Show Me

11.

They drove to Malibu the next morning in Stefani's car, the top down, the mood jubilant. The day before had been eventful; swimming in the pool, which Lea had loved, along with a special pizza lunch, and cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery, followed by a movie and a light dinner. She was exhausted by the end of it and after a bath that got the three of them and the entire floor covered in bubbles, the little girl was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

There was a new level of consciousness that sat in him when he and Stefani came together and with it, the need to make her aware of the breadth and depth of his feelings. Not with the words that he didn't know he was ready to say, didn't know if she would reciprocate, but with touch and kisses that sang out loud and clear that she was to be treasured, that she was a gift, and anyone who had ever treated her as less, had been a fool.

She had sensed the minute change and he'd seen something shift in her eyes. There was no need for anything but passion and tenderness, combined, and that initial connection between them, one that had defied logic, carried on a delicate golden string, tethering them to the other.

There were some things that could not be explained by happenstance and after nearly a month, Bradley had ceased trying to find a reason why she had come into his life when she did, and begun to simply not take the fact she had for granted.

"Thanks for letting me come early to help set up," she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, coasting down the 101. "You excited, Lea?" She projected, grinning when Lea paused her singing to nod. "I might ask her to teach me a few things. Kid's a natural."

"She's a born performer, that's for sure," Bradley agreed. "And I should be thanking you for helping. I don't want to put all the burden on Kari, you know? Besides," he rested his hand on her leg, "it's probably better for us to go together. That way you can meet everyone one at a time rather than all at once. I want you to be comfortable."

She smiled. "I will be. I've kind of found that it's usually other people who get uncomfortable around me, for whatever reason," she shrugged, changing lanes. "So I try to make everyone feel at ease, right off the bat."

"I don't blame anyone for being intimidated. Not that you're intimidating," he quickly self-corrected, "but you know... you're you. You radiate this energy," he explained. "Sounds silly to try to say it."

"Nothing you say is ever silly, B." Her eyes were hidden by large designer frames but he didn't have to see them to know they contained a glint. "Keep talking."

His hand caressed her warm skin. "You're Lady Gaga. You're completely magnetic. Matter of fact, my whole staff's still talking about you."

"Ah," she replied, "so no one at work knows you and I are dating." She placed a reassuring hand over the one resting on her thigh. "It's totally fine, I get it. It's not anyone's business," she added, the way she said it suggesting that if anybody tried to make it their business and give him a hard time, she'd kick their ass.

Taking a second to marvel how her petite stature couldn't compete with the fact she was as formidable as hell, he replied, "I generally just try to keep my personal life separate from my career. But that doesn't mean I want to hide you, Stef."

"I know."

They didn't speak, listening to Lea belt out the Taylor Swift song that had come on the Sirus station; oblivious to the slight change in atmosphere.

"You're angry," Bradley finally said, nearly drowned out by the rushing wind.

"No, no, I'm not." Drumming her nails to the beat of the song, he saw that she was buying time, trying to gather her words. It was something easily recognizable because he did it, too, frequently. "I don't care if you tell the world or you need to keep it just between the people closest to you. But I also want you to be aware of when or if we decide to go public, people are going to think it gives them free reign to invade our privacy, to make unsolicited comments. And I'm not going to lie to you, Bradley, it's hard. I've been doing this for a long time now and there are things that are said that still hurt, deeply. Especially when the scrutiny is focused on the people I care about. I mean, drag me into the ground, but you hurt someone I--" Dropping off before she could finish her statement, Stefani sighed. "Anyway. I want you and Lea to be safe, always. You didn't sign up for any of this."