Broderick (Sabine Valley 2)

“Do you…” I should leave it alone, but too much hurts right now. There’s nothing to stop me. “Will you miss her when she’s gone?”

For a long moment, I don’t think he’ll answer me. But he finally sighs. “Yeah. I’ll miss the little witch.”

This is so ridiculous. Why did we do this to ourselves, knowing this couldn’t last? I start to ask, but apparently there is a limit to my need to poke this thing until we’re all in agony. I want to kiss him, to provide the way for us to spend a few hours distracted and happy, but it feels dishonest considering what I’m revealing tomorrow.

Instead, I hug Broderick tighter and press my face to his shoulder. “Can we have a low-key night? Maybe co-opt the movie room and watch something mindless and distracting?”

He cups the back of my head. “Sure. Whatever you want.”

I want forever.

A child’s cry. I learned a long time ago that childish fantasies have no place in the real world. The real world is rough and horrible and all too cruel. Even in love. Maybe especially in love.

Monroe comes into the closet a few minutes later, her blond hair wrapped in a towel and a second one around her body. She eyes us. “What’s the verdict?”

“Movie night.”

Her slow smile has me reconsidering my choice to keep things tame. “Let’s watch DOA: Dead or Alive.”

Broderick releases me with a laugh. “You would want to watch that movie. It’s all tits and ass and half-naked women.”

“Exactly.” She drops the towel and pulls on a pair of Broderick’s gym shorts and a tank top that I’m nearly certain is mine. “It’s also about the power of lady friendship and also the dad is super supportive of his daughter’s sexuality. You can’t tell me that’s not progressive, especially for its time.”

I blink. “That movie is entirely fan service. Just like the video game.”

“It can be both. Goodness, you two, expand your horizons.” She pulls the towel off her head and gives her hair a shake. “Though I’m willing to take other suggestions if you have them.”

“After that argument? No way.” I find myself smiling, some of my stress abating. I can do this. I can focus on the here and now and leave the future to the future. If it means I have to squirrel away every little memory I can to hold against the moment when we inevitably fall apart, then that’s what I’ll do.

It takes us a little time to get dinner squared away, but then we head into the movie room, carting along a wide array of what Monroe insists are vital movie-watching snacks. She was incredibly put out that we didn’t have Milk Duds stashed in the kitchen, but we made do with popcorn, hot tea, cookies, and some licorice.

Monroe and I end up on either side of Broderick, the best position to reach the food we have placed in front of him, and it’s so…easy. So fucking easy. She and Broderick exchange good-natured barbs, and I can’t shake the feeling that they’re putting in a little extra effort to comfort me.

The movie is hot garbage, but it’s incredibly enjoyable, especially with Monroe’s ongoing commentary and Broderick’s commentary about her commentary.

I want this forever.

It’s really a shame that I’m about to drop a bomb on our happy time in the morning.

Chapter 29

Broderick

The next morning, Monroe pulls me aside while Shiloh is in the shower. She’s got a pinched look on her face that I’ve never seen before. She seems almost…worried.

Fucking fitting, because I’m worried, too.

She squeezes my arm. “I think we’re on the same page about Shiloh, but I want to make sure.”

It’s the most natural thing in the world to cover her hand with mine and give her a squeeze. “There isn’t a damn thing she can show us that will change how we feel about her.”

“Yes.” Monroe exhales. “Yes, that’s exactly it. I don’t know why she’s acting like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs, but I think it’s going to take both of us to anchor her through this. Has she gone home since she joined with you guys?”

“No.” She shared the broad strokes of her story with me, but never the details and never the location. I can admit that Monroe brought out a strange sort of safety net for Shiloh that I never could have managed on my own. When I get overprotective, it pisses her off. When Monroe does it, Shiloh finds her amusing and reacts indulgently. Maybe I should resent that, but I’m not one to ignore tools just because they aren’t in my toolbox.

Monroe still looks uncertain, so I pull her into a hug. “It will be okay, Bride. We make a good team, especially when it comes to giving Shiloh what she needs.” We make a good team when it comes to other things, too. For the last two weeks, things have been damn near seamless between us, even when we’re bickering.