15. Brady

15

Brady

" H ow the hell did I let you talk me into this." I tug my hat lower on my head as I shake it, feigning annoyance.

Melanie arches a brow. "Don't tell me you're not having fun?"

As I sit on the top level of the iconic orange and green double decker tour bus, I fold my arms and stare at the downtown sights as the commentator gives information about Boston's most popular attractions. "Fine, I won't."

"You loved the Boston Tea Party Ship and Museum. I saw you grinning when you didn't know I was watching."

"Grinning? I wasn't grinning. I was cringing because I had an itch on my back that I couldn't scratch." I'm teasing her, and she knows it. I've been having a great day getting on and off the Trolly at different locations and actually getting to know the city I live in for the first time, and yes, I was like a kid in a candy store when we walked Griffin's wharf and enjoyed the protest's reenactment. Today is actually a nice break from all the training I've been doing with the team, and Melanie has been studying hard, and needed the break too.

She takes my hand and gives it a squeeze and I give her a teasing smile. She's been staying with me for the past week, and what a hell of a week it's been. A guy could get used to having a girl like her around, and while I've gotten used to going home to an empty place, I have to say, I've been looking forward to our evenings together. Sure, the sex is great, but so is the friendship, and I love sitting down and watching a movie together before bed.

I turn my attention back to the sights when my phone pings, and I reach for it, somehow expecting it to be my family back home. I'd just deposited a chunk of change into Mom's account, but that doesn't mean she's not looking for me. I'm pleasantly surprised when I see it's a message from my buddy Ash. I called him from Melanie's place the day I convinced her to pack her things and come live with me, and asked him if he could help me figure out what was wrong with her car.

I snuck out one evening while she was studying, telling her I was meeting the guys, and met Ash at Melanie's duplex. He checked her vehicle out, letting me know it was the starter. I had it towed to Ash's buddy's shop and secretly had it fixed. I really hope Melanie isn't pissed when she finds out. I read his message, angling my phone so she can't see it.

Ash: Hey Coddy. Car is fixed. I can drive it out tonight. Few of the guys are going to hit the rooftop bar, and Jaxon will give me a lift back.

Brady: Thanks man. I appreciate it. See you soon.

"Everything okay?" Melanie asks when I tuck my phone away.

"Few of the guys are going to hit the rooftop bar for a fast drink tonight. Join us?"

"Hanging out at a place I work on my night off." She taps her chin and laughs. "As lovely as that sounds," she says, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I really do want to study. Friday will be here before we know it."

I lean in and give her a kiss. "I get it."

"Wait, if you're hitting the bar, does that mean we're not doing the ghost tour later?"

"Rain check?"

She nudges me. "You're making other plans because you're a scaredy cat."

I laugh and tug on her hair. "I am not a scaredy cat."

"Yes, you are. When you heard a ‘bang' at Brighton's place, you came with a poker in your hand."

"Well yeah, but the point is, I came. I didn't run the other way." I nuzzle her. "I'm so glad I didn't."

Her breath is warm and sweet on my face when she gives a breathy little laugh. "Me too." We both turn our attention to the announcer as he makes a joke, and I lift my face to the sun, letting it warm my flesh as I admire the attractions.

"Look, that's King's Chapel cemetery. The oldest in the city and is a site on the Freedom trail. We'll have to check that out one of these days."

I nod, even though I don't much like graveyards. Just the sight of this one takes me back to when we buried my father. A wave of grief hits me, and I draw in a deep breath. Grief is a funny thing. You just never know when it's coming for you. That graveyard also reminds me of my own accident at sixteen and how I can't afford to be reckless. What if something happened and I couldn't be there to take care of my family back home?

What if they all got jobs and took care of themselves, dude?

After a while, we find ourselves in Beacon Hill, and Melanie nudges me. "Isn't it charming?"

"Wow, it really is." I take in the cobblestone streets, and the gaslit streetlamps and ornate ironwork doors.

"That's Acorn Street. One of the most photographed streets of Boston," she tells me as she pulls out her phone and takes a picture. "Takes you right back to Colonial Boston. It has everything one could want. Shopping, restaurants, and historic sites…some of the oldest cemeteries, although you might not like that," she teases as we drive by Louisburg square.

Is she pushing for me to get a place here? Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. The trolley turns and we find ourselves in a residential area. I know the area, as a few of my buddies live here, but it's not something I want. I don't think.

"Boston's oldest neighborhood," she says, giving me her own commentary as I consider the real-estate market. If I got a place here, Melanie wouldn't have to take the sublet and move into that pill box apartment that's going to squeeze her pocketbook. Is that why she's pushing? Is she thinking she might want something more permanent with me? The truth is, I can afford a place, I just never wanted the commitment or responsibility of owning my own house—for numerous reasons.

Why then, am I warming to the idea?

At that thought my heart thumps against my chest and Melanie's gaze moves over my face, her eyes narrowing in on me, like she can see more than I want. "I was only joking about you being a scaredy cat."

"I know," I say, even though I think she could be right. I'm in my twenties, and haven't been living because I'm too afraid of dying and letting down those I love. As I mull that over, I can't help but think how fucked up that is.

"This is fun, Lanie," I say and lean in and give her a kiss. She chuckles, and snuggles against me. We continue the tour and since we've been at this for hours, and it's time to head back home, we stay seated as the bus stops numerous times for pick up and drop offs.

It's nearing dinner time when we finally get off at the location where we were first picked up and I take Melanie's hand in mine as we walk back to our car. Clouds move in overhead and she glances at the sky.

I click the fob and my doors unlock as we approach the car. "I hope the rain holds off if the guys are coming over tonight," she says before she slides in.

I give her a wink. "Yeah, but if it rains, the night will be cut short and I can help you study, and maybe even put that rain check to use."

"You are a pretty good study partner and I've been wondering when we were going to use that rain check." She exhales, her smile fading. "I'll just be glad when this exam is over."

"You're going to do great." I bend and kiss her before shutting her door and circling the vehicle. Her eyes are on me as I walk, and I kind of like being the center of her attention. I climb in and as we head back to the resort, unease hits my stomach. Is she going to be pissed that I had her car fixed? Probably. But I guess I'll have to find a way to put a smile back on her face, and I'm pretty sure I know how.

"Why are you grinning?" she asks, breaking the quiet around us, and that's when it hits me. We can sit quietly together, zero conversation, yet we're completely comfortable. Normally when it's too quiet, I'll do or say something ridiculous to break it, uncomfortable with my own thoughts most of the time, but with her it's different.

I'm different.

"Thinking about chapter four," I tell her and she laughs.

"You young boys. That's all you ever have on your mind."

I wag a finger. "Hockey, don't forget hockey, and hey, I'm not that young."

"Younger than me."

"Does that bother you?" I ask, seriously.

"Last week in the coffee shop, that elderly lady you signed an autograph for asked me if I was your older sister."

"What, no way? You didn't tell me that."

"That's because it was embarrassing."

"I wouldn't have signed an autograph had I known she embarrassed you."

She shrugs. "She didn't mean it. She just saw you with those fourteen-year-old girls, and well, I'm no fourteen-year-old."

"First, let me say you're a gorgeous woman , and second, the fact that you have your life together and go after what you want, is pretty damn attractive."

There's genuine curiosity in her eyes when she asks, "That's why you like me?"

"I like you for many reasons. Not just because you're my…cougar," I tease.

She whacks me. "Ass, and really, Brady, when it comes right down to it, I don't have my life together. Not yet anyway."

"Not yet? You have a place to live lined up, you're getting the education you want. You have a job, and are making great tips to help with tuition, and…wait, what else do you want, Lanie?"

Her phone pings and she reaches for it, leaving my question hanging in the air. I grip the steering wheel tighter and curse at the emotions squeezing my throat—because yeah, maybe I wanted to hear that it was me she wanted.

She sends a message off and puts her phone down. "All good?" I ask.

"Yeah, just a classmate, asking about our exam."

I wait for a second, to see if she's going to answer my question, but the moment has passed. "Do you want to grab some take-out?"

"No, I think I'll cook, if that's okay with you." She's been doing a lot of cooking for me, cleaning too, and she's not my maid, but she does seem pretty insistent on it. "Healthier," she adds, as if to convince me.

"You don't have to cook for me."

"It's my way of thanking you."

"But you don't have to thank me. It's not tit for tat, Lanie."

"Fine, I don't want you to feel responsible for me."

What her eyes are saying is that she knows I'm responsible for everyone, and carry the weight of my family and my team on my shoulders, and she doesn't want to add to it.

Yeah, okay, I get it. We both have issues. What a fucking pair we make.

"Okay," I finally agree, because she's right. I'm in training and homemade is much healthier.

She hums to the radio as I drive, and about half an hour later, I pull up in beside Noah's vehicle. "I'm glad you had fun today, Brady."

"Thanks for dragging me."

She laughs and gets out of the car, and her jaw drops when Ash pulls up behind us in her car.

"What the…" She turns to me, eyes wide. "What did you do?"

I hold my hands up, palms out. "Don't be mad."

She glares at me. "You…you fixed it?"

I give an easy shrug. "Ash knew what the problem was and took it to his buddy to get it fixed."

"I…what did it cost?" Her brow furrows a worried expression moving into her eyes. "I'll pay you back."

"Okay," I say quickly. Not that I ever plan on taking the money.

"My car…" she frowns and glances down. "It's not your responsibility."

"Hey," I say and pull her to me, lifting her face to mine. "It's okay. You can pay me back. Any way you want," I joke.

Her frown deepens as she glances back down, and I dip my head to see her face. "Car's fixed," Ash says as he steps up to us and holds out the keys.

Melanie's gaze cuts to his. "Thank you. That was very kind of you. You didn't have to go to the trouble."

"No trouble at all and hey, any friend of Brady's is a friend of mine." Ash runs his fingers through his mess of hair and glances around. "The guys aren't here yet. We're supposed to meet for dinner."

Melanie grips the keys tight. "You're welcome to have dinner with us. It's the least I can do after fixing my car."

Just then Jaxon pulls in and parks behind Noah's vehicle. He hops from the car. "Hey guys. Where's Tuck?"

"Not here yet," Ash explains. "You still able to give me a lift back tonight?"

Jaxon grins. "Depends."

I laugh, because I know it depends on if he meets a hottie at the rooftop bar or not.

"Asshole," Ash says.

"I can give you a lift," I tell him.

Ash turns to Melanie. "Thanks for the invite. I'd love to take you up on it another night, but you don't want these assholes in your space. Let's go grab a beer, and I'm starved."

"I'll go start on dinner. You can join the guys if you want. I can reheat yours later."

"No, I'm coming." I brush my knuckles up against hers. "I'll meet up with them later."

She nods toward the door. "I'll head in then."

She walks away and Ash nudges me. "So, you and Melanie. What the fuck is going on there?"

I glance over my shoulder to make sure she's not within ear shot. "I'm helping her out."

"Yeah, with your dick. You two are obviously fucking."

"She needed a place to stay and who I'm fucking is not your business."

He looks at the house and then back at me. "Yeah, well, careful with that one."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Dude, you're in the prime of your life having a great fucking time with the bunnies. Women like Melanie aren't looking for a good time. They're looking for marriage, a house and kids. Ask Korbin. He got himself an older lady and now he's saddled with a handful of kids."

As far as I know, Korbin is in love and happy, but that has nothing to do with my relationship with Melanie. Besides she's not much older than me, for fuck's sake, and her biological clock isn't about to stop ticking… I don't think. "You have no idea what you're talking about."

"Yeah, well, when she convinces you to put a ring on it, starts pointing out houses she likes, and sells you on having kids, don't tell me I didn't warn you."

While I was warming to the idea of a house, the thoughts of a baby scare the shit out of me. The responsibility of a child is just too much. Not that I have to worry about that. Melanie doesn't want kids. She told me straight up, but I saw the look of longing on her face, which once again niggles at something in my brain. I might not be the psychologist here, but I don't have to be to know something is off.