Page 114 of Strung Along
“Yes, they should worry about it,” Brody grits out, avoiding looking my way. “I won’t have this shit happenin’ here again. Not to my family. Public figure or not, I don’t care. You have any idea how terrifyin’ it was to have a man tailin’ my woman in the dark?”
I swallow the lump in my throat and reach for his hand on the table. Fuck my frustration—it doesn’t matter when I hear the desperation in his tone. For the first time since sitting down with Reggie, I’m wondering if maybe I’ve overlooked the true reason behind Brody’s denial to go on tour. Brody is the most protective man I’ve ever met, and the thought of leaving me here for long stretches of time without him after the other day must terrify him.
“Brody,” I murmur.
His throat works with a tight swallow as he stares at Reggie. I’d have thought he didn’t hear me had he not flipped his hand and linked our fingers.
“What do you want me to do? Do you want security here watching Anna? We’ve already threatened legal action withCountry Capitaland Spencer. News will spread that Cherry Peak isn’t the place to be hunting for secrets. But tell me what else you need, and we’ll do it,” Reggie offers, and I truly do believe he’ll do anything to keep Brody as a Swift Edge artist.
Maybe that’s what has fear zipping up my spine and words exploding from my mouth. “No security. I don’t want it.”
Brody whips his head in my direction, lips parted, clearly surprised by my outburst. “What? Why not? It would help settle me a bit to know you’re always bein’ looked after.”
“I’m not a child in need of taking care of. I’ve never needed that,” I argue.
The terrified look in his eyes devastates me. “One day. I was gone for one day, and not only were you accosted by a reporter lookin’ for a scoop on me, but your good-for-nothin’ ex shows upwantin’ you back. How am I supposed to leave you knowin’ shit like that can happen at any given moment? What if I’m too far away next time to get back quick?”
“I’m not having my freedom stripped away, Brody. I’ve found a life here. Started something really, really good. With you, but also with the girls and my job. I don’t want to lose those good things.”
I’m only half-aware that Reggie is still here, watching silently. It would be better to wait until he’s gone, but I can’t seem to tell myself to stop talking.
“I won’t live my life out of fear. Not of snoopy reporters or a guy from my past who’s long gone by now. More stuff is going to pop up, but shouldn’t it be my choice how we handle it? You’re forgetting that I have a say in this relationship too.”
“I’m staying in a motel a town over. Call me tomorrow. We’ll talk more,” Reggie says softly, taking his leave without waiting for a response from either of us. I offer him a parting, wince-like smile regardless. It’s all I can manage as he leaves us in the kitchen.
The front door clicks shut.
Brody tightens his grip on my fingers, as if reassuring himself that I’m still here. That I wasn’t the one to leave. “You do have a say, Anna. You do. But I can’t—I just—fuck. I don’t know what I’m doin’. I’ve spent a huge chunk of life runnin’ from Cherry Peak. Of pretendin it wasn’t home. Now, I’m finally back and so damn happy here, and I’m supposed to give it all up again? I can’t do it. I can’t lose you.”
I shake my head furiously. “The only way you’ll lose me is if you try and lock me up in a padded box. I love so many things about you, Brody Steele, especially your protectiveness. Please don’t make me resent you for the same trait that played a part in me falling in love with you. All you have to do is ask me what I’m willing to do for you and us. What I’m willing to give to makethis work. It doesn’t have to be all on you.” I’m both begging and telling him, my voice thick with a million emotions.
He pulls our linked hands to his chest, rubbing them over his heart. I exhale, hating the way the simple action makes my eyes burn.
“What are you willin’ to do for us, sweetheart? Because there isn’t anythin’ I’m not prepared to sacrifice to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“It’s rude to continuously steal someone’s thunder, you know?” I ask.
“What?”
“That’s the exact same thing I was going to tell you. There isn’t anything I’m not willing to do. You need me to join you every few shows on the road? I’ll be there. You need me to fly out for days at a time while you record? I’ll make the time. Late-night video chats? You’ve got it.” I press our hands to my lips and kiss each of his knuckles. “I love you. I love you enough to beg you not to give up your dream. Not for me or your family and not for this place, even as beautiful as it may be.”
His brows knit together, eyelids closing. I can feel the heat from his breath on my face, both of us leaning in until our foreheads meet. I bump his nose and cup his bearded jaw with my free hand. Love swells in my chest like a balloon so close to bursting.
“I need you to go to Nashville, Brody. I need you to go and figure everything out and give it a chance,” I add, my voice little more than a whisper.
He peels his eyes open, those pretty blues dulled with worry. “I’ll go. So long as you’re here when I get back.”
“Always. I’ll always be here waiting for you.”
I’ve never meant anything more.
43
BRODY
It painsme to leave Anna just as much the second time. I’m itching to call her to check in and make sure there hasn’t been any more reporters following her or another appearance from Stewart, but I hold off. We already spoke this morning, and the last thing I want to do is suffocate her.
I can figure my shit out here with the tour and recording schedule and my upcoming living situation. I have to. If I don’t, I risk losing her, and that isn’t something I’m prepared to do.