Chapter 83: Maddox

When Bryn leaves with Nolan, I look over at Sawyer and see him with this proud look on his face.

“Stop.” I say, rolling my eyes.

“What?” He asks, sounding innocent and unaware of what I’m talking about.

“Stop looking so smug. Nothing has happened yet.” I point out.

I’m not sure I agree with whatever plans he has working in his head. When he welcomed me, I thought it had been because there was something special between Bryn and me, but now I’m not so sure. Now it seems like I’m just a cog in whatever plan he has forming in his head.

“Not yet, but I think it will.”

I look at him. Really look at him to see if he shows any signs that all of this bothers him, but I see nothing.

“You’re seriously okay with another guy joining us? I didn’t know we were going to be adding people to the group.” I say, trying not to sound confrontational.

Sawyer sighs. “Some things are a necessary evil.”

This is the first time I’ve seen him show any true emotion during all this.

“What do you mean, man? You make it sound like you’re dying.” I laugh, but he doesn’t. “Shit man. Are you fucking dying? What the hell?”

He looks at me and shakes his head. “I’m not dying. I just want Bryn to be taken care of, and the more people around to do that, the better. This guy is a doctor…sort of, so he’ll be there to make sure she and the baby are okay while I’m gone.”

Look, I can see why he wants a doctor around but like this? “So why can’t we just bring the guy in as a friend? Why does he have to be romantically involved with Bryn? Have you thought about the fact she may not want any more partners? This has a lot to do with her, too.”

“I know that.” He snaps at me.

I raise a brow at him, but don’t take it to heart. There’s something going on with him and he isn’t telling.

“Did you get an offer?” I ask.

He doesn’t look at me and instead takes a long drink of the beer in his hand. His silence is answer enough.

“Where?” I ask him.

“LA.” He says and I blow out a breath.

That’s halfway across the country from us.

“When do you need to leave?”

“I have a meeting with the Coach next week. The official announcement will happen that weekend.”

“What?” Both of our heads snap up at the sound of Bryn’s voice.

“B- “Sawyer stands and tries to move closer to her, but she steps away from him.

“You signed with a team and didn’t say anything? Why Sawyer?” Her voice shakes with emotion.

“I wanted to think about it a little longer and make sure everything was already set before telling you. It would be a huge change and I didn’t want you worrying until it was all done.” Sawyer tries to explain, but Bryn shakes her head.

“No. You decided without talking to me. A decision that would affect me as well! You’ve been doing a lot of decision making without consulting me first. This isn’t the Sawyer I’ve known my whole life!” She yells at him. “Why did you do this?”

“I did it for you! To make sure you would have a comfortable life!” Sawyer yells back.

Bryn looks down at the ground, and I see tears falling from her cheek to the ground.

“Hey cool it, man.” I say, standing and walking over to Bryn and wrap an arm around her.

She turns to me and buries her face in my chest.

“Stay out of this Maddox, this is between Bryn and me.” Sawyer warns, but he’s upsetting Bryn and I won’t let that happen.

“You claim to be doing this for her, but being married means that you make decisions together.” I point out.

He scoffs. “Like you know shit about being married.”

“Like you do? You’ve been married for a few months and you think you’re an expert? Clearly you don’t know a fucking thing.”

He is breathing hard and looks about a second away from decking me.

“Stay out of this, Maddox. I won’t tell you again.” His voice is lower and menacing, but he doesn’t scare me.

“Why does he have to stay out of it? He’s the one who’s taking care of me when you leave, isn’t he? You already planned everything for all of us. How thoughtful of you! But you know what I think is a good plan? You leaving. I can’t look at you right now.” She pushes past him and walks into our bedroom.

The slam of the bedroom door sounds like a bomb going off and exploding all the good times we’d had together.

“What the fuck, man? What are you doing?” I ask him.

He walks towards the door and grabs his leather jacket hanging on the hook. “Leaving. Didn’t you hear her? She doesn’t want me here.”

“Because you’re being an asshole. Do you really think she wants you gone? She’s hurt Sawyer. Give her some time.”

“Yeah. I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” He pulls the door open and walks out just like that.

I stand there looking at the door like any second he’ll walk back in and stomp to the bedroom and apologize, but he doesn’t.

“Well, it seems like there is a lot going on here. Maybe I should just go.” I turn around and see Nolan standing at the bottom of the stairs.

“No. It’s fine. Actually, I could use your help.” I motion for him to follow me and I walk toward Bryn’s room.

When I open the door, she’s curled up in bed, crying into her favorite strawberry pillow.

“Sweetheart.” I say, feeling my heart ache for her.

She sobs louder and I walk over to the bed, scoop her into my arms and climb onto the bed with her on my lap.

“Why did he do this?” She whispers between sniffles.

“I think he had good intentions, but he was wrong to do things this way. You have every right to be mad.” I tell her.

Nolan is standing in the doorway, so I tilt my head to the empty side of the bed as an invitation to sit. He hesitates, but another sob from Bryn makes him crack and climbs onto the bed next to us.

“He messed up, sweetheart, but I will be here with you. I promise.”

“Me too.” Nolan says, and Bryn lifts her head to look over her shoulder at him.

“Why?” she asks.

I hate how she thinks of herself as a burden and can’t understand why so many people love her and want to take care of her.

“Because I want to be here. I…feel like I belong here.” Nolan says as he scratches the back of his neck. “Maybe it’s crazy, but I feel like this is where I’m meant to be. Taking care of you…being with you.”

Bryn looks at him with wide eyes and then groans before dropping her head on my shoulder. “I have placed a curse on all of you if you guys want to be with me.”

She lets out a weak laugh, but I tilt her head up so that she’s looking at me. “You aren’t a curse to us, sweetheart. I’m lucky to have found you. I…love you.”

Her eyes go wide and then she breaks out crying again.” Shit! I’m sorry, Bryn, maybe this wasn’t the best time to say it, but I can’t stand you saying these things and not knowing how I feel.”
She shakes her head. “It’s not that. I’m just a little shocked, but I love you, too.”

I smile down at her and she surprises me by wrapping her arms around my neck and kissing me. My warms wrap tight around her and I kiss her back just as desperately. Tonight was a shit show, but it has nothing to do with my relationship with Bryn. She and I are on good terms and all I want is to see her happy.

“Don’t mind me.” Nolan says.

Bryn breaks our kiss with a shy laugh and looks at him. “Sorry. We rarely have an audience that isn’t used to us jumping each other.”

“Sawyer…watches you guys?” He asks with a raised brow.

Bryn laughs. “And participates.”

Nolan’s brows rise to his hairline.

“A little too scandalous for you, doc?” I ask him.

His eyes narrow at me. “No, I just didn’t expect it. Bryn seems so…”

“Innocent?” I finish for him and he nods. “Yeah, she may look it, but she’s a hellcat in bed. Right, sweetheart?”

Her face turns bright red, and she gives me a playful smack on the chest. “Shut up!”

I smile at her, and she shakes her head. “I blame it on the pregnancy. It makes me hungry for things other than food.”

All three of us break out laughing. Things with Sawyer need to be fixed, but for now Bryn is smiling and that’s all that matters.