By Chance

Chapter Fourteen : By Chance

Summer's POV

Finding Brady in the state he was in was absolutely terrifying. I was mortified to have to walk back into that house after I stormed out, but I am so glad I did.

My mother dealt with anxiety when I was young, and I would always prepare what to do if I ever found her the way Brady was. Luckily, I never had to figure out what that was like. Until today, at least.

I've seen Brady be vulnerable. I've seen him more vulnerable than anyone other than his family has. But this was next level.

It hurts me to see how self-loathing he is. And it especially hurts me to see the consequences of his hatred for himself.

He recovered quickly and went back to the Brady I know, but it's still so heartbreaking to see someone you care for go through something like that.

At breakfast, we didn't talk about anything from that morning. I think we both wanted to ignore what happened. I can tell how sorry he was over what he said, he was the second he said it. I just want to forgive and forget. It's no use staying angry over it anymore.

It doesn't help that Brady is all I can think about every second of every day. He consumes my every thought. I would do anything to take his pain and suffering away.

I was so relieved to find the ride to McDonald's was normal. Our conversation was normal. The drive home was normal. The way to my school was normal. We were normal.

"Ms. Price, may I go to the bathroom?" one of my kids pulls me away from my thoughts. I tell him he can go and focus on not focusing on Brady. It doesn't work.

We are going to be roommates this summer, and I find myself so excited. Despite this morning, Brady has been a fun person to live with. He picks up after himself, goes out of his way to be kind, works hard to keep the place looking nice, and is just a great person to be around.

If I do end up living with him over the school year, it will help save us both money and leaves me feeling a million times safer. Living alone would make me beyond paranoid that Lance would somehow find me. It's only a matter of time until he hears I'm back in Gulf Shores and comes looking for me. He was definitely not expecting me to run away from him like I did.

I don't know how I'm going to leave Brady and his safety when my teaching contract is up. I only met him a week and a half ago, and yet I find myself feeling like he's one of my childhood friends. Now that he's in my life, I can't imagine him not there.

I can't wait to tell Aria about him. I've held it back because I thought I was leaving in a week from today, but that's not happening anymore. I'll call her tonight.

The bell rings, signaling the last class of the day was about to begin. I just need to stop thinking about Brady for one more hour.

__________

I got a ride back to Brady's from one of my coworkers. I told him to come home and sleep, and I didn't want to risk him falling asleep and waking up just to get me.

When I walk into the house, Brady is wrapped up in a blanket like a burrito on the couch. He is fast asleep and I can tell he's dreaming by the way his closed eyes are moving. Even if he only gets a small amount of sleep, I'm glad he was able to get any at all.

The bags underneath his eyes already look lighter. I have no idea how long he's been asleep, but it's showing to be helping.

I look at him for a couple more seconds before turning and making my way downstairs. I don't want to have a possibility of waking him up.