3 Seconds (Time for Love 6)

“I’ve been thinking about it for a while now, but I didn’t want to say anything. I don’t know how Brock’ll feel about it.”

I saw the concern on his face.

“Brady, Brock will support you no matter what. Shoot, he never gave me any grief about going to culinary school, and he didn’t say a word when I took off for Europe, putting school on hold. He just wants us to be happy, you know that.”

A myriad of emotions crossed his face as he processed what I’d said, but when he replied softly, “I don’t want to disappoint him.” I realized he was worried about more than having Brock’s support.

“Why do you think you would?”

“I’m not like you, Bren. I’ve been working with Brock since I could hold a job, and he’s been giving me more responsibility. And, I’ve wanted it … I don’t want to leave him high and dry at the business. He’s expecting me to be there with him, to eventually be his partner.” He took a long drink, probably needing the distraction. Talking about his feelings wasn’t on Brady’s list of top ten things he liked to discuss.

I understood his concerns, but I also knew the man who’d been more of a father than a brother to us, and even if he were initially upset, he’d want what Brady wanted.

“You just have to talk to him about it. If it’s what you really want to do, you know he’ll come around.”

“What about the band?” he asked, his eyes conveying that Brock wasn’t the only person he was worried about disappointing.

“What about it? It survived while I was gone, and it’ll survive while you’re at the academy. I’m sure that after a few years of working the beat, you’d have some free time to pound on your drums. It’s not like you’re any good anyway,” I added with a grin.

“Fuck off,” he replied with a laugh. Then he added, “Don’t mention anything to Brock or Victoria tonight though, okay? I need a little more time to work everything out in my head.”

“Of course,” I said, then decided it was my turn to share something with him. “So, I’m officially seeing someone.”

Brady slowly lowered his glass to the table, his eyes never leaving my face, as if he were trying to figure out if I was messing with him or not.

“Like, a woman?” he asked.

“Yeah, Brady, of course like a woman.”

“One woman?”

“Very funny. Yes, I’m seeing one woman. Exclusively. Just the two of us.”

Brady blinked slowly, and I started to get pissed off.

“Jesus, is it that hard to believe? I didn’t say that I’d just joined an all-girl cover band. I said I’m dating someone…”

Brady folded his hands on the table and leaned closer.

“The all-girl cover band thing would be more believable.”

“Fuck off,” I said, echoing his earlier words.

“C’mon, Bren, it’s not as if you’ve ever uttered those words before. You can’t be surprised that I’m surprised.”

Nodding, because I did get where he was coming from, I said, “Well, there’s a first time for everything.”

“Who is she?”

“That woman I mentioned the other day. Her name is Bronagh, she owns Callaghan’s and teaches a few classes at the culinary school.”

Brady whistled low between his teeth.

“Your teacher, huh?”

“It’s not like that, I met her before I knew she was my teacher.”

He looked thoughtful for a minute, then asked, “How old is she?”