“Just get him the hell out of here,” Brady’s low voice speaks with his fists clenched at his sides.

“Get the fuck off, Soren. You always had a soft spot for Sadie. Even when she was fat, you loved her.” Miles turns toward Jeff and he looks at him in disgust.

“I suggest you listen to your buddy and leave,” Brady coolly directs Miles, stepping right in front of me.

“Who the hell are you?” Miles slurs.

“Her boyfriend.” People have started making their way outside. Grant comes up next to Brady, along with Dex, Trey, and Rob.

“Man, Sadie, you really had to dig into the bottom of the barrel to find a guy who wouldn’t use you for the good fuck you are.” The minute his words fall out of his mouth, I see the fist already rising.

Brady lands a punch across Miles’ cheek. “Don’t you ever talk to her like that again. Actually, don’t ever fucking talk to her at all.” Brady steps forward as Miles steps back.

“Fight, Fight,” shouts ring around me and suddenly I’m in the middle of a circle of people chanting and yelling.

“Listen, man. Believe me, I know she’s good but come on. I was just going to have her for a little while and you can have her back in twenty minutes,” Miles’ cocky voice slurs and Brady hits him again. I notice Dex and Trey are holding Miles from behind now.

“I really hope Daddy has good medical coverage because he’s going to have one hell of a bill after I’m done with you,” Brady yells and throws another fist into his gut. “Let him go, guys,” he says to Dex and Trey. “I want him to realize what a little piss rich kid he is when he can’t land a punch.” They let Miles go and he lamely tries to punch Brady, who sidesteps away from it.

Jeff seems to have stepped away after Miles’ comment to him, and the rest of the guys have made their way to me, watching Brady and Miles.

“Man Sadie, you get your brother killed and you go right out and find someone new that likes to fight. Are you going to get him killed, too?” The whole crowd silences with this revelation and Brady starts throwing punch after punch, screaming at him.

I watch Brady beat the shit out of Miles and I’m back in the hotel room, watching Theo fight Craig. Jessa wraps her arms around me while sobs explode out of me. Guys like Craig and Miles don’t take embarrassment well. Miles will find Brady and kill him, just like Craig did to Theo.

“Stop it, someone stop it!” I scream, rocking back and forth on the ground. “Brady!” I yell. Jessa whispers in my ear, telling me it will be okay, but everything in me tells me it won’t. Brady ignores my screams, continuing to punish Miles. I don’t know how it ended, if someone pulled Brady off or if he left on his own, but his arms have replaced Jessa’s and he positions one arm under my shoulders and his other arm under my knees, picking me up.

“Take her, Brady, we’ll take care of this,” I hear Grant’s voice tell him.

“Thanks, Grant. I owe you…like a million,” Brady says sincerely and carries me to the car.

“I’m sorry, Sadie. I should have taken him away sooner.” Jeff comes to our side, but I keep my face buried into Brady’s chest.

“Just go get your friend and get the fuck out of Western,” Brady spats at him. “It’s alright baby, I have you,” he whispers before kissing my head.

Chapter 26

My body is warm and at peace. If it weren’t for my itchy eyes and my dry, raw nose, I wouldn’t remember that I’d cried most of the night in Brady’s arms. Sitting up, I notice I’m not in Brady’s bed but in the king-size one on the third floor. Brady’s blood- stained t-shirt is draped over the chair and a bag of thawed frozen vegetables now rests on the nightstand next to Brady. His hands are raw, red, and swollen. As he lies there peacefully, I recall last night. It hurt so much watching someone I love fight again. I understand why Brady did what he did because Miles’ words hurt, and the fact that they were said in front of Brady kills me even more.

He had to stand next to me while another man told him what a great fuck I am. Another guy who I had been intimate with, who had kissed the body that Brady now desires. Just as I was forgetting who I was at Drayton, Miles Jacobs comes and throws it in my face again, reminding me of my past. I worry this won’t be the last run-in with someone and I can’t do it to Brady again. He shouldn’t have to hear the words that were so carelessly conveyed last night. His hands shouldn’t be swollen and red from fighting a battle to defend the weak person I had been. God, I wish I would have met Brady two years ago; then all these issues would be non-existent.

I get up and look over at him sleeping. A tear falls down my cheek, but I know this is for the best. He deserves much better than me. I take one last look around the room that should have been ours. Last night, I was ready to tell Brady that I would move in with him. It seems so sudden, but I feel like I’ve known him forever. My decision made, I quietly walk down the stairs, out the front door, and out of Brady Carsen’s life.

Walking the two miles to my dorm sucks, especially with the cold front coming in, but I had to get out fast. I know that when Brady wakes up, he will be calling me, wondering where I went. My mom’s visit couldn’t have come at a better time. I will stay at the hotel with her tonight. I know he will fight to try and change my mind because I would do the same for him.

Thankfully, Jessa is at the dorm when I get there. To buy myself some time, I text the following message to Brady:

Me: Jessa came and got me. I have my mom coming in around 2.

When I get no response, I figure he is still sleeping so I crawl into bed, hoping to get a couple more hours of sleep before dealing with the drama of my mom. I wake up to a text from Brady.

B:

Don’t ever do that again.. I would have driven you back. You scared the shit out of me. What? No ‘love you’?

Me:Sorry! After last night, I wanted you to sleep. Love you…so much.

B: You sure you don’t want me to come with you and your mom?

Me: No, I have it handled.

B:I know that but I could be moral support.

Me: That’s ok but thank you. I love you, Brady!

B: I love you beautiful! Call me when you’re done.

I leave it at that. I don’t want to give him any ideas regarding what I’m about to do. I shower and get ready, and at around two my mom texts me, saying she’s outside.

I walk to the entrance of the dorm to let her in and she’s smiling through the window at me. When I open the door, I can’t believe it.

“Grandma Ida!” I exclaim and give her a hug. The tears start flowing down my face and she slowly runs her hand over my hair, asking what’s wrong.

My mom comes over, embracing both of us. “What’s wrong, Sadie?” she asks and it’s all I can do to breathe, much less talk. “Did you and Brady break up?” my mom questions and I break down into sobs.

“Let’s get you to your room, darling.” My grandma keeps an arm around me while I open the door to my dorm. My breathing becomes calmer as we walk down the hall. Concerned girls ask if I’m okay and my mom assures them that she will make sure of it.

“Sadie!” Jessa yells down from her loft as we enter the room and starts to climb down. “What’s wrong?” She comes over to my side, leading me to my chair.

“I’m her mom, Maggie, and this is her grandma, Ida,” my mom informs Jessa. “She became hysterical when she saw us.”

“When she left the room, she was okay,” Jessa tells them. I hear them talking but I can’t say anything yet. “Let me call Brady,” she says.

“NO!” I scream.

“Why?” she asks, concerned. “Did something happen? Is this about last night?” she questions me.

“What happened last night?” my grandma asks, taking Jessa’s chair while my mom kneels on the ground next to me.