Devoted - The Complete Series: A BWWM Romance Boxset (12 page)

Still, I can’t shake this feeling that Bradley is holding back. The teddy bear is at the bottom of my list of things that have tipped off my radar. Twice this past week, Bradley has ended our conversation abruptly blaming his job for the interruption.
Who has work issues to tend to at eleven pm?
I understand he’s the CEO of a multinational communications company, so I suppose it’s possible. I don’t want to make any assumptions and taint our blossoming relationship with suspicions that could just be my own issues getting in the way. I don’t feel like he’s a bad guy or even a particularly sneaky guy, so I’m just going to hold my tongue and see where this path takes me.

Snapping my suitcase shut, I have to laugh at myself. With all the changes of clothes and products I’m dragging along, you’d think that I was going away for much longer than a couple days. I think I’m all set, now I just need to wait for Bradley. Checking my phone I see that I have missed two calls and a voicemail. It’s always on vibrate for work, but then I forget to turn the damned ringer back on when I get home.
Hopefully, Bradley isn’t outside waiting for me.

There’s a loud roar in the background on the message, making Bradley’s voice sound distant and small. “Brianna, I’ve already called, but you’re not picking up. I didn’t want to do this on your voicemail, but I have to cancel our plans. I’m at the airport right now; I’ve had an… unexpected matter come up that I need to deal with right away. I’m so sorry, but I promise I’m going to make it up to you when I get back, ok?” The roaring in the background becomes unbearable, muting out anything else he might have said. I dial his number, ready to give him a piece of my mind, but it goes straight to his mailbox.
Surprise
.

My heart is pounding, and my stomach is twisting up in knots.
Unexpected matter? Bullshit! What the hell is going on with him?
It’s like he keeps flying somewhere on weekends to live another life. The thought forms ice in my veins.
Is he married?
“Christ, I bet he is!” I kick my suitcase in my stockings, and my toe crumples along the side of the sturdy Samsonite. “Oww.” I hop around on one foot, cursing Bradley and his lies. The pain subsides in my foot long before it will in my heart. I have no intention of being the other woman in some man’s life. That would explain his late night phone calls, the last minute changes, and the teddy bear.
Wouldn’t that just be my luck?

I decide that a quick Google search can answer a few questions for me. However, when I read through his wiki page, there’s nothing about any marriages, past or present. Searching through a few more pages, I come up empty-handed. There are no records of Bradley being married, divorced or engaged. Nothing. My nerves settle a little, but a nagging little voice is telling me something isn’t adding up here. I need some time and distance to clear my head. I guess it works out well that my weekend has been ruined so I have plenty of hours to fill with suspicion and worries.
Lucky me
.

I’m drowning in a sea of paperwork and brochures. If there’s anything that makes you question if you’re smart enough to go to college, it’s filling out all the forms for college. Since I decided to work on my degree part-time, I thought I had found the perfect loophole and that my stress would be over. Little did I know that it was just beginning. Between sifting through all the bursaries, grants and scholarships and reading the fine print on private loans, my head is about to crack open. When my phone starts buzzing across the desk, it’s a welcome distraction. Although, I’m not so confident when I see Bradley’s number flashing on my screen.

“Hello?” I sigh. I wish I wasn’t excited to hear from him at all, but I am. I’ll be damned if I’m going to let him know that though.

“Oh, Brianna! I’m so happy you’re home. I thought it was going to go to voicemail. You don’t know how nice it is to hear your voice.”

“If it’s so nice, you think you would’ve called in the last four days,” my words almost cool my tongue they’re so icy.

“You’re right, I should’ve made some time to call. Things have just been… hectic. I’m still at the airport, my plane literally just landed fifteen minutes ago, and I called you as soon as I could. I was hoping you would be free tomorrow? I feel terrible about how the weekend was ruined, I really want to make it up to you.” He does sound genuinely upset, but I’m not interested in making any more plans.

“No, I don’t think so Bradley. I think I’m coming down with something.” I couldn’t sound less convincing.
And the Oscar goes to
…

“I’m sorry to hear that.” His disbelief drips through my phone. “How about once you’re feeling better? There’s no expiration date.”

Just on my patience. I can hear the buzz of the airport in the background, a noise I’m tired of hearing in his calls. “I don’t know, Bradley. I just… I don’t know if you’re married to your work or if there’s another woman, but I’m feeling like there’s more to this than you’re telling me. I’m not interested in being a mistress either way.”

“Another woman? How could there be any woman other than you? No. Look, you couldn’t be more wrong about that. But, you’re right that my time has been really divided lately.” The connection is starting to get fuzzy as a loud whirring interrupts his words.

“You’re cutting out,” I yell.
Cutting out, running out, sneaking about. At least he’s consistent.

“I’ve got to grab my bags and get back into the city. Please, give me the chance to explain everything to you. Let me take you out for dinner and hear me out, and if you’re still angry, I’ll leave you alone.”

My mind is whirring as loudly as the baggage claim belt he’s yelling over. “Fine. Tomorrow night. No cancellations!”

“Fair enough. Tomorrow night it is. I’ll pick you up at seven?”

“Ok.”

Hanging up a wave of relief washes over me. He sounds so sincere that I want to believe him when he says there’s a reasonable explanation for all this. I just need to make sure that my desire to believe him doesn’t outweigh my good sense. The wave of relief crashes down into despair as I look at the pile of paperwork I still need to sift through.
Why isn’t anything simple?
They say that nothing worth having comes easy, so I guess Bradley and pursuing my degree must both be worth a lot.

“Sorry to leave you short-handed Mr. Taylor.”

“Just get some rest and feel better, Brianna,” my boss reassures me.

I haven’t had to call in sick since my partying days. However, this morning my bowl of Cheerios didn’t stay in my stomach for more than five minutes before I threw it back up. I know I should eat some crackers or drink some water, but the idea of both is making my stomach do somersaults. There’s no way I’m going to make it out to dinner tonight. Staring at my phone, I consider just sending a text message for a second, but decide to give him a call. It doesn’t matter anyway because his voicemail kicks in on the second ring.

“Hi Bradley, it’s me. I know yesterday I told you I was getting sick, but I really am sick now. I’m gonna have to cancel our plans for tonight. I hope we can reschedule soon.”

Throwing my phone on the comforter beside me, I let my exhaustion win as I drift off.

I wake up from my dream of being chased down by a giant, angry mosquito and find my phone buzzing on the bed next to me. That’ll be Bradley, he probably thinks I’m faking.
I would if I was him.

“Hello?”

“I’m baaaack!” Kendra’s voice is too cheery for my brain right now.

“Hey, welcome home.” My voice is so flat; I sound disappointed to hear from her.

“What’s wrong?” She hones in right away. “Is everything ok?”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine, I’m just sick.” I hold my hand across my eyes, trying to block out the daylight.

“You’re sick? Ok, how about I come over with some Gatorade and soup, I can take care of you.”

“No, you don’t have to do that.” I secretly hope that she’ll insist, it always feels good to have someone look after you when you’re under the weather.

“Hush, I’m already one foot out the door. I’ll be there soon.” I’m sure she can hear the smile on my face as I say goodbye.

By the time Kendra walks in, I feel completely fine. Whatever I had seems to have already moved on. I don’t think I even had to cancel my dinner date.

Kendra is radiant, which is difficult with the dull light in my apartment. “You look fantastic! Your honeymoon must have been amazing, it’s done wonders for your skin.” I give her a quick hug and take the grocery bag from her hand.

“The honeymoon was incredible. Europe was just like I imagined, except with even better food. You know, when you go to French restaurants or Italian bistros here, they really don’t do that food justice.”

“I wouldn’t know.” I smile. “Well, you look gorgeous Mrs. Blackwell.”

“Thanks, I think my souvenir is agreeing with me.” Her smile is so wide it looks painful.

“Souvenir?” I raise my eyebrow, looking for a new piece of jewelry or something.

“I’m pregnant!” She squeals, jumping on her toes.

“What? That’s amazing! Congratulations!” I throw my arms around her and jump with her. “Wow, you two didn’t waste any time, huh? How far along are you?” I look down at her belly in awe.

“Six weeks.” She’s still grinning. I don’t think she could stop smiling if she tried right now. “The blood work just came back yesterday. We’re not telling anyone else until we hit the three month mark though, ok? I just knew there was no way I could keep it from you though.”

“My lips are sealed.” I twist the air beside my mouth like I’m locking them together. “Six weeks, what did you do? Get knocked up on the flight over there? You only left six weeks ago.”

“Maybe.” Her smile turns sly, and my sealed lips drop open in disbelief.

“You? You’re in the mile high club?” I squeak. “Now I’ve heard it all.”

“What can I say? It was a long plane ride.” She shrugs. I throw the bag on the counter and join her on the couch. “You know, the crazy thing is, I had no idea at all. Honestly, I’ve never felt better. My energy has been fine; I haven’t been sick. Knock on wood.” She raps her knuckles against my end table lightly. “I didn’t even realize that I was late until two days ago.”