“That’s really nice of her.” I haven’t had the opportunity to meet Titus’s fiancée—Mariah, I think Tobias said—yet. I’ve spent the time since I arrived laying low, trying to figure out just how big of a mess I’ve made for myself.
“You should come over for dinner tonight. I think the two of you would get along.” He collects the bag of vegetables. “Plus, it will give us the chance to finalize your employment package and set a start date.”
I’m so appreciative that Titus is willing to hire me, but the thought of working at MSS also makes me nervous. “That sounds great.”
Sort of.
Having a job—great.
Seeing Tobias every day—not so great. Especially now that I know I’m just as stupid about him as I was ten years ago.
“Perfect. We usually eat around six.” He crouches to give the puppy a pat. “And bring this guy so he can play with his sister.”
“Your house is amazing.” I take in the soaring ceilings of Titus and Mariah’s home as I step into the foyer. The way the lanes weave between hills and trees, it’s nearly impossible to get much more than a glimpse at any of the boys’ places as you come in, so the only home I’ve really gotten a good look at on the property is Deidre’s. And while this house isn’t quite as large, it’s just as impressive.
Mariah snorts. “You wouldn’t have been saying that if you saw what it looked like when I first got here.” She points at a spot just beside where I stand. “Right there was what I now refer to as Mount Muddy Shoe.” She gestures toward the immaculately decorated office to my left. “And that was Cardboard Cavern.”
I know what Titus has been through, and it would make sense that his house probably didn’t rank super high on his list of concerns. He’d already lost his fiancée and their baby by the time Tobias and I got together. Back then Titus was like aghost. Someone I heard about but rarely saw. It just makes me extra glad he’s found Mariah, because the difference between the man I knew before and the one walking down the hall carrying a puppy and wearing a bright smile is unreal.
“Are you telling Brooke all my secrets before she’s signed on?” He hooks an arm around Mariah, pulling her close. “Because I really need her to join my team, so maybe you should talk me up a little bit.”
Mariah looks up at him with so much love it stops me in my tracks. The way he holds her so carefully and the adoration on Titus’s face jabs at a sore spot deep inside of me. A place that’s made of shame and regret.
And longing.
He gives her a kiss on the forehead, passing off their puppy, before gesturing toward the back of the house. “Come on in and have a seat.” Titus leads Mariah deeper into the home, and I trail behind them, taking in the luxurious space. There’s a dining room with a table large enough it could seat the entire Bradshaw family—which is saying something—and a kitchen with an island so big I could lay on it.
Crosswise.
We reach the great room at the back of the house, and I’m shocked to find a giant section of thick plastic covering the back wall from floor to ceiling. Titus notices me looking at it, and flashes a grin. “We’re under construction.” One hand spreads across Mariah’s pregnant belly. “We wanted to have a little more space for the twins to run around.”
That spot deep inside me goes from being jabbed to sliced wide open. Seeing the way Titus is changing his whole life for Mariah makes me want to crumble.
But like I have so many times, I plaster on a smile andpretend like everything is fine. Like I’m not dying inside. “I’m sure it will be awesome.”
Titus releases Mariah and backs toward the kitchen. “You girls get comfortable. I’ll make you something to drink while dinner finishes up.”
Mariah plops down on the couch, setting Betty at her feet. She pats the spot next to her and I take it. Placing the puppy Tobias gave me beside his sister, I hold my breath as I wait for the questions to start.
But instead of grilling me, Mariah smiles wide. “I am so excited you’re going to be working with Titus.” She shakes her head, smile slipping. “Things are really crazy at that place right now, and he needs all the help he can get.”
“I heard.” I try my best not to be in Deidre and Ted’s way, but they’ve been kind enough to make sure I have dinner with them every night they’re home. One evening about a week and a half ago, she dropped the bombaboutthe bomb over roast pork and mashed sweet potatoes. “How are you doing?”
Mariah tips her head from one side to the other, considering. “I’m fine, and the babies are fine.” Her eyes drift to where Titus stands in the kitchen, and she lowers her voice. “It’s been hard on him though. Brought back a lot of bad memories.”
One hand automatically lifts to my neck, tugging the collar of my shirt away from my skin. I take a deep breath, filling my lungs to remind myself I can, the act relaxing the bite of panic I fight more often than I’d care to admit.
Mariah’s expression hardens. “Tobias offered to reassemble the guy who initiated the explosion so I could blow him up again.” Her pretty face scrunches up. “But that seemed unnecessarily messy.”
I swallow hard at the mention of Tobias, pinching my lower lip between my teeth. I knew coming back here would betricky. That every conversation would likely have at least a few Tobias-shaped landmines I’d have to avoid.
And now I’m going to be working at his company every day, so it’s only going to get worse.
But I can do hard things. I can be strong. And I can be brave.
Walking away from a man who said he’d kill me if I ever left is evidence of that.
6
