Marked Heart (Marked Heart #3) (2 page)

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1yr & 8 mo. Later...

Leaning back in his rolling desk chair, Braden shifted his feet, swaying himself from side to side. He didn't hate his job, but he didn't like it either. It could hardly be considered work, all he did was sit in his office and stare at the wall most of the day. Occasionally, he would print out a work order and take it to the warehouse supervisor. Aside from that, being the manager of Stockman's Superior Warehouse and Supply was no work at all. It was just a job. A place he went to five days a week, from nine to seven, in order to draw a paycheck.

At least it was Thursday, which meant he'd meet Liv out at the farmhouse right after work for beer and pizza night. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy going out or spending time with his girlfriend Mina, she was great, but Thursday nights with Liv were what he looked forward to the most each week. Those were the nights where he felt like he belonged. Mina never questioned his friendship with Liv, although he was sure she wanted to. She never pushed the issue though, and he was glad. For someone on the outside, it was more than likely hard to understand, Liv was a constant in his life.

They had, to be perfectly honest, Braden wasn't sure what they had. But it was deep, whatever it was. She saw past his ability to sabotage his own self and took pity on him when his heart was broken. In turn, he mourned for her when she was losing herself. There was no doubt in his mind that the heartaches and tragedies of life would have suffocated them both, had it not been for the connection they had with each other. While the world and everyone he knew was moving on, he was standing still and Liv was the only one right there beside him.

A tap on his office door pulled Braden away from his thoughts.

"My man." Pat, greeted, swinging the door open as he walked in.

Braden sat up and rolled himself back up to his desk.

Running his hand through his already slicked back dirty blonde hair, Pat shared, "Remember that deal I was telling you about?"

"The sure thing?" Braden replied, knowing it was bust just like every other risky venture his boss took.

"Yeah, well, turns out it wasn't as rock solid as I thought."

"Ya don't say." Braden patronized before asking, "How much did they get you for this time?"

With a smug expression, Pat assured, "My bank account is fine."

"But..."

"The company took a pretty big hit."

Shaking his head, Braden stood up, questioning, "How big?"

"Nothing I can't handle. I just need you to go lay off Pete."

"Pete from the warehouse? Why?"

Smiling as if he was a genius, Pat explained, "I did some figuring and the money I'll save by laying him off will cover the debt in six months."

"Didn't his wife just have a baby?"

"Twins. Last month."

Thinking this was low, even for Pat, Braden asked, "He'll get unemployment though, right?"

"For sure." Pat replied before laughing, "I mean he'll be lucky to get half of what he makes now but I'll rehire him as soon as all the money's put back."

"You can't do that." Braden snapped, irritated by his lack of thought for anyone other than himself.

Pat Stockman was a slick, fast talking, bigger better deal kind of guy. He always reminded Braden of a stereotypical used car salesman. Although they were old friends, the term friend was used loosely. Very loosely. Pat always had big plans, or grand schemes depending on how you looked at it. He considered himself an entrepreneur but in reality he was more like a swindler. He spent most of his time, wheeling and dealing other peoples talents and skills for the right price.

Glaring at Braden, Pat took a step closer before running his hand through his hair again.

"I'm not. You are."

"Like hell I am." Braden argued.

"You still owe me."

Grimacing at the reminder, that Pat loved to throw in his face, Braden refused to back down.

"What you're doing is wrong. Why don't you not draw a salary and put the money back?"

"If you don't go give him the lay-off, I'll go fire him. The choice is yours, my friend."

Braden stared at him for a moment before offering, "I'll take the lay-off."

"You and Pete BFF's or somethin'? What's your problem?"

A moral call would be lost on Pat, so Braden decided to work and angle of his own.

"You're a business man, right?" Pat gave a suspicious nod as Braden continued, "If I take the lay-off, the money will get put back quicker and warehouse production won't be slowed down by losing Pete."

A wide smile spread across Pat's face as he agreed, "My man, that's why I like you."

Walking to the door, Braden asked, "It's a deal then?"

"Hey, you want to take one for the team. More power to you."

Giving Pat a short nod, he walked out of his office and down the hallway.

"Where are you going?"

"Didn't you hear, I just got laid-off." Braden sarcastically answered before heading out of the building.

~

Normally, Braden would have left straight from work and headed to Liv's but since she wouldn't be home for a few hours, he took the opportunity to pick up his clothes from Pheobe's Fluff and Fold laundry service and an eighteen pack of Dos Equis on his way to his apartment.

As soon as he walked in and set everything down on the couch, there was a knock on his door. When he opened it, Mina was right there on the other side with a soft smile.

Her brown eyes questioned him, while her mouth noted, "You're home early."

Opening the door wider to let her in, he replied, "I got laid-off."

"Oh no!" she blurted, swiftly turning around to face him as she walked in.

Closing the door, he assured, "It's not a big deal."

"My poor baby," she cooed, softly pressing her hands into his chest.

Braden considered the playful expression on her face, and hint of willingness in her eyes.

"It's okay, really," he replied, pulling his phone out of his pocket as it alerted him to a text with a light pinging sound.

Mina moved her hands from his chest and crossed them across her own, pouting, as he looked at his phone.

Biting the side of his tongue, Braden leaned his back against the door and smirked at his phone when he saw the text was from Liv.

L: Up for something new?

Glancing at Mina, he texted back.

B: Always.

L: Theme night.

B: Hope its Mexico. I already picked up Dos Equis.

L: Lucky Punk!

B: I'm gifted.

L: Ha! Later.

Laughing as he slid his phone back in his pocket, he noticed Mina wasn't humored at all.

"I'll just go so you can get ready."

"Don't be like that." Braden replied, gently wrapping his arms around her.

Shrugging in his arms, she stated, "I know tonight's her night with you."

"Do you have a problem with me and Liv?"

Mina's eyes softened as she shook her head, saying, "I'm not a jealous person. I just didn't realize that after almost a year with you, everything would still be the same as it was when we started dating."

"She's my friend." Braden shared, wondering why suddenly his Thursday night tradition was an issue.

Pretending like she hadn't just suggested he stop going to Liv's, Mina replied, "I know."

Slightly confused, he questioned, "So?"

"So you're just going to have to kiss me good enough to tide me over until tomorrow," she advised, pressing herself into him as she waited for him to comply.

Her lips were soft and warm as they moved effortlessly with his kiss.

Mina was sweet and kind, not to mention beautiful. She had big brown eyes and long brown hair that curled naturally against the sides of her face. Her body was lean and fit from her morning trips to the gym before work at the hospital. Admittedly he was attracted to women curvier than Mina, but what she lacked in curves she more than made up for in flexibility. What he liked about her most of all was that she was easy. Not in a sexual way, although he didn't exactly have to work for it, it was her personality. She was easy going. He wasn't in love but caring about her seemed to come as second nature to him. Everything with Mina was effortless.

A slight giggle caused Braden to break their kiss and give Mina a questioning look.

With an excited expression, she cheered, "I was just thinking, she can have you on Thursday's because now that you're laid-off and my rounds end at noon, we'll get to see each other every single day." He stared at her as she continued. "And, if your lay-off lasts too long, we can share an apartment."

Braden started to respond but didn't get the chance. She leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Wearing a wide smile she flicked her finger down the end of his nose and bounced out of his apartment.

Braden stood there for a moment wondering if it was just him, or was that entire conversation incredibly strange. Shaking it off, he grabbed the beer off of the couch and set it in the freezer before taking his laundry with him to his room.

~

On the way to Liv's, Braden couldn't help thinking about his conversation with Mina. A 'relationship' talk was yet to take place between them, other than the few times she asked if he was seeing anyone else. He wasn't and her constant enthusiasm led him to believe she wasn't either. Since he had decided, after things finally ended with his ex-girlfriend Lily, a serious relationship wasn't for him, he never put too much thought into it. After all, how could he, when he already wore another woman's mark.

When he arrived at Liv's she was in the kitchen, swaying in front of her stove, moving her head and shoulders to the music only she could hear. Before he made it to the refrigerator, she turned and smirked at the eighteen-pack he was carrying. He flashed a wide grin at her and nodded before continuing to the fridge.

That's how it was between them. They talked to each other, but sometimes it was unnecessary. Most of the time, he knew what she was thinking and it was the same for her. From the time that their friendship developed, Braden never stopped appreciating her. Mostly because he felt like no one else truly did. Penny, Charlotte, Seth and Auggie loved her of course, but they didn't see her like he did. And his cousin, Kieran who died without realizing how lucky he was to have her as his wife sure as hell didn't. It was the little things like a few years ago when she instituted beer and pizza night. Wearing wireless earbuds, because she hated quiet but knew hearing music in the house upset him, and her almost brutal honesty, in every situation. If she had something to say, she never held back. Liv was the most upfront person he'd ever known.

Braden grabbed two beers and set them to the side before placing the other sixteen on the bottom shelf of Liv's refrigerator.

Walking past him, Liv shared, "Pizza's almost ready."

"Are you seeing anyone?"

Turning to him, she gave a curious look, "Is that your business?"

Handing her a beer, Braden replied, "You know what I realized today?"

"That you're not as involved with my personal life as you'd like to be?" she asked with a smirk.

Braden rolled his eyes and laughed before sharing, "Mina and I have been dating for almost a year.

"You just realized that?"

"When she said, 'We've been dating for almost a year,' I did."

"Ha!" she blurted before informing, "Some boyfriend you are."

"Right?"

Braden started to laugh, then stopped as Liv's expression grew serious.

"You wantin' to bail on Thursdays?"

He gave a half-hearted smile noticing the apprehension in her blue eyes.

"No."

With a suspicious tone, she questioned, "You sure?"

Knowing Thursdays were the only thing in his life he was sure about, Braden nodded.

Liv continued to stare at him as she took the blue tooth earbuds out of her ears.

"If I was her, I wouldn't want you coming here."

Raising his eyebrows at her, Braden asked, "If you were seeing someone, would you let him come between us?"

Her expression instantly changed as she let out a loud, "Ha!" and laughed, "You're not putting your commitment issues on me."

Placing his hand across his chest Braden gave a wide smile as he swore, "Hey, I'm committed to beer and pizza."

"Yeah, you have issues," she laughed, turning as the oven timer went off.

~

After Liv won all seven rounds of Loteria, her Mexican Bingo game, the pizza was gone and so was all of the beer.

She was collecting the cards and placing them back in the box teasing, "Maybe one day," before laughing, "Ha! Just kidding, I always win."

"You suck." Braden griped as he cleared their plates and empty bottles off of the table.

"Awe, don't be a sore loser," she replied before picking up her game, taunting, "You should be used to it by now," as she sashayed out of the kitchen.