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Brady
She shocks me. In fact, she stuns me. When I said she didn’t really know me, it wasn’t to hurt her, and I think I did. That gives me an idea. While she’s still inside, I grab a tissue and a pen. I’ve been keeping a stash in the glove compartment since she seems to like my notes so much, and I’m a fucking sap. I scribble a note, toss the pen back in the box, and set the tissue on the seat. Several minutes later I turn to see her walking for the truck.
She is stunning. Her long golden hair glistens in the sunlight. She wears very little makeup and doesn’t need it. Her T-shirt fits tight, forming to the curves of her breasts. Her legs are toned and tanned naturally. It’s not just her appearance that does it for me, though. It’s her thoughtfulness, and her willingness to understand me that toy with my emotions. This is why I’ve been staying at Jesse’s, to avoid her. I don’t trust myself in the same house.
When she opens the door, she sees the tissue, and a wide smile appears. Picking it up, she reads it and turns away. When she looks back at me, a solitary tear rolls down her cheek. Just when I think I’ve pushed too far and I need to apologize, she swallows hard and speaks. “Thank you. That means a lot, Brady.”
I heave a sigh of relief. When I’d written the words You know me better than anyone, I thought it might upset her, but I needed her to know that no one gets to me the way she does. “You’re welcome, Sunshine.” I smile and absorb the buildup of emotions that consumes me every time I’m near her.
She tries to look irritated, but instead she looks cute. “Are you really going to keep calling me that?”
“Yep, I am. It’s cute. Besides, it fits. You bring a little sunshine to my life.”
Oh, man, I slap myself on the inside. Those were some warm mushy words that just left my lips, but they made her blush, so it’s worth it.
***
When we arrive at the Center, Paco is the first to see us. “Tori!” he screams, and rushes over to hug her, kicking up dust along the way. Before she’s barely touched her feet to the pavement, Paco wraps his skinny arms around her.
Tori hugs him back, lifting him off his feet, and then sets him down. “Hey, Paco. How are you, kiddo?”
Paco peers up at her, his big brown eyes bright. He’s smiling and biting his tongue, the middle of which is pushed through the gap in his front teeth. “I’m great. I scored two goals in my game yesterday. I was the man, Tori.”
Squatting down so she’s eye level with Paco, she holds her hand up and high-fives him. “You are the man, Paco. I wish I could have been here to see it. I bet you were awesome.”
Her praise makes him smile exuberantly. It makes me smile, too.
He folds his hands in front of him, twisting his body left, then right, at the waist shyly. She pats him on the head, and I notice the little booger blushing.
I kneel down beside them. “Man, what am I, invisible now?”
Paco laughs and then jumps on me, knocking me over. When the two of us sit up, Tori is standing there, watching us with a soft-hearted smile. I tickle Paco. He laughs and I laugh with him, our combined laughter echoing through the parking lot.
Paco laughs so hard through the tickling that he’s chanting “stop.” When I do, he smiles and bumps his shoulder into me. “That’s what you get for bringing a pretty girl around.”
Still sitting, I brush dirt from my jeans. “All it takes is a pretty face, and you forget about me?”
“I can never forget about you, Brady.” Paco wraps me in a hug. God, I love this kid.
Tori bends over and taps Paco on the shoulder. “Hey, buddy, we have some boxes that we need some help carrying. You think you’re up for the job?”
Paco leaps up, a proud smile stretching his adorable face. He holds his arms up as though he is showing off his muscles. “You see these guns, Tori? I am up for the job.”
I laugh as she leans over, giving his “guns” a squeeze. “Yes, I can see you’re up for the task.”
I stand, and pull the boxes out of the truck. I give one to Paco and carry the other two boxes myself.
Once we’re inside, Rodrigo greets us. He gives Tori a friendly hug. “What did you bring this time, Brady? You’ll spoil these kids.”
I set the boxes on the floor. Paco drops the box he’s holding and runs back outside. “Not me this time. This is all Tori.”
She smiles sweetly. “It’s nothing. Just some toys my parents had in storage. They weren’t doing any good boxed up in the dark, so I thought I’d bring them here where they could be appreciated.”
“They’re definitely appreciated here,” Rodrigo tells her. “Thanks, Tori.”
“Tori!” Camilia dashes up and jumps in Tori’s arms. Tori catches her, and they both giggle, squeezing each other. “I’m so glad you’re back.”
Tori sets Camilia down. “I’m so glad to be back, cutie.”
