Personal: The Extended Edition (Private #3)

Chapter 17

Brynley

“Do you have on the right shoes?” Wes inquires on the video chat from Lurch’s screen. “The non-slip type?”

“ Yes. ”

“Has the floor been recently dried?”

“ Yes. ”

“ Actually , dried, Bryn.” His face poorly tries to peer at more of the territory. “Hurst, angle me downward.”

“Lurch, do not angle him downward.”

My husband’s brow crinkles in displeasure. “ Bryn- ”

“You’re being paranoid.”

“Cautious.”

“Controlling.”

“ Concerned. ”

“And I get that,” my hands fall firmly to the hips of my wide khaki capris, “but I need you to get that I’m going to be fine. Slipping once on a boat in choppy waters doesn’t mean I don’t know how to safely stand next to a feeding tank.” The sarcastic tipping of my head to the side causes a strand from my messy bun to fall loose into my eyes. “I’m not gonna fall in there, Wes, and even if I did-”

“ Don’t. ”

“-I know how to swim like I’m goddamn Black Manta.”

“Please tell me you edited your speech for appropriate language.”

Lurch lightly chortles under his breath prompting me to send a glare in his direction.

Of course, I cut back on the majority of the “foul” words.

I’m supposed to be “professional”.

However, professionals cuss.

Especially when they’re negotiating budget increases to keep one of the best marine ecologists from transferring to Texas.

Fuck Texas.

I need him here!

Wes mirthfully grins at my glaring prior to lovingly stating, “You’re going to do amazing, Mrs. Wilcox.” He beams brighter and leans back a bit in his seat, revealing he’s still at the penthouse. “I can’t wait to hear all about it when you arrive home.”

“ Late. ” Reaching for one of the nearby target feeding sticks, I know is for the hammerheads, occurs in between statements. “I’ll be home late tonight.”

His unhappiness is expected.

“I’m giving this speech twice – to two different groups from two different colleges apparently – have a video meeting with Trenton – who wants to discuss a charity collaboration event – dinner with Calen and Lani – and then they’re taking me to my first night surfing competition – to watch not compete in. ”

Wes does his best to hide his disappointment.

If it were up to him, I’d work and come straight home.

No dinner.

No friends.

No drinks and surfing – and yes, I purposely left the part out about having an alcoholic beverage to my recovering alcoholic husband.

I’m not a monster.

And he’s not either, he just prefers doing things with me.

But it’s healthy to do things without him, which is something not only our relationship therapist has said but my neurologist.

She believes being able to make new memories that don’t involve him may have an effect on jumpstarting others that didn’t.

Hamilton isn’t as sold.

Although, given his slightly bitter response to the notion, I get the feeling it wasn’t just about her suggestions.

“Have a good time,” he tries to warmly encourage. “Remember to take your phone.”

“Will do.”

It’s his turn to offer a sardonic head tilt.

“ Will try, Mr. Wayne ,” I sassily correct.

“ That’s all I’m asking for, Ms. Kyle. ”

Post exchanging I love yous, Lurch ends the call, takes his position near the door, and allows me to go about my existence uninterrupted.

While it sucks to literally be monitored whenever we’re not on home property, all of our main security team understands how to blend and fall back particularly when my husband isn’t around.

He prefers them close.

And practically humping our legs.

The rest of us?

Not so much.

Dipping the appropriate rod into the water to summon the creature I’m here to see is effortless; however, waiting for him to arrive requires all the patience I can possibly summon, leaving very little for loud, think they know it all, college kids due to arrive shortly.

“ Come on, handsome, ” I coo at the water, eagerly searching for the creature I have hundreds of pictures of but no actual recollection yet. “ Come to Mom. ”

“ Dude, ” Calen’s amused voice unexpectedly interjects, pulling my attention over to where he’s entering the area. “ Really? ”

“Yeah.” Returning my focus to where he should be appearing any second is instantly done. “Considering that my other child disowned me for having to come to work to see Uncle Cay, I need this one to still love me.”

Small chuckles are attached to him sliding his hands into his scrub pockets. “He does.”

“How would you know?” A playful sneer is shot in his direction. “You’re just his doctor.”

“His doctor who can tell you that he recently knocked up Alanis again.”

Joyful squeaks reverberate around the enclosed area. “ Ohmygodddd! Shut up! ”

“She had a decent sized litter the first time. About twenty-two pups.”

“Way to go Steveeennnnn.”

“I know. First Vanessa. Then me. Now him.” Additional snickers shake his nicely toned frame. “Wonder who’s next.”

“I think J.T. and Nae wanna start trying when we get this whole abduction situation settled,” I casually inform. “And um…I think we do too?”

“ Legit? ” He quirks a surprised eyebrow. “You and Scrooge McFuck ready to give me another nephew?”

“ Niece ,” I correct around the time I see a shadow moving towards me in the water. “And yeah…” An unusual warmth spreads throughout the pit of my stomach. “After we talked about it a couple weeks ago…I think we are.”

“Do we get to watch a live target feeding sesh?!” squeaks a mousy female from the doorway where Lurch is cautiously standing at attention. “Are you gonna talk to us while like showing us stuff?!” More students attempt to crowd around into the frame from behind her. “Is this about to be a hands-on thing?!”

Steven’s late arrival tempts me into banishing them elsewhere so that I can have a moment alone to become reacquainted yet the loving sensation over seeing him, the idea of him reproducing, and my family extending prompts me to innocently shrug. “Fuck it, why not.” Kicking my head towards the tank is followed by me announcing, “Doing what we do for a living often requires you learning to literally go with the flow. Why not start now?”

Excited gasps and enthusiastic agreement echo my sentiment pushing me to reconnect stares with my best friend who is nodding in approval.

I can do this.

I can be this.

I can live the life I love, with those I love, doing what I love and no one is going to stop me.