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Victoria turned and looked at me.
“Does it feel like a dream?”
“Yes,” I admitted, and her face softened.
“Good,” she said. “You deserve that. You both do. You work so hard, and even though I can tell you love what you do, I hope together you will see how much more life has to offer.”
Leaning against the counter I asked, “Is that what it was like for you? When you and Brock got together?”
“Definitely,” she said with a small smile as she remembered. “He helped me appreciate living, and helped me get the stick out of my ass…”
“What?” I asked with a laugh.
Victoria nodded, her perfectly straight hair shining with the movement.
“My priorities were all messed up. You know, Scott and I were actually together first. Before Gaby, and before Brock, and we were terrible together.”
“No way,” I said, totally surprised. How did I not know this?
“Yes,” Victoria answered, laughing. “The group of friends I have now … they didn’t like me before. I would go so far as to say they hated me; well, everyone but Brock. He saw something in me that no one else did, not even myself, and he helped me reprioritize my life and taught me what love really is.”
“Wow. I had no idea. That’s really beautiful.”
“Yeah,” she said, that smile still playing on her lips. “I’m a lucky woman.”
“I think you’re both lucky,” I replied truthfully. They were two of my favorite people. And I honestly couldn’t imagine them with anyone other than each other.
“Brady’s lucky too,” Victoria said. “I can tell you’re nervous, but don’t be. Brock and I are really happy about the two of you, and I think you already know that Brady isn’t the type of guy to bring just any woman to breakfast. That alone should give you confidence.”
“Thanks. It’s just new for us right now … and quite a change in what our relationship has been so far. I don’t want to get my hopes up over something that may not even work out.”
Victoria turned off the stove and plated the last of the crepes, then crossed to me and said, “But that’s what love is, right? Taking a chance on something that might not work? Giving in to the hope and taking a leap of faith. Don’t over think it, Ming, just be yourself and get to know Brady. I promise, underneath that staid exterior is a man capable of loving a woman with every ounce of his being. It runs in the family.”
Chapter Nineteen ~ Brady
When we’d walked into the house, I could tell Ming was nervous, so I tried to dispel her nerves. Then Brock had to open his mouth and start in with his shit. Luckily, by the time the women came out of the kitchen to announce breakfast was ready, Ming appeared much more comfortable.
Leave it to Tori to put her at ease in less than fifteen minutes.
I smiled gratefully at my sister-in-law, then swooped Declan up off of the floor and asked, “You ready to eat, buddy?”
“Ball,” was his reply.
I chuckled at my nephew and promised, “We’ll play after we eat.”
That seemed to appease him, and once we entered the dining room and he locked eyes on his high chair, which already held his plate of food, he started bouncing in my arms, eager to get to it.
“I hear ya, little man,” my brother said, taking Declan from my arms and securing him in his chair.
Brock was barely able to lock the tray in place before Dec dove in, both fist flying.
I chuckled at his exuberance.
“He sure does like to eat,” Ming said, her voice sweet in a way I’d never noticed before.
“He and his sister get their healthy appetites from their father,” Victoria replied as we all took our seats.
“Hey, now, nothing wrong with that,” Brock argued. “I like the fact that they aren’t picky.”
