Frantically, Brady looked around, trying to find Jane before she left. He bolted outside to a quiet courtyard. Taking in his surroundings, he spotted a movement of black out of the corner of his eye.
Jane.
Within a few giant steps, Brady was pulling on her arm, stopping her from her getaway. When he turned her to face him, her makeup had run down her face from her tears.
Why was she crying? Confusion met Brady as he tried to connect the dots. Never in a million years did he think she was going to show up tonight, but she did, and now she was running away. What had changed in a matter of seconds?
“Jane, what’s going on?”
Brady’s hand rested on her arm, but slid down when she put a little distance between them, wiping her eyes as she backed away.
“Do not run,” Brady warned. “Tell me why you’re here and what has you so upset.”
Shaking her head, she continued to back away.
“Goddamn it, Jane!” His voice rose; if they were around company, they would have stopped to listen. He gripped his head in frustration, looking at the party, and then back at Jane. “I don’t even know what to do right now. I want to leave you here, hurting, for all the times you’ve hurt me. I want you to feel a little ounce of what I feel every day, but then I look at your eyes, your fucking beautiful eyes, and I can’t walk away. For the life of me, I can’t fucking walk away.”
His stance was deflated; he was beat. There was no way he could fight his feelings. From the day he met her, he was hers. His heart belonged to her, no matter how many times she stomped on it.
A bench was a few feet away from them, so Brady took the liberty of sitting down, resting his arms on his thighs with his head bent down. He clasped his hands together and tried to gather his emotions. If she walked off, he wouldn’t go after her. He might belong to her, but he still had some pride.
The party inside clambered away, guests laughing and music drifting toward their silent refuge. In the past, Brady and Jane would be two of the people in the main ballroom, laughing, greeting donors, and hanging out with the athletes. Their lives were different now.
Gravel shifted before Brady as Jane walked toward him, sniffling with tears still falling down her face. Despite her tear-stained cheeks, she was still beautiful.
“Br-brady…” Jane stumbled.
Looking up at her, he saw the way she shook, the way her lip trembled, so he quickly took off his jacket and wrapped it around her. With her arms crossed over her chest, she held the lapels of the jacket together. The jacket was enormous on her, but so were all of his clothes when it came to her.
“What’s going on, Jane?” his voice was softer now, compassionate.
“I have something I have to tell you,” she spoke barely above a whisper.
The phone conversation Brady had with Molly a few weeks back clicked in his head. Was her confession what Molly was talking about? If so, Brady granted himself patience. If she was ready to give him a clue as to why she wanted to leave him, he would wait all night until she told him.
Taking her hand, he led her to the bench and sat down next to her, never letting her hand go.
“Sure, baby. You can tell me anything.”
More tears streamed down her face as she was on the precipice of sobbing. Her breath caught in her throat and she coughed, trying to gain her composure. Brady wished he had a handkerchief or something she could wipe her face off with.
“Breathe, Jane. It’s okay.” He soothingly rubbed her back, trying to calm her down, so she didn’t have a panic attack at the event.
Jane took deep breaths, hiccupped a few times, and then locked eyes with Brady.
“I, um, saw Dr. Cuevas…”
Brady’s stomach dropped; was she pregnant? He didn’t dare say anything until she finished speaking.
“It was after the baby died.”
So, she wasn’t pregnant. The thrill that lasted for three seconds died quickly as he listened to the rest of Jane’s story.
“I had to get checked to make sure everything was okay. She did some tests and she found that I have a severe case of endometriosis.”
The medical term was completely lost on him. “What’s that?”
“It’s when tissue that normally should be growing inside your uterus grows outside of it.”
“Okay,” Brady said, not really understanding. “What does it mean when it comes to you being pregnant?”
More tears flowed down Jane’s face. “It m-means, I can’t get pregnant. Or there is a very high chance I can’t.”
Brady sat back against the bench, blinking and trying to comprehend what she was saying. Jane couldn’t get pregnant. Was that why she was pushing him away? Was that why she said all that bullshit the other night about not wanting a family? Was that why she was trying to protect him? The last four months came crashing together as he realized what she was saying.
“You can’t have children?”
She shook her head. “No.” A hiccup popped out of her mouth.
“Is that why you’ve been pushing me away?” Anger was simmering in his chest, but he tamped it down, knowing Jane was sensitive right now.
“Look, Brady. I know you want a family, you want a baby of your own, with your eyes, my smile, and your hair. I can’t give that to you, and you deserve it more than anything. You’re a good man…”
Brady cut her off before she could finish. “Don’t, do not fucking tell me what I want and what I deserve.” Brady ran his hand through his hair, frustration pouring out of him. “I can’t…” Brady shook his head. “I can’t believe you waited until now to tell me this.”
“I didn’t want you to stay with me out of pity.”
“Pity?” Brady roared. “Fuck pity. Jane, don’t you get it? I’ve been fucking miserable the last four months. I’ve been so damn miserable that I’ve forgotten who I am. I’m not the same person without you. You took that away from me; you took away my soul.” Grinding his teeth together, he said, “I would do anything, and I mean fucking anything, to be with you. Not because you can give me children, not because you make me feel like a man when I take care of you, but because this right here,” Brady held her heart, “this heart captured mine. We’re sewn together and you can’t break us apart without tearing our hearts into shreds. I want you…”
“But, what about the family?”
“We’ll adopt if we want kids. Jane, we weren’t even planning to have kids right away. I swear, when I say this, I want you, only you, in my arms until my dying fucking day.”
More tears streamed down her face. Brady didn’t want any more distance between them. He grabbed her by the back of the neck and pulled her to his lips. Salt and softness welcomed him. His lips ran across hers, her hands grabbed his face, and they moved their bodies closer together.
There was no coaxing needed as Brady moved his tongue over her mouth and she opened for him without missing a beat. Heat roamed up Brady’s body from his toes to the tip of his nose, spreading warmth through his body.
For the past four months, it felt like he’d been living a cold dark life, but now, with Jane once again in his arms, on his lips, he was burning from the inside out, a fire igniting at the base of him.
“Baby…” Brady breathed out, pulling away and resting his forehead against hers. “I miss you, I miss you so damn much.”
“I miss you too, Brady.”
“Please tell me this is over. Tell me we can burn those papers together. Screw getting pregnant; we can adopt, there are kids out there that need a home. I just want you, all of you in sickness and in health. Is this over?” He stared her in the eyes, begging to hear the words come out of her mouth.
“It’s over,” Jane said, placing a gentle kiss on his lips.
Relief washed over Brady, as if someone had just removed a ten pound weight off his shoulders.
“You promise?” Brady asked, emotion starting to prick at his eyes.
“I promise, Brady. I’m sorry I didn’t give you a c
hance to tell me what you wanted. I just thought I would give you the option to leave if you wanted. I didn’t want to hold you back.”
“You would never hold me back, Pip-squeak. You’re too small,” Brady joked.
Pulling her onto his lap, he nuzzled her neck as she wrapped her arms around him. Even though she was small, she stirred up a great deal of warmth inside of him. This was all he wanted, all he would ever want. Just him and Jane.
From the moment he met her in the red dress at Deuces, to tabloid allegations, to praying she would be okay after her accident, to their wedding day, to the day they lost their daughter. Their relationship had had its ups and downs, it’s low points and highlights, and as Brady held her in his arms, he told himself it was about damn time they got their happily ever after.
From this moment on, they would forever be happy, just Brady and Jane.
**Jane**
“What’s going on?” Molly asked Jane the moment she walked into Deuces.
Albert and Molly were both waiting for her like she asked, in their old booth with their signature drinks.
Albert popped out of the booth as well and addressed Jane. “Where’s Brady? Weren’t you supposed to be at his fundraiser? That dress is divine by the way.”
Looking down at her dress, Jane smiled and accepted the compliment. “Thank you. Let’s have a seat, you two.”
“You’re scaring me, Jane,” Molly said. She looked to the side and smiled quickly before returning her attention back to their conversation.
From over her shoulder, Jane saw Luke standing at the bar, sipping a beer and clearly waiting for Molly.
“You had to bring him, didn’t you?”
Sheepishly, Molly nodded her head. “I can’t help it. He wanted to come back here. After everything we’ve been through, when he heard you wanted to meet here, he wanted to come. I hope that’s okay.”
“That’s fine.”
Albert took a big sip of his drink and set it down. “Tell me what the hell is going on. I swear to Boy George, if you tell me you’re getting a divorce, I will disown you.”
Smiling, Jane shook her head. “I wanted to have you two meet me here because you are the two solid people that have been on this journey with me and like you said at breakfast Albert, the drama is over. It’s time to start a new chapter in our lives. And this is it.”
Molly shifted in her seat. “Are you telling me what I think you’re going to tell me?”
“Brady and I are back together.”
“Finally!” Albert threw his hands up in the air. “It’s about damn time.”
Molly grabbed Jane’s hand. “That’s amazing.”
“It is, isn’t it?” Brady’s strong voice added.
Both Molly and Albert jumped out of the booth and gave Brady a big group hug. From the sight of Brady, Luke joined them as well.
“We wanted to meet you guys at Deuces, where this all started and let you know, we are not only going to be making sure we are never apart again, but Jane and I have decided to adopt as well.” Brady held onto Jane’s shoulder as he spoke.
Cheers erupted at their table. Albert held his glass up to Jane and Brady and Luke and Molly kissed each other in joy, adding a little too much tongue for a public area but then again, it was Luke and Molly.
Brady held his glass up and kissed Jane’s temple. “To new beginnings.”
“To new families,” Molly added.
“And to no more freaking drama!” Albert toasted and then threw his drink back while calling over a server to top him off.
“I love you, guys. Thank you for being my rocks during my journey. I couldn’t have found Brady, been brave enough to talk to him, or have the courage to move forward with a relationship with him without you two.”
“Yes, thank you,” Brady winked.
“That’s what we’re here for,” Molly said.
“Yup, to make sure you don’t act like a dipshit,” Albert added, with love of course.
They spent the rest of their night playing games like “Did You Just Queef?” and Truth or Dare, sharing enjoyment in each other’s company, as if the past few years never happened.
Their losses and gains over the years shaped them into the people they were today and even though it nearly broke them in half, they still would never trade those moments in for any others because without those moments, without those life lessons in love, life and happiness, they wouldn’t be able to find the joy they bask in now. This is it, their new story.
Epilogue
Two years later…
**Luke**
“Where’s my wife?” Luke looked around the quaint backyard of the house they bought a year ago. When they purchased the house, they knew they would get married there, and today was that day. Their plans might have been put on hold for several years, but they finally made it down the aisle, and just in time.
“Your wife is right here,” Molly called out, waddling toward him with her pregnant belly.
His hands splayed across her belly as he leaned down for a kiss. “You’re gorgeous.”
“You’re handsome.”
“Congratulations, man.” Nash patted Luke on the back and then leaned in and kissed Molly on the cheek. “Albert did a fantastic job with the ceremony.”
Fallon, Nash’s fiancé, stood next to him in a pretty pink sundress, her hair up in a braid. Nash had his arm around her hip, showing more pride than ever.
“Thank you.” Luke nodded at his attire. “Good to see you in shorts, dude.” Nash was wearing khaki shorts and a button up shirt, his American flag covered prosthetic showing off to everyone. The day Luke first saw Nash wearing shorts, he thought he was seeing things, but he wasn’t; Nash finally got over his fear, thanks to Fallon and deep sessions with Dr. Drake.
“It’s hot, can’t go around wearing pants all the time in Atlanta, especially if this girl has me doing every outdoor activity we come across.”
“I think it was our volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity that had you running to the mall for new clothes.”
Nash gave her a sideways look. “I wouldn’t say running.”
Fallon turned to Molly and Luke and said, “Sorry, sprinted.”
Molly and Luke laughed together, Molly’s belly shaking under Luke’s hand.
The first time she was pregnant, he missed everything. He didn’t get to hold her hair when she was sick in the morning or assist in taking pictures of her belly every week to show growth, or feel the baby kick when they played music. This time, Luke wasn’t missing anything. He spent most of his time, when he wasn’t working at the VA with Nash, watching over Molly, making sure she didn’t need anything.
He hovered a lot, driving her insane most of the time, but he didn’t care; he would hover all he wanted, he wasn’t going to miss a beat with this pregnancy.
“Daddy?” Winnie pulled on Luke’s Shirt.
Picking her up, he kissed her on the cheek and said, “What’s up, baby girl?”
“How come the twins won’t play with me?” Winnie ran her hand under her nose, snot coating her palm.
Luke looked over at Jane and Brady’s newly adopted twins. They were seven months old and a handful.
“They’re still little, baby. They aren’t big and strong like you yet. Remember, we have to be gentle around them, just like we have to be gentle around the baby in mommy’s tummy.”
“Ahh, no one wants to play with me.”
“I will,” Fallon said, grabbing Winnie out of Luke’s arms and taking her to the swing set Luke spent a whole day putting together with Nash.
“I love her,” Molly said. “She is so amazing with Winnie. Do you guys plan on having kids?”
Nash looked over at Fallon and Winnie, a loving gaze in his eyes. He shrugged. “Probably. She would be a beautiful mom.”
Luke laughed and patted Nash on the shoulder. “Never thought I would see the day that a woman would break you down, but here you are, completely whipped.”
“Speak for yoursel
f.” Molly placed a kiss on Luke’s cheek and walked over to Jane to help with the twins.
They’d had their hands full ever since they got the call about four month old twins who needed a home. Thankfully, Brady retired from baseball after winning the World Series for the first time in his career. He said he wanted to leave on a high, and he couldn’t imagine a better high than that. He occasionally visited the ballpark with Marc, but most of their days were spent watching over their kids and making the wives happy.
That became a routine amongst all the men in their group. Keep the women happy, but keep Albert happier.
In true Albert fashion, Albert was lying on a chaise lounge, sipping a cocktail, and fanning himself. He married Luke and Molly, just like they’d always planned. He was a princess the first time around, and he was a princess this time too, making sure to have the perfect outfit before committing to walk down the aisle. Even though his outfit was eccentric, his words were beautiful and meant the world to Luke and Molly.
“Don’t touch that,” Connor ran up to Leonard, who was about to pull the table cloth from under all the food. The two year-old was getting into all sorts of trouble, keeping Connor and Austin on their toes. Luckily, Austin met a woman who not only kept him in line, but helped out with Leonard when Connor didn’t have time.
No longer were the boys living together, since the baby days were over, now they just shared joint custody and passed him back and forth throughout the year. They changed up their schedule a little when Austin was in season. It worked for them.
Austin was getting serious with his girl, which Luke was happy to see, given the immaturity level Austin used to have, but Connor, he was still taking things slow. He had yet to date much, but recently started talking to a girl who he met at the pediatrician’s office. Luke watched over his brother, and made sure he didn’t climb into a hole. Luckily, he patched his relationship up with Molly, and she’d been helping him with his loss of Lucy, since Molly had experienced the same kind of loss.