Baewatch - Xavier Neal Page 0,86
life like that. I mean I’m still struggling to talk to Ax when I’m extremely upset or frustrated or flustered, but we talk about everything else. Constantly. He knows all about how I fear failure whether it’s failing my family or failing my team or failing him, just like I know all about his aloofness that’s a result of having what you loved turned into something that can be used to control you or your actions. We’ve discussed relationship flops. Regrets for things we’ve done and wish we would’ve. Goals. Dreams. Hopes. How can you marry someone and not be ocean open?
“For the first time since we…got together we actually talked. And, it wasn’t pretty. And, having my…indiscretions laid out on the table as part of the evidence that I am almost a carbon copy of the very man who broke the heart of my children shattered something inside of me.” Harrison briskly shakes his head. “I don’t want to be like our father, Scott. I don’t want a loveless marriage forever. I don’t want to live one life where the public watches and an entirely different one where they don’t. I don’t want to be bitter and bigoted. I don’t want my children to have to fear falling in love with the ‘wrong person’ who is only deemed wrong because of the shade of the skin they were born in or because their bank account doesn’t have enough zeroes for them to sit at the high rollers table. I don’t want Autumn and Harris to go through what you went through last night, Scott.” Another shake of the head is presented. “They shouldn’t have to be afraid when it comes to the choice they’ve made regarding the person they want to spend their lives with. It’s their relationship. It’s their marriage.” His next beat is shorter than the last. “It’s my marriage. April and I are choosing to turn a new leaf together. One where there’s no more cheating. No more lying. No more material shit makes us happy instead of each other. A new leaf that includes our children knowing they will never have to question is it okay to love who they love. A new leaf where they will have their aunt and uncle,” his hand gestures towards us, “to be the example that we support not only who they love but that we stand with family whose actions are that of a family instead of one-side courtroom.”
Ax’s voice is barely above a whisper. “I…don’t know what to say.”
“That you two will have brunch with us before you leave today,” Harrison suggests on a smile. “The kids and April demanded I not take no for an answer.”
“Make it lunch,” my fiancé smoothly insists. “I’ve got a meeting with Father, first.”
Harrison’s eyes widen in surprise; however, he doesn’t argue against the notion.
“What about Harrison?” I suddenly speak up as an idea forms.
“What about me?” He quickly echoes.
“Why not the two of you instead?”
“Instead of what?” Harrison inquires.
Ax’s face flashes consideration.
“He sounds like he’s done a little shoreside soul searching…” I gingerly push. “Why not see if this touches his heart like it’s touched yours.”
My future husband hums and slowly turns his gaze to his brother. “Let’s chat about it as I walk you out.”
“Oh, I’m…I’m leaving already?”
“Yeah,” Ax insists at the same time he stands. “There’s breakfast to eat, make up sex to have, and a time limit to do it all on, so come on.”
Harrison grunts in disgust, offers me a goodbye nod, and turns on his heels, attention plastered on the information coming out of his brother’s mouth.
Their voices fade, yet the warm feeling that his words ignited remains.
On one side of the ship, I shouldn’t be happy that by choosing to be with me I’m somewhat responsible for tearing a family apart, ripping sons away from their father and mother, but on the other, by choosing to be with me, by choosing happiness, we’re possibly paving the way for their children to have a more loving future than the one they were previously on course to experience.
Maybe it’s okay that the aftermath of this perturbation hurricane is both good and bad.
Beats the hell out of just bad.
Honestly?
Any good that comes out of it is more than I was expecting.
Chapter 12
My father’s secretary opens one of the double doors to his office and announces, “Mr. Maxwell, your nine o’clock has arrived.”
“I appreciate a client understanding the value of my time,” Father arrogantly states. “Send them in.”
She