Chapter 22 The Rain
Daylan's POV
As I walked towards Brie's apartment, the weight of the past few days bore down on me. The confrontation with Tabitha had been intense, but necessary. I had to make it clear that Brie and I were together, so that she could stay out of it. Yet, I was still thinking about that compromise. I'm not sure what I want anymore. I used to be so sure about my future, but now with Brie... is she changing me to want more? Now, I just wanted to spend a peaceful night with her, reassuring her that everything would be okay.
I knocked softly on her door. Moments later, it swung open to reveal Brie, her eyes wide with a mixture of anxiety and relief.
“Hey,” she breathed, stepping aside to let me in. “How was work today?”
I stepped inside with my overnight bag in hand, she closed the door behind me. "It was okay...productive. How was your day? Have you taken your meds?" I asked.
"Yes, I took them. My day was relaxing. I tried to write, but the words weren't flowing in my mind," she said as she moved past me, "You can put the bag in my bedroom. I just need to make dinner," she said.
"Please, hold that thought," she paused in the doorway of the kitchen, and turned to look at me, confusion etched on her face. "Trust me," I smiled as I continued my way down the hallway.
When I got to the lounge, she was putting a book back onto a bookshelf and I moved closer to her. I placed my hands on her shoulder, and she turned around. "Tabitha sent me a text earlier, she told me to be careful when it comes to you, and she doesn't want to see me get hurt." Her expression was of sadness.
I pulled her into a gentle embrace, feeling her tense body gradually relax against mine. “You don’t have to worry about Tabitha anymore. We had a long talk, and she understands that you and I want to be with each other.”
She pulled back slightly, looking up at me with uncertainty. “But what if she tries to interfere again? I don’t want to cause any more trouble between you and your family.”
“Hey,” I said softly, cupping her face in my hands. “You are not causing trouble. This is about our happiness, and I won’t let anyone come between us. I promise you.”
She nodded, but I could still see the lingering doubt in her eyes. “I just feel guilty. About everything. About Rick, about Tabitha… It’s all so complicated.”
I kissed her forehead, hoping to ease her burden. “I know it’s complicated, but we will get through it together. One step at a time, no rush.” I hope that she takes my hint about rushing things, not that she will. I don't know how long I need to think about the compromise. I had to be one hundred percent sure.
She sighed, leaning into me. “Thank you for being here.”
“Always,” I replied, meaning every word. “Now, how about I make some dinner? We could have a nice, relaxing evening.”
A small smile tugged at her lips. “That sounds wonderful. I didn’t realize you could actually cook.”
“I have a few tricks up my sleeve,” I said with a wink, trying to lighten the mood. “Why don’t you join me in the kitchen?”
Brie led me to the kitchen, her hand in mine. I was glad to put a smile on her face. When we got to the kitchen, I started rummaging through the cupboards and fridge, pulling out ingredients. “How about a simple pasta dish? Pasta is what I make best.”
“That sounds delicious,” she said, leaning against the counter and watching me with a look of quiet admiration.
As I started to cook, I tried to steer the conversation to lighter topics. “So, what have you been writing about lately?”
She stiffened slightly, her eyes darting away. “Oh, just some personal stuff. Nothing ready to share yet.”
I sensed the hesitation in her voice and decided not to push. After all, I knew what it was about. “I understand. Whenever you’re ready, I would love to read it.”
“Thank you,” she murmured, her gaze softening. “It means a lot to me that you’re interested and that you are being patient with me as a mentor.”
“Of course I am,” I said, cracking a few eggs into a bowl. “Your writing is part of who you are, and I want to know everything about you. But only when you’re ready to share.” It was a difficult thing to say, because I was curious to read more. Maybe if, by chance, I get that notebook when she isn't around, then I can read it.
She nodded, her expression thoughtful. “It’s just… it’s hard to talk about my past, I mean.” I wanted her to continue to speak to me, hoping that she wouldn't stop.
I glanced at her, my heart aching at the vulnerability in her voice. “I can only imagine. Take your time. I’m here for you, no matter what.”
We fell into a comfortable silence as I continued cooking, the rhythmic sounds of chopping and sizzling filling the kitchen. I could feel her eyes on me, and when I looked up, I saw a mixture of curiosity and gratitude in her gaze.
“You’re really good at this,” she said, a hint of surprise in her voice as she pulled a chair out from the table and took a seat.
I chuckled. “I had some practice. Cooking helps me relax at times, believe it or not, especially after a long day at the hospital. I do have someone cook for me when I need them to for special occasions.”
She smiled, and it was a beautiful sight. “I might have to take cooking lessons from you, then.”
“Anytime,” I replied, adding the pasta to the boiling water. “I would love to cook together. It could be our thing.”
“I would like that,” she said softly.
We continued talking about lighter topics as I finished preparing the meal. By the time I plated the pasta and brought it to the table, the atmosphere had lightened considerably. We sat down to eat, and I watched as she took her first bite.
“This is amazing,” she said, her eyes widening in appreciation. “You weren’t kidding about your cooking skills.”
“I’m glad you like it,” I said, feeling a swell of pride. “There’s more where that came from.”
"Is there anything else that you can cook?" she asked, and then she devoured that plate of pasta. That was a good thing for me. She even looked a bit better.
"I can cook a few other things, but maybe I should keep that as a surprise." I smirked.
"I look forward to that surprise."
"Have you taken your meds today?" I asked.
"Yes, Doctor. I took them as I should, and you already asked me," she replied. "You don't need to make sure every time."
"I have to make sure. I guess it's out of habit, being a doctor, I have to make sure my patients are taken care of." I replied.
"Were there any female patients that wanted more with you? I mean... you have the looks." I let out a sigh and placed my fork on the plate, shifting on the chair.
"I wasn't the greatest man before I met you. I was more of the fun man, a one-night stand, a once off f^ck type of man." I stared at the table, "I-uh," I realized what I had done to Tabitha, it hit me all of a sudden. "I don't deserve a chance at happiness. I don't deserve you," I just couldn't speak further about this, it was ruining our evening and I didn't want that. Something honestly shifted within me.
"You don't get to decide that, the only thing that you get to decide on is that compromise," she said. I gave her a weak smile before diving back into my plate of pasta.
As we ate, the conversation flowed easily. We talked about our favorite foods, and my writing journey. It felt good, natural, like we were building something real and lasting.
After dinner, we moved to the sofa. It started to pour with rain, a steady patter against the windows that added a cozy ambiance to the evening.
“The rain reminds me of things that I wish I had never remembered,” Brie said, snuggling closer to me. It was because of her past.
“I love the rain,” I shifted the mood, wrapping an arm around her. “It’s perfect for nights like this.”
We sat in comfortable silence for a while just listening to the rain, just enjoying each other’s presence. Eventually, Brie turned to me, her expression thoughtful.
“I have been thinking about what you said earlier. About wanting to know everything about me.”
I nodded, giving her my full attention. “Yes?”
She took a deep breath, as if steeling herself. “There are things about my past that are hard to talk about. Things I have never really opened up about to anyone.”
My heart ached for her, but I kept my voice gentle. “You don’t have to tell me anything until you’re ready. I’m here for you, no matter what.”
She nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I know. And that is why I think I might be ready to start sharing. It’s just… it’s a lot.”
“I understand,” I said softly. “Take your time.”
She took another deep breath, her fingers tracing patterns on the fabric of the sofa. “My stepfather was… he was emotionally abusive. He made me feel like I was worthless, like I would never be good enough. It’s something that has haunted me for a long time.”
I felt a surge of anger on her behalf, but I kept it in check, knowing that what she needed now was support. “I’m so sorry you went through that. No one should ever have to endure that kind of pain.”
She nodded, tears slipping down her cheeks. “It’s part of why I started writing. It was a way to escape, to process everything. But even now, it’s hard to confront those memories.”
I pulled her into a gentle embrace, holding her as she cried. “You’re so strong. And you’re not alone anymore. You have me."
She clung to me, her sobs gradually subsiding. “Thank you. For listening and for being here. It means more than you know.”
“I will always be here for you,” I promised, kissing the top of her head. “Always.”
We stayed like that for a long time, wrapped in each other’s arms. Eventually, her breathing evened out, and I realized she had fallen asleep. I carefully shifted her so she was lying comfortably on the sofa, then grabbed a blanket to cover her. I had to give her time to talk to me about her past.
As I watched her sleep, I felt a deep sense of protectiveness. Brie had been through so much, but she was resilient, strong. And I was determined to be the person that she could turn to for support in every way possible.
The rain continued to fall outside, a soothing backdrop to the quiet night. I settled in beside her, content to hold her close and keep her safe.
The road ahead won’t be easy. There were still challenges to face, secrets to uncover, and relationships to mend. But with Brie by my side, I felt ready to face whatever came our way.