“So, your flight is booked. You get in Thursday morning at ten. Dad will meet you outside after you get your baggage,” she gives me my instructions. As much as I wish I could stay here, they would never understand if I don’t come home.

“Alright, see you then,” I agree, ready to hang up.

“Sweetheart, how is everything going? We haven’t talked to you much.”

“Fine, everything is fine. I will see you Thursday,” I say.

“Okay, well it’s just the four of us this year. Me, you, dad, and grandma,” she informs me.

“Sounds good…see you then,” I say, attempting to end the conversation again.

“I love you, Sadie,” she says.

“You too, Mom,” I say back and hang up the phone.

I lie in my bed and fiddle with my phone, waiting for it to ring. It never does. Jessa crawls up to her bed and we face each other. She sees it on my face, the disappointment of Brady not calling.

“I’m sure he just got tied up, Sadie. Maybe he has an exam or paper due,” she says, trying to make me feel better.

“Thanks, Jessa. I told him I loved him this weekend,” I confess.

“You did?” she exclaims, her voice rising a couple octaves. “What did he say back?”

“He said he has wanted to say it for weeks but didn’t want to scare me.”

“Yeah, I kind of figured,” she says.

“You really think he loves me, Jessa?” My insecurity is coming back full force because he hasn’t called.

“Not a doubt in my mind, Sadie. That boy is head over heels in love with you…he just…needs to get his shit together.” I don’t say anything, unsure of what Jessa means. Brady always seems like the most put-together person I know.

My eyes start to droop before my phone dings.

B – Sorry baby, had some last minute stuff. If you’re awake, call me. If not, I hope you are dreaming of me. Love you.

I decide not to call him. Instead, I put my phone down and fall asleep.

Chapter 18

I’m awakened by my phone dinging.

B – Good morning, beautiful. It’s not the same waking up without you. I have  been spoiled beyond repair. Meet me at Student Center at ten? Love you.

Me – See you there! Love you.

After my restless night’s sleep, I agree with Brady. Sleeping is hard without him next to me. I sit up to get ready for class. I have an eight a.m. and then I will meet Brady before he walks me to Algebra.

When I get to the Student Center, I’m surprised to find Brady talking with Kara and a pang of jealousy hits me. When he spots me, he stands up and waves good-bye to her. He already has two coffees in his hand as he walks over at me. He rests them at the nearest table before he embraces me and lifts my feet off the ground.

“What a nice hello,” I say.

“God…I missed you. How the hell am I supposed to go this whole weekend without you?” he asks. Thanksgiving weekend is going to suck.

“I’m sure you’ll manage,” I say and glance Kara’s way. I wish I could take the words back. I have to remember, I trust him.

“She’s starting to freak me out a little. You might have to start a cat fight, baby,” he jokes. I see Kara, blatantly staring at us with dislike written all over her face.

“I don’t know babe, she might be able to take me. She seems kind of scrappy,” I admit and giggle.

“Spend the night tonight,” he says, trying to change the topic.

“Okay,” I agree. How could I not?

“Great…here’s your coffee.” He picks it up and hands it to me.

“Thanks,” I exclaim, kissing his cheek.

“You can thank me later,” he teases.

“Brady, what are doing for Thanksgiving?” I ask.

“Um…I haven’t really decided yet. I have some family in town and I’ve been invited for dinner.” His mood comes down a little.

“Are all the guys going home?” I question.

“Yeah, they’ve all asked me to come but I would never impose.”

“What about your parents?” I can’t help but dig for information; he has given nothing so far.

“My mom is in Florida with her new husband. I’m not very close with her. My dad isn’t going to be around so I don’t know. Mrs. Fletcher invited me over to her house, so maybe I’ll just swing by there. When do you leave?” he asks, changes the subject. I can’t help but feel bad that his parents don’t care to spend the holiday with him.

“Thursday morning. Do you want to come home with me?” I ask the question before I can think of the repercussions.

“Really?” he asks disbelievingly.

“Yes, why do you look so surprised?”

“I’m pretty sure your parents won’t be happy when they see me come off that plane with you.” He smiles at me and a twinge of guilt hits. He’s right. But I love him and my parents are going to have to face us at some point.

“Who cares? Come home with me,” I beg.

“Are you sure you’re ready to deal with this, Sadie?” he asks, and I can’t help but feel he has no faith in us.

“Yes, I love you. Either they accept you or lose me,” I state and he quirks an eyebrow my way.

He releases a deep breath before saying, “I love you. I would be happy to escort you home for Thanksgiving.”

“Thank you, Mr. Carsen,” I joke.

That evening, we book the same flight for Brady as I have. He demands to pay, even though I offer. We were lucky there is a seat left since my flight is on Thanksgiving Day. I guess people prefer to get to their destination earlier.

I call my mom to inform her that Brady is coming home with me. She seems hesitant but says okay. She keeps me on the phone, asking me questions about him. What fraternity is he in? What do his parents do? Where does he live? I finally tell her that he is in a band, not a fraternity. I don’t know what his parents do, but they seem like jackasses since they don’t try to see him on holidays. He has lived here his whole life. She is silent for a minute before happily saying she can’t wait to meet him. Yeah right!

On Wednesday, we have the house to ourselves, since all the boys and Jessa left to go home. We are downstairs in the recording studio, relaxing on the couch while listening to music. I’m dreading going home but not because of Brady; he will only make it better. I just hope my parents don’t scare him away. Like always, Brady can sense when I’m deep in thought.

“It will be fine, baby. I will be on my best behavior. I’ll hide my tattoos,” he jokes.

“You don’t have any tattoos,” I laugh. “Why not?” I ask.

He shrugs his shoulders, “Honestly, I’ve been a zillion times with Trey and Robbie and I have no idea why I haven’t gotten one yet.”

“Do you think you will ever get one?”

“Maybe,” he responds, completely indifferent to the whole conversation. “Enough of this, I only have you to myself for a few more hours.” He picks me up and throws me down on my back, climbing on top of me.

“Brady,” I sigh.

“Say it babe,” he smirks down at me. He started this Monday night.

“Take me,” I laugh.

“Is that all you have?” He kisses his favorite spot on my neck, licking up to my earlobe.

“Fuck me?” I giggle. I’m lost on this whole dirty talk thing that he enjoys.

“Love the words, hate the conviction,” he says, and I can hear the humor in his voice as his hands roam up my shirt. “Where do you want my hands?”

“Keep going…” I imagine my face is beet red at this point but Brady stares, waiting for me to continue. “Cup my breasts,” I finish.

“Or another word?” he asks and I hesitate, clearly embarrassed. “Alright, progress baby. Great progress,” he chuckles and continues his way up, bringing my breast out from my lace bra. He pulls up my sweater to expose me. “I love your tits,” he says, enunciating the word I couldn’t say. I giggle in response.

I love the fact that we can go at each other with enormous intensity or playfully joke around while making love.

He engulfs his mouth around my nipple and sucks it into his mouth, while his hand fiddles with my pants. The anticipation of his fingers on me makes my skin burn. I grasp his shirt and he pulls it off himself, grabbing the back collar. My hands make their way to his pants, unbuttoning and unzipping his jeans. With his lips on mine, he tries to shrug them off. Then I push him up so he’s sitting on the couch. I slowly get up and take off my sweater and bra, bending down between his legs.