Barratt
Broken Falls, #4
by Laramie Briscoe
Release Date: July 26th 2024
Genre: Contemporary Romance
It's been a long day, and Gabby still hasn't texted me back. My common sense tells me I should take that for what it's worth, but the part that really cares about Gabby wants to make sure she's okay? It's worried as f*ck, and I need to know. I debate on whether I want to stop when I drive by and see her car still parked in the back of Get Baked. There's a real chance that she doesn't want to see me, there's an even bigger chance that I just need to make sure she's okay. I want to set eyes on her.
Parking next to her, I get out and walk to the back door. I knock twice, waiting for her.
"Who is it?"
"It's Barrett. I just wanna make sure you're alright. I'll leave if you want me to after I see how you're doing." I hurry those words in a rush.
The sound of her unlocking the door makes me smile. With a sigh, she opens it, staring at me. "As you can see I'm okay. It's going to take more than what happened to bring me down. I might be a little bruised and broken, but I'll make it through."
"I have no doubt that you will, Gabs. I just want to make sure you're good. You never texted me back."
She sticks out a hip, throwing me a little bit of attitude, which I love. "I didn't know I was required to text you back, Barrett. We broke up, remember? I wasn't sure that after the way we left each other, either of us would want to hear from the other."
That's a fair assumption. "I care about you, I always have. I can't turn that off because we've had some sh*t happen between us. I lost years off of my life when I saw that someone had broken into your shop, Gabby."
"I know..."
"No you don't. You'll never know the fear." I interrupt her. "I know I don't have the right to be here, because I f*cked up what we were building."
She interrupts me. "No, we both f*cked that up, Barrett. It wasn't just you. That was a team effort." She exhales loudly. "Let's start over."
I inhale, close my eyes, and then let the breath out slowly. "Hey girl, hey."
She laughs, which is what I hoped she would. It lights up those eyes of hers and my stomach does a flip. "Hey."
"So, I texted you earlier, you might not have gotten it, or you were busy. But I wanted to make sure you're okay. There's been some crazy sh*t happening in the neighborhood lately." I grip the door facing to keep from reaching out and cupping her hip in my hand.
Her head dips down, before coming back up. "I did get your text, but I was busy, and then when I thought about responding, I was tired. I'm fine. The window will be replaced next week, and until then I've posted on social media, and Kara mentioned it in her live stream today. I'm not hurting for customers, people have been extremely supportive, and I'm sorry I didn't respond to you."
"It's okay. I'll leave now that I know you're not hurt. I gotta take a shower anyway." I'm dirty, and dusty, and just want to get all of that off. I love my job, but I'll never be the type of guy who can get off work and then head out immediately afterward. All part of living that blue collar life.
"Barrett, do you wanna come in and eat something? You came all the way over here, when I know more than anything after work, you want to go home." She pushes a piece of dark hair behind her ear. "You were worried about me, and I appreciate it. Let me at least feed you."
Little does she know I want way more than for her to feed me, but right now I'll take whatever she's offering. Whatever it takes to get me the second chance I've wanted for months, I'm going to do. "I'd appreciate it, you don't have to."
"I know, and the one thing you should know about me is I don't do things I don't want to do."
I grin, tilting my head back. "That's the damn truth. What are you feeding me?"
She rolls her eyes. "I have leftover pot roast that I'm making quesadilla's out of."
It's one of my f*cking favorite meals. I groan, rocking back on my heels. "It's like you knew I'd be here."
"Oh God c'mon in you little sh*t."
And with those whispered words, I know that for tonight we'll be okay.
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My Review of BARRETT (Broken Falls, #4) . . . HERE
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