AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Brielle stood, but Tad didn’t. She remained on the step as Wade approached. There was something wrong. He could feel it in the air, just like the electricity that hovered just before lightning struck.
A storm was coming, and deep down he knew there was no stopping it.
Wade stood stiffly a few feet from where Brielle waited. He half-expected her to step down and approach him, but she didn’t. Her features were flat, unreadable. Her body didn’t have a relaxed muscle in it anywhere.
Jaw tightening, Wade waited for someone to make the first move. He’d long since lost the upper hand and the ability to take the offensive stance. His eyes drifted angrily to Tad, who merely sat smirking like a clown.
Coward.
If he was even half the man he claimed to be, he would be by Brielle’s side. He’d support her like she deserved.
He didn’t know what it was about this situation that made him realize exactly what would happen next; he just knew.
And it broke his heart.
The hope that had kept him going even after his parents had disappeared. The drive and courage he developed to take care of those he loved. All of it waned, shrinking and going numb.
Because of Brielle.
“Wade,” she whispered.
Someone who didn’t know her well wouldn’t have caught it, but Wade did. There was a brief hitch in her voice, a tell that she wasn’t happy with what she was going to say.
He scowled, his eyes flitting to meet hers. “You called me all the way out here so we could have a party?”
“Wade—”
“Don’t worry,love,” he said, using Tad’s obnoxious pet name for her. “I already know what this is.”
Brielle reached out beside her and wrapped her slender fingers around the railing at her side. “You do?”
“Sure. What’s not to get? You’ve made your choice, right? The better man won?”
“Wade, that’s not—”
“It’s not? Okay, enlighten me. Why am I here?” He jabbed a finger in Tad’s direction, hating the fact that the man’s smile seemed to have grown even more. “Why ishehere?”
Brielle glanced down at Tad, who met her gaze. He smiled at her as if she needed additional encouragement. She stepped off the stairs but didn’t move toward him. “I’ve made a decision.”
“Yeah. I gathered that,” he said. “If that’s all, then I think I’ll get going.” He turned to leave, but she stopped him.
“Wade! Wait.” Brielle didn’t meet Tad’s gaze. Instead, she closed her eyes briefly as she took a deep breath and then let it out slowly. “Tad, I need to speak to Wade alone.”
He stiffened. “Don’t you think I should stick around, love?”
She shot him a sharp look. Or maybe it was just in Wade’s imagination. He hated how much he wished she’d just get irritated with him and kick him to the curb. But that wasn’t going to happen. “I’ll be fine. Wade won’t hurt me.”
Tad glanced from Brielle to Wade. He frowned, clearly uncomfortable.
“What are you afraid of, Tad? You think I’m going to steal your girl?” Wade taunted.
It was strange watching Tad’s frown smooth out into something else. It was like what Wade thought a sociopath might do. Wade grinned at him and stepped forward so he was only about twelve inches from him. “I’m not afraid of anything. I already won. Or haven’t you figured that out yet?”
Wade’s hands balled into fists so tightly that his short fingernails dug into his palms. The dull pain was nothing compared to the ache he was experiencing in his chest at that very moment. “You heard her,” he said through gritted teeth. “Give us a minute.”
Tad smirked, pushing Wade’s shoulder with two fingers. “Enjoy it while you can. After tonight I have a feeling you won’t be seeing her again for a long, long while.” He sauntered off before Wade had a chance to decode what Tad might have meant by that statement. Brielle’s hand wrapped around his wrist and she pulled him toward the side of the house. He had to step around a garden rake and bucket that cluttered the area she led him toward.
When she stopped and faced him, her eyes were glistening with emotion. A tear slid down her cheek and her hand slipped to grasp his. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “I never meant for any of this to happen.”
