So Much More (Made for Love #3) (44 page)

H
AVING BRANDON WITH ME
makes it easier to breathe. I haven't let him go since the moment I knew he was here. His very presence gives me strength. I shouldn't be surprised, really. Hasn't it been like that since the beginning? It's part of what drew me to him in the first place. I know, with all my heart, that he was meant to be a part of my life. He entered the scene exactly when I needed him. God's timing is impeccable. I have no words to express how much it means to have this man's love.

He's my everything. My always.

He held my hand when the doctors brought my dad back and told me about the surgery. He tucked me under his arm when I went in to see my mom, reminding me to breathe as I stood holding her hand. He rubbed my shoulders after the police came and talked to us about the accident.

Some jackass ran a red light. A fucking impatient jackass ran a damn red light and almost killed my parents.

I cry when the police officers leave. This time, my tears are angry ones. Brandon soothes me, encouraging me to not waste my energy on the things I cannot change.

He walks with me when I decide I really need a breath of non-ICU air and we go fill Aria and Harper in on all the news. I also insist they both go home. They've spent
hours
wandering around the hospital and sitting in the hallway. I love them dearly for their endurance, but it's that same love that has me pushing them out the door. The hospital is a depressing place to hang out and it’s getting late.

Much to my dismay, I’m given the same speech when we make it back to the ICU. We show up just as the doctors are making their rounds. When I’m told that my parents are both stable and in desperate need of rest after all that their bodies have been through today, I’m encouraged to get some rest myself.

I argue, of course, uncertain as to whether or not it’s a good idea for me to leave the hospital. I spoke two words to my mother while she was in and out of consciousness and I’m worried how she’ll feel if I’m gone when she asks for me in the middle of the night. Then, of course, there’s my dad. I haven’t had the chance to speak to him
at all.

When the doctors and the nurses tell me that it’ll be better for all parties involved if I get a good night’s rest, I look to Brandon for his opinion. He tells me he’ll do whatever I want, but that he agrees with the staff.

“You need a good night’s rest, Sunshine. Tomorrow’s bound to be another long day.”

Begrudgingly, I let him lead me out of the hospital. It isn’t until we get to his car that I remember—

“Shit! Neither of us did the baking for tomorrow. What are we going to—”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve got it taken care of.”

I shake my head at him, burying my fingers in my hair. Who the hell knows what my braid looks like at this point. “How? How could you have taken care of—”

“Baby, I’m not worried about muffins right now, okay? You shouldn’t be either. The shop will survive.”

“But what about—?”

“Sarah.” He grips my chin, lifting my face so that he can look into my eyes. “They’ll get through tomorrow the best they can and we’ll deal with Monday when it gets here. What’d I tell you? You’re my girl first and my employee second. You will
always
come first.”

I don’t know if it’s because I’m tired and all over the place or if it’s because my brain feels like taking a stroll down memory lane, but I think back to the
Olivia Incident
that occurred this morning. I remember watching him walk out the door with her and I’m not emotionally strong enough to push away the disappointment I felt earlier as it resurfaces…

But he’s here now!
my heart argues.

I shake my head, too exhausted to endure the back and forth between my emotions and my logic. I don’t think about how the movement will free my chin from Brandon’s grasp. When he places his hands around my face instead, I know he’s caught on to what I’m thinking.

“It was a mistake. What’s happening with William is awful, but I should never have gone with her. Whatever goodness used to exist in our friendship is no longer there. No matter what I do, no matter what I say to convince myself otherwise, we’re no good. We can’t even speak to each other without arguing anymore. It’s not healthy for either of us.

“It kills me that I left you this morning. Even if you hadn’t needed me, I
still
would regret it. I’m not her white knight. I can’t be the hero in her story, but baby—I sure as hell want to be the hero in
yours
.”

My heart puffs out its chest triumphantly and my first smile in hours, tiny as it may be, graces my lips. I push myself up onto my tiptoes as I reach for a kiss. He kisses me back tenderly and I think, in this moment, I love him more than I did a second ago.

My book boyfriend. In the flesh.

“I love you,” I whisper when I pull away.

“I love you, too.” He kisses me once more before he gently turns me towards the car. “Let’s get you home.”

It takes just over twenty minutes for us to reach my parents house. As I give Brandon directions, I catch up on text messages. Addie, Avery, Claire, Rachael, Tabitha, Sage, Daphne—the list seems to go on and on. I don’t think I’ve ever been more appreciative of the people I get to call my friends. I’m just finishing up a text when Brandon pulls into my parents’ driveway. I hit
send
as Brandon opens the passenger side door for me. It’s then that I notice the duffle he has thrown over his shoulder.

“You packed a bag?”

“More like frantically tossed shit into a bag. I make no promises that the clothes I brought for either of us will coordinate in the slightest—but at least we’ll get to brush our teeth in the morning.”

I step out of the Camaro and wrap my arms around his waist, looking up at him as I ask, “Babe,
who are you?
What on earth did I ever do to deserve you?”

He smirks at me, tucking a wayward lock of blonde hair behind my ear. “I’m just a man—a man who’d do anything for you. And you didn’t do anything to deserve me,” he says, brushing a kiss across my cheek. “You were simply made for love. I just happen to be the lucky bastard who gets to love you.”

I shake my head at him as I pull myself out of his arms and head for my parent’s garage door. “You’ve got it so twisted, babe. You have no idea how amazing it feels to be the one who gets to love you. No idea.”

“How ‘bout we just call it destiny and leave it at that?”

I smile at him from over my shoulder as I offer him a nod. “Deal.”

She enters the passcode for the garage so that we can get inside. As the door ascends, she gasps, turning back to hide herself in my chest. I wrap my arms around her, confused by her reaction.

“What is it?” I murmur, pressing a kiss on top of her head.

“I just—I just registered why there’s only one car in the garage. Shit, Brandon—what if it had been worse? What if—”

“No,” I interrupt her. “We’re not going to play the
what if
game. There’s no point, sweet girl. For now, your parents are fighting. We have to think positively.”

She nods; but when she looks up at me, she’s crying again. “The last time we spoke to each other, we fought. They were upset that I was quitting my job and moving away. They didn’t understand and I couldn’t explain it any better. When I left, we weren’t on good terms. I don’t even remember the last time I told them I loved them.”

“I do,” I assure her, reaching up to wipe away her tears. “Twenty minutes ago.”

“That doesn’t count! They didn’t hear me.”

“Says who? Sarah, so far, the doctors have had nothing to report except for improvements in their conditions. I know you’re scared, but you’re not alone. I’m right here and tomorrow we’re going to go back first thing in the morning. I’m praying and believing that they’ll be even better than they were when we left them.”

“Yeah. Okay. Yeah.”

“You okay?” I ask, propping my forehead against hers.

She cups her hands around my cheeks as she sighs. “Just keep saying stuff like that. I need to hear it.”

“I will,” I promise.

Sarah takes my hand and leads me into the house. It’s dark, so I don't really see too much of it as she guides me to the second level and into the first room on the left. She tells me that it used to be her room until her mom turned it into a guest room. I hum my understanding as I take a cursory look around.

“I’m going to take a shower. I smell like hospital.”

“Alright,” I say, placing our bag on the bed. I open it up and dig through it. “Looks like I packed my shampoo and your conditioner.”

She smiles faintly before taking hold of the bottom of my shirt. As she begins to head for the door, she drags me along with her. “Bring them both.” As soon as she flips on the light in the bathroom, she goes to turn on the water. I admire her as she strips out of her clothes before she looks at me curiously. “Are you just going to watch? Because I was kind of hoping you wouldn’t mind keeping me company. I’m not ready to be alone yet.”

She doesn’t have to say another word.

As we stand under the water, she props her body against mine and breathes deeply—slowly. I can
see
her day rolling off of her back. After a couple minutes, I grab the shampoo and start to wash her hair, making sure to massage her scalp and her neck as I do so. She moans and, even though I know she doesn’t mean to, she stirs my dick to life. I ignore it, expecting nothing from her tonight.

When she turns to rinse the shampoo from her hair, her eyes travel up and down my body. She runs her tongue across her bottom lip before pulling it between her teeth and I feel myself grow harder. “I can’t help it,” I tell her, reaching out to ease her lip free. “You’re gorgeous, baby, and my dick doesn’t lie. But don’t worry about it.”

“I—” She takes a step closer to me. “I can’t help it either.” Taking my hand, she trails my fingers between her legs.

I fucking love it when she does that
.

“Sunshine—we don’t—”

“I need you,” she whispers, pressing her tits against my chest. “I just need to feel you. I want to feel something good. Please? Please, Brandon?”

My sweet girl should never have to beg.

I respond with a kiss. She hums her approval as she wraps her arms around me. We start off slow; but when I deepen the kiss, her mouth turns greedy. Suddenly impatient myself, I prop her up against the wall and slide into her. She’s so warm, tight, and wet, I can’t silence the groan of desire that escapes me. She locks her ankles behind my back as she tangles her fingers in my wet mane.

She reaches for my mouth once more and I don’t deny her, my hips finding a steady rhythm as I glide in and out of her. We take our time, savoring the moment—savoring each other until we come together. Even after I start to go soft inside of her, she clings to me.

“Brandon?”

“Yeah, baby?”

“I don’t ever want to be without you. Remember that. Don’t ever be reckless or stupid, and do everything within your power to avoid reckless and stupid people. Okay?”

“Sarah, I—”

“No,” she mutters, looking me square in the face. “Just promise you’ll be careful.”

I study her for a moment, sweeping wet strands of hair out of her eyes. I know that none of us are promised tomorrow—which is why we should live each day to the fullest. I might not be able to promise her that nothing will ever happen to me, but I know of one promise I’ll be sure to never break.

“Sweet girl, I’ll fight for you—for us—everyday, no matter what that looks like. I don’t ever want to be without you, either.”

“Thank you.”

“Let’s get you to bed, Sunshine. It’s time you got some sleep.”