To Be Loved By You - A Bradley Bradshaw Story

Through the Dark There is Light

Author's Note: So I got curious today and counted how many reading lists this story has been added to... It has been added to over two hundred reading lists! That just blew my mind! It also has almost two hundred votes. Thank you guys so much!

I also wanted to take a minute and thank all of the readers that came back after my hiatus and welcome my new readers; you guys are awesome!

I think that's all I have for this time, so I hope you enjoy this chapter!

"Please answer," Bradley muttered as he listened to the phone ring. The parking lot outside Charlie's Gym had emptied significantly in the thirty minutes he had been sitting in his Bronco. He had parked toward the side of the building so he could see Thea's apartment door.

He had been in such a hurry to get there that he had practically shoved Bill from his apartment, though the smile on the older man's face let him know it was okay, and rushed the few blocks to the gym. But when he had parked and looked up at her door, he couldn't make himself go up.

What if Bill was wrong and she didn't want him?

What if he went up and seeing him on her doorstep again scared her?

He had finally decided that running through what-ifs alone in the parking lot wasn't going to get him anywhere and that he should call her, that way she knew he was coming up to the loft.

"Hey! This is Thea. Looks like I missed..."

He hit the red button that would disconnect the call and brought the phone up to rest against his forehead. "Fuck!"

Brad wasn't sure what to do. He just knew that his conversation with Bill had been the kick in the ass he needed to turn off the radio, put down his glass, and fight for her. But how did he fight for someone so scared of losing him that she'd pushed him away?

Bill had mentioned that Gwen and Stef were with her. Maybe he could give Stef a call and have her pass the phone to Thea?

With a nod, he pulled the phone away from his face to do just that. Before he could make the call, movement on the stairs in front of him caught his attention. The three women were walking down together, Thea clinging to Stef's hand. When they reached the bottom, the girls parted ways and Thea turned to her mother.

Bradley opened the door to his Bronco and climbed out, catching Gwen's eyes as she hugged her daughter. She smiled with what looked like pride in her eyes and gave him a little wave before taking Thea's shoulders and turning her to face him.

Her face was pink, her eyes swollen, and her hair pulled into a haphazard bun on the top of her head. He hated that she was in pain, that he had caused it, but she was still the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

When their eyes met, he was close enough to hear his name fall from her lips breathlessly. He was vaguely aware of Gwen walking toward her car as Thea took a hesitant step toward him, then another, before falling into his waiting arms. He held her tightly against his body, lifting her from the ground so she could snuggle into his neck the way he knew she liked, and nothing had ever felt so right, so much like it was meant to be.

How had he ever walked away from her?

He didn't know the answer to that question, be he knew with unwavering certainty that he never would again.

"I was on my way to see you," she mumbled against his skin. He felt her hot breath and tears against his neck and his heart broke and soared at the same time.

"Yeah, sweetheart?" His mind raced with the possibilities of what her visit could have meant. Was she on her way to say goodbye for good? Had she wanted to see him one last time?