Curvy Nanny for the Nerd

33. Brady

Chapter 33

Brady

“ D ammit, what in the hell can I do to fix this?” It was a testament to just how out of my depth I was that I was asking my creative time for love advice. I stared at the monitors, each contained an image of Sierra, Cal and Tori in their individual offices. They all stared back at me, half-terrified as if they were concerned I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. “Well? Anyone have any ideas? Please.”

Blank stares met my words and I started to squirm in my desk chair. Sierra spoke first. “At the risk of pissing off the boss, why didn’t you just open up to her? I mean, we all met her and she seems awesome. Funny and spunky and not scared of your growly face.”

“I don’t know,” I shouted. “Because I’m an idiot?”

“A scared idiot,” Cal added, a defiant tone that wasn’t at all helpful.

Sierra rolled her eyes and I made a note to give her a raise. “Was Brady acting like a scared little girl? Yes. But,” she grinned and my scowling face. “He does have a shot at redemption.”

“I do?” I asked, incredulous.

“He does?” Tori and Cal asked simultaneously.

“He does,” Sierra confirmed. “But only if you’re willing to open up to her.”

“I can do that,” I said eagerly. “I will do that.”

“Good,” she nodded and flashed a confident smile. “But this isn’t going to be easy. Toni won’t be satisfied with dumb trivia like your favorite color, most memorable concert or the dessert that always make you think of dear old mom. Nope.” She let the word pop with emphasis just to make her point. “You’re going to have to offer up the goods, the ugly and the dirty details of your life, and hope she hears it and forgives you.”

“What if there isn’t anything ugly or dirty?”

Three sets of eyes stared back, each one silently proclaiming me a liar. “There is,” they all said at once.

I sighed, half annoyed because they were right and half annoyed because they were smug about being right. “So, what? I’m supposed to just cut myself open and bleed for her and then what, hope for the best?”

Sierra flashed a wide smile. “Congratulations, Boss Man, you finally understand.” Her proud grin would’ve grated on my nerves if I hadn’t specifically asked for her help.

“As much as I’m loathe to admit it,” Cal began, “Sierra is right. If you want your woman back you’ll need to be honest with her. Share the details of your life that you don’t ever share.”

I let out a heavy sigh as their collective advice weighed on me. “Tell her everything and hope for the best?” It wasn’t an ideal option, in fact the idea of opening up like that made me physically ill, but I couldn’t deny that their advice was sound. “You’re sure this will work?”

Cal barked out a laugh first. “No, we’re not sure. Not at all, man. But it’s your best shot. Anything else is guaranteed to fail.”

“Seriously?”

Tori nodded first.

Sierra joined in, a sympathetic expression on her face.

Cal nodded, a solemn look on his face. “Seriously, Brady.”

“Well, shit.” If that was what I had to do, then I would do it. The past week without Toni was pure hell. It was a living and breathing circle of Dante’s hell. The house was too quiet, too melancholy without her lively personality, her bright red hair and her sassy attitude. Each day that passed without Toni was torture. Layla was inconsolable without her favorite person. She refused to engage with me because clearly it was my fault she now had to live without Toni.

Everything in the world was worse without Toni. The sun didn’t shine as bright. The sky was a dull imitation of her usual glory. Music didn’t have the same pizazz it usually did. Nothing was as fun without Toni as it was with her and in general, life fucking sucked without her.

Which meant I needed to open up.

“What are you gonna do?” Sierra’s question was hesitant but she wore the same wary expression as the others.

“I guess I don’t have a choice, do I? Sharpen the razor blade because I’m going slice myself open and hope it’s enough for her.”

“Perfect,” Sierra said, her words encouraging. “Be honest about who you are and speak from the heart. Toni seems like a woman who will respect that.”

She would respect it, but would she forgive me and take me back?

Only one way to find out.

“Thanks, guys. I owe you for this.”

“I accept payment in crypto,” Tori said with a smile.

“Just get her back,” Cal offered with a shrug. “When you’re happy, the rest of us can be happy too.” With those words, the conference call ended and I was left trying to come up with a plan to get my baby mama back.