Endless Love by Bianca Borell
Chapter Ten
BRIA
After dressing in a pair of jeans and a baby-doll pink top, I pull my hair into a messy bun, then grab my phone from the nightstand. It is time to make some calls. I drag a lungful of air, breathing in and out. My brother will forgive me eventually, and I hope Quinn’s disappointment won’t last.
Quinn doesn’t answer when I call, so I head toward the kitchen. When I pass Damien’s office, I freeze at the sight of his head hanging and the pleading tone to his voice. Whoever he’s speaking to, the topic of discussion must be important. He would never plead with anyone, not even to save himself.
The urge to eavesdrop is hard to ignore, but I continue into the kitchen. I am here if he wants to confide in me. I pour myself a glass of orange juice, sit down on a barstool, and redial Quinn’s number. This time he picks up right away. A bolt of anxiety strikes my insides, my entire body clenching.
“Hi, Dad.”
“Sweetie, how are you?”
“Let me say something quickly before I lose my nerve. I love you, Dad, but Damien’s the love of my life and I’m tired of fighting my feelings for him. I’m happy. He makes me happy,” I blurt and then take a deep inhale while a pause stretches out on the other end of the line.
“This is the reason you haven’t called sooner? I must have done something wrong if you were afraid of my reaction.”
“No, absolutely not. It’s just . . . I need your approval, and you not being fine with it messes with me. Great, I’m basically emotionally blackmailing you, which is even worse. I’m nervous. Why am I so nervous? Okay, I will just shut up and try to calm down.” My rambling earns me a chuckle from him, and I relax.
“Bria, we went through too much for you to be jittery. You’re twenty-five, an adult, and I have always respected your decisions, both the good and bad ones. Understand that my opinion has formed over years of seeing you in pain and in a dark place. I’m relieved you put it behind you. I’m also proud of your progress, as well as thankful. I just want you to be happy.” I leave the barstool and walk toward the window, some sunrays jumping on the glass. “But I need time to convince myself it’s the best one for you.” I nod even though he can’t see me. His reaction is better than expected.
“I called to invite you to my parents’ place on Saturday. Damien and I have an announcement to make. I’d really like you to be there. Are you able to make it?”
“I will be there.”
“Thank you, Dad.”
“I’d ask what the secrecy is all about, I already know the answer, don’t I?”
“I guess you do.”
“Congratulations, then.”
“Your words mean everything to me,” I rasp, too many emotions battling for a place, but mostly love and gratitude.
“You mean the world to me. Text me the details for Saturday.”
After he hangs up, the knot in my throat loosens a bit. It’s not gone, but I can breathe better. With time, he will see that Damien and I are right for each other. With renewed determination, I call my brother, pacing while it rings.
“Hello, Filip.”
“Hi, Bria.”
“How are you?”
“Working. It’s beyond me how Damien manages everything.”
“Damien would never let it show. He grins and bears it. He’s the head of the company for a reason.”
“No complaint here. How are you two?” His question is a good sign. It shows interest.
“Together.”
“Like it should be . . . I guess.”
“Filip?”
“Hmm.”
“I’m sorry. I hate how things are between us. I really am sorry. Will you ever forgive me?”
“I’ll try.” A breath I forgot to release sooner escapes my lips, and I chew my lower lip.
“Can you come home for good now?” He chuckles, easing me further.
“Slow down, will you? This entire here, there . . . I’m tired. I have to decide where I want to stay for longer than six months.”
“So, London? You’re there. Alex and Soph are moving to the States. It’s unsettling.”
“Sis, the only constant in your life that you truly need is Damien. You know it, I know it, and the entire world probably knows it by now. It’s okay. Life goes on. It’s supposed to be like this.”
“We have something to announce. Can you come here on Saturday?”
“He proposed already? He sure doesn’t waste time.”
His answer lacks surprise while his laughter rings in my ears—a deep, boisterous sound—and my heart does a happy leap.
“Does everybody automatically think this?” I ask, some annoyance lacing my question about the predictability.
“Yes, everyone who knows you two would jump to that conclusion.” I smile and shake my head. “When do you plan to marry, then?”
“Next month.”
“Shit, I just lost the bet to Soph.”
“You made a bet of it?” I raise my voice, and he offers no hint of an apology.
“Yes, and now she won again as she said Damien would want to marry right away. I said six months. I guess I lost.”
With me not answering, he continues, “I can’t imagine what you went through, Bria, but I have been mad at you for years. It won’t go away overnight. But we’re family, and I want an end to this polite indifference. Fuck, what I want to say is I’m glad you found your way back. It’s all that matters.”
Silent tears of relief blur my eyes as my brother meets me halfway. It will be a long way until he also forgets, but for now, it’s enough.
“Thank you.”
“I would love to continue our chat, but I have to get back and curse the absence of Damien.”
My lips curve up at his answer.
“I will tell him.”
“You don’t have to. My never-ending e-mails should be enough. He should be pretty occupied for the next few weeks.”
“Thanks a lot,” I say, and he chuckles.
“Love you too, sis. I wish you a full recovery. What was it you caught again? Yes, right, the fucking love bug. I almost forgot.”
“Filip!”
“Bye, sis.”
We hang up, and my smile grows even bigger when Damien spats my brother’s name from the other room. Yes, everything is normal, our kind of normal.
I pick up my phone and send Dr. Bertrand a message asking if he’s available. Shortly after, my phone rings.
“Hello, Bria.”
“David.”
“How are you?”
I tell him everything. From how Damien and I worked things out and our engagement. I share how we believe we will overcome the pain and the hurt we caused each other, involuntarily or not, because what we have is what we treasure the most, and our love keeps us strong.
I don’t want to talk about my cousin because what else is there to say. I just want to forget about her. It’s how I cope with the betrayal, and the hate she has for me I can’t understand.
I happily tell him I am in control of my emotions. I enjoy my life. I love Damien, and I am working on my relationships with the persons I hurt in the process when I was emotionally detached. His once-in-a-while compliments of “You’re doing well, Bria” and “I am proud of you,” and the best “It’s a clear improvement, congratulations,” ease me further.
“Let’s agree to two calls a month,” he says at the end of our discussion.
“That I can do. Until next time.”
“Goodbye, Bria. Take care of yourself.”
I enjoy the sense of balance I have over myself, not tipping too much left or right. Perhaps it’s just the expectations of what the unknown may bring that scares me, but it makes me human and not broken.
