back to looking through her magazine. I didn't stop looking at her though, which she could probably sense because she looked up at me. "I almost forgot!" she said with an overwhelming amount of sarcasm, "have fun!"

"Nova" I said, "what are you talking about?"

"Rico's house! I see you didn't wanna tell me apparently, even though I thought we were done with keeping secrets. Thank God Nick did though."

I chuckled, "babe I didn't think that was a secret" I responded. "I mean, yeah it's random, but we did talk about Nick and how he felt towards Rico being his brother, right?" Nova nodded.

"I get that" she said, closing her magazine, "but I don't get why you, are going."

"Because Hailey and I caught Nick on the phone telling his mom that he was going through with it" I answered, "that's it. He's nervous and didn't wanna do it alone. I figured with Hailey going, you'd be okay with me going as well." Nova nodded, "I would've been either way."

I smiled, "okay" I said, "great. I'll be back soon babe, and I promise to tell you how it went." Nova smiled, "Hailey's at May's dorm?" she asked, "because I didn't see her here last night.

I nodded, "May needed help with some project, and you know I'm over that school shit, especially after you admitted that you were." Nova giggled.

"Bye babe" she said as I leaned in and gave her a quick peck. "You be safe."

"Yes ma'am!" I chirped.

Nick

"Nick?" Rico asked as he opened his front door, peaking his head out and looking left to right. "Why are you alone? Where are the girls?"

"They're coming, I promise" I assured Rico, "but I wanted to have a serious conversation with you before they came. I don't know how much time I have until then." Rico nodded and stepped outside.

"Okay" he said, "shoot."

"This is gonna sound crazy, far fetched I don't know, but you're...my brother." Rico didn't move a muscle. He didn't drop his jaw wide open like I had imagined, and his pupils didn't dilate.

"Welcome to the family" he said after a moment of silence, smiling ear to ear.

"W-what, you're not surprised?" I asked my half brother, and he chuckled. "Nick, I am twenty years old. Kids start getting curious about the life they're living around seven years old." I nodded, "right" I said, "so you did your own research?"

"My own research, my own calculations, my own everything. I knew who you were before you even thought of coming to FSU, Nick. And trust me, I wanted to reach out to you, I really did. But I couldn't due to the terms and conditions that your mom-...our mom, put in place."

I could feel my face getting hot, and I didn't know why. Why the hell was the moment emotional?

"Nick?" Rico asked.