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Tears pooled in her eyes, and I quickly cupped my hands around her face. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
She sniffled. “I’ve always wanted to be a Bradley. I’ve always thought of Addie, Sutton, and Palmer as my sisters.”
“And me?”
“I can honestly say I have never once thought of you as a brother.”
Smiling, I kissed the tip of her nose. “Someday, Harlee, I’ll officially make you a Bradley.”
Her head jerked back as she gasped.
“Too soon?”
She shook her head. “No. Not at all.”
Leaning her back onto the sofa once more, I decided to hell with worrying about taking our chances. I stripped Harlee naked, undressed myself, and slowly made love to my woman.
Harlee
I glanced up and saw Sutton and Palmer walking into the Seaside Grill, locked arm in arm and giggling. Once they saw me, they made a beeline toward our regular booth.
“Morning!” Sutton said as she sat down, then immediately frowned. “Man, pretty soon we’re going to have to sit at a table. I can’t believe how big this baby is getting, and I’m not even due until July!”
Palmer snickered and slid in next to Sutton.
“Where’s Addie?” I asked.
“She’s on her way.” Sutton looked around surreptitiously before focusing back on me. “She was craving a breakfast taco from Taco Hut.”
I laughed.
“Did you see it?” Palmer asked.
I frowned. “See what?”
Palmer rolled her eyes. “Ugh, the paper! The whole reason we meet for breakfast on Thursdays?”
“She wrote about you and Brax. Again!” Sutton stated.
Rolling my eyes, I sighed, “Lucky me, two days in a row. And I thought we met for breakfast because we loved seeing one another.”
Palmer waved me off then clapped, a little bit too excited about Ms. Seaside writing about me again.
She took the paper out of her bag and slid it toward me.
With a big sigh, I opened it up to Ms. Seaside’s column.
* * *
THE SEASIDE CHRONICLES
March 2, 2023
TIDE’S OUT
Seasiders,
Well, I’m not one for saying I told you so, but I told you so. The little bit of news I shared yesterday about our Catch of the Season and Harlee Tilson? Well, it’s been confirmed from a source close to both that they did indeed go out of town together.
Is anyone else just as excited about this love match as I am? I mean, the bad boy and the good girl trope is by far one of my favorites. Is it too early to call them a couple and come up with a cool couple name? I mean, Braxlee does roll right off the tongue. Feel free to offer up your suggestions. Maybe we’ll do a town vote on it!
A little seagull did in fact clear up that Harlee and Thomas Minor broke up well before the Christmas holiday. Let’s hope the latest news doesn’t interfere with the working relationship between Thomas and Braxton.
Until next time, my fishes.
Fair winds and following seas!
Ms. Seaside
* * *
After reading, I looked up to see both Sutton and Palmer smiling.
“The bad boy and the good girl?” I said. “What the hell?”
Sutton nodded. “Clearly she doesn’t know you like we do. I thought that part was funny too. Can you imagine if she knew you were behind the pleasure loft?”
Palmer added, “That’s all you got out of that? Hello? She’s trying to give you guys a cheesy couple name.”
“Is anyone going to address the fact that Harlee hasn’t denied she and Brax are a thing?” Addie said as she stood at the end of the table with a piece of cheese stuck to her cheek.
Pointing, I said, “Um, you have evidence of your food betrayal on your face.”
She quickly wiped it away and then slid in next to me, making almost the exact comment that Sutton made about her belly.
“Wait, Addie’s right.” Sutton stated. “Are you and Brax a thing? And who in the hell would confirm it for Ms. Seaside? The only people close to you are right here at this table.”
The three of them all looked at each other with accusing expressions.
“Okay, first, I can tell you that Brax and I are…”
They all leaned in closer.
“Together. Multiple times.”
Three loud female screams caused everyone in the restaurant to look at us.
“My goodness, what are you girls doing?” Barbara asked as she rushed over to the table.
“Mom! Oh my gosh, you were right! It’s official! Braxlee is real!” Palmer whisper-shouted.
Barbara turned and looked at me, a wide smile on her face. “It’s about darn time!”
The four of us all said in unison, “What?”
Dismissing us with a wave of her hand, Barbara replied, “Please, it was so obvious the two of you had a thing for each other. I’m glad you both finally gave in to it.”
Addie shook her head. “Mom…you’ve always suspected they liked each other?”
Crossing her arms, Barbara replied, “I knew, not suspected. And your brother may have confided in me a few years ago about his feelings for Harlee.”
