Best of Me

Chapter 34

Isabella POV

   I make my way to Brady's grave in Arlington, I have always loved this place and held it sacred. But now, it holds a different meaning when one of your own family is here. We could have him buried at home but we chose to have him here with his brothers. The ones who gave all for him and our freedom. I approach his grave and I put the flowers and the flag next to his marker. And as I am kneeling, I lose it and start crying.
      I lay down and stretch out,"Brady I miss you brother and I need you so much. Happy Birthday I hope you and all your buddies are celebrating today. Birthdays just aren't the same without you, I need you to tell me how to fix this mess I have made. I met someone Brady and I was falling in love with him. He's everything that you would hate and love. He wouldn't back down from you and your big brother protective ways, he would have fought for me and I know that is all you ever wanted for me. Was the man to love me enough to stand up to you to show you that he could take care of me. Brantley does all that, he even beat Nick's ass when we ran into him at a bar cause he had put his hands on me. Then I screw it up Bray, I saw him in the arms of his ex and I ran. Me the one who never ran from anything in her life. I ran cause in that moment I felt my heart break into a million shattered pieces and I knew there was no way to put it back together. I need him to function and to breathe and I have screwed up. I ran and didn't give him a chance to explain. I am 29 years old Bray and I need you here to tell me how to fix it. I saw a video today it was on my camera and it shows him telling her off and he said he loved me in the video. I have pushed him away and I don't know how to fix it. I need you Bray and you aren't here. You are the reason I lost Chase for 5 years and you left me. I loved you Brady and you left me. Why do I lose everyone I love?!! It's not fair, please tell me what to do. How can I fix this mess I have made with Brantley? I love him but I have ignored him for the last 3 days working and then drinking every night. Chase wants me to come to him but I can't leave not because I have a job but because I can't stand the thought of not seeing Brantley every day. I thought losing you hurt but brother nothing can compare to the hurt I feel losing Brantley...."
    "You haven't lost me Bells, I am right here, fighting for you, for us. I love you and I wasn't going to let Jana rip you from me. I was giving you some time. I'm sorry that you saw her kiss me but you have to know that I didn't kiss her back. I was looking for you and she blind sided  me. I told her but I should have already told you Bells, I love you and only you. I have been going crazy trying to figure out a way to get you back. I'm not going anywhere if it takes my dying breath to prove to you that I love you. I will do that. I'm here laying it all out for you and here cause I know that today is hard for you and I didn't want you to deal with it alone. But I want to say right here right now I want you as my girlfriend."
I sit up and Brantley comes to me kneeling and takes me into his arms and holds me as I continue to cry for all the things that have happened. I look up and I say," Brantley I love you and only you. I'm sorry I hadn't told you, I know better than anyone how things can be ripped away but I was scared that you didn't feel the same way. I want you, I want us and I am sorry that I ran but honestly no one has ever had that much power over me before and it scared the hell out of me. Please forgive me for not giving you a chance to explain, for placing you in the category of all other men even though in my heart I knew you were not like them. I'm so sorry baby and I would be over the moon to say you are my boyfriend."
That is when my world realigned he brushed his lips to mine gently and then in a flash it went from gentle to hard and possessive and full of want and need. This lasted what seemed like forever. When we pulled apart for air and he said," why is there a beer here?" I laugh and said,"it's Brady's favorite and like your song I'm about to open it and pour it out to let him know that he is remembered. And then we have to leave cause you are gonna be late as it is for your show."
  Brantley picked me up and kissed me again and told me that Justin was covering until he could get back.
  I poured the beer out and touched the marker and told Brady that I loved him, and thanks for listening and fixing it just like he always did.
I put my arms around Brantley and we walked out knowing that things were back on track.