Is It Too Late? - Bradley Bradshaw
you guys can blame TSITP for the dramatic confession inspo that has been on repeat in my brain 😵💫 sorry for this angsty lil hot mess! 6.6 K🛶
“The entire squad should be up there with me.”
That was Mickey’s rationale behind putting everyone from the squad up there with him as his groomsman. That is why Bradley is making the drive three hours from his apartment to a lakehouse that he would rather be anywhere else for the next seventy-two hours. Not heading to his friend's wedding, but also his ex’s wedding. One and the same unfortunately.
She wasn’t a recent ex. Bradley hadn’t seen her in nearly ten years when Mickey and Y/n started dating, but he couldn’t lie. It was eating away at him. They dated during his undergrad back in Virginia. He broke up with her when he got into the academy and had to move, he didn’t ask her to come with. She cursed him out and that was the last time he saw her for ten years. It wasn’t until a night at the Hard Deck after a long week he finally saw her again. Bradley thought he was dreaming when he heard her laugh. He would know it anywhere, even after all this time. She was nursing a beer and was cornered against the wall but it didn’t seem like she minded one bit. They had only been dating a few weeks, but Mickey brought her by.
He was doing introductions to the squad and Bradley saw the realization dawn on her in real time. He was honestly ready for anything. A drink being thrown in his face? Cursed out all over again? The last thing he would’ve expected was for her to light up with a grin. She steps forward with caution but hugs him regardless.
“You guys already know each other?” Mickey asks, looking between the two.
Bradley does everything in his power to let go. Holding her again was sending him shockwaves.
“We went to the University of Virginia at the same time.” She smiles, “God, that feels like a lifetime ago.”
They weren’t just classmates.
“Wait, this is the Y/n?” Phoenix asks, jaw dropping slightly. Bradley cringes knowing that she’s about to let it slip that he’s spoken about her before.
“The Y/n?” She questions, turning her attention back to him.
“Yeah, we dated back in undergrad. Y/n was my first serious relationship.” Bradley admits, scratching lightly at the back of his neck.
Hangman lets out a howl of laughter and claps his hands together.
“Oh this is gonna make my night! Someone get another round”
“Jake-” Phoenix shakes her head.
“You’ve got good taste man. That was a long time ago, there’s no bad blood.” Bradley steps up to shake Garcia’s hand. He nods back at him, a mutual understanding and respect. He really can’t fault him for falling for her, she was one of a kind. She was worth never letting go. She fights right in with the group. Keeping up with ease, she’s a lawyer now. Her tongue even sharper than before, which is an impressive feat.
Bradley started to distance himself from the group over time as they got more serious as a couple. She was stirring up all of his old feelings just casually being near her. Not seeing anyone as least meant he was safe from loving her more. Distance was key. He blamed it on work. Half of the group knew that was bullshit but never pressed him on it. He got busy and stayed that way for the two years that passed leading up to this weekend. The weekend they would get married.
The summer had come to an end, leaves crunching under the tires of the Bronco. Bradley can tell by looking at the driveway he’s the last one to arrive. The bachelor party is kicking off the weekend and they’re staying at a big house for both wedding parties to stay in for the whole weekend.
“Bradshaw! It’s about time!” Hangman rushes down the front steps and claps him on the back in a hug. He already has a beer in hand, and the music from inside is carrying outside with the door wide open now. Bradley will be needing one of those beers too if he’s to survive the next three days.
“Rooster! It’s about damn time you showed up!” Phoenix yells loudly from the kitchen counter. Pilots, bridesmaids, college friends. People are already all over buzzing with laughter. Cheesy decorations and streamers are everywhere. They walk over to the kitchen where most of the squad has taken over.
“Pick a room quick before the last one is gone.” Mickey reminds.
“He’s bunking with Bob. Last one here, it’s either that or the couch.” Phoenix shakes her head to say ‘too late’.
Bradley forces a grin, but he can feel his chest burning. This weekend is going to kill him.
He tries to nod along, join in the conversation but his eyes scan for her in the background. She’s here somewhere, he’s seen enough of her friends around already to know she’s close by. He tries to play it cool and nod as people call out greetings but the knots are only getting tighter.
She giggles as she runs back in through the back sliding door. He can see the lake that it leads out to which would explain the white bikini that is devastating and the cheap veil that she’s wearing. She has a sash on and a drink of her own in hand.
She hasn’t seen him yet, too focused on kicking off her shoes before she spots Mickey.
“Hey, fiance” She chirps with a giggle, she throws her arms around him. Soaking his shirt without a care and Mickey laughs as he presses a kiss on her forehead.
She leans back, her arms still wrapped around him. Her face is pouting for a kiss that Garcia is happy to give her. Bradley forces himself to look away. He needs to if he’s ever going to take another breath. His chest feels tighter than when he pulls too many Gs.
“Bradshaw” Sophie greets him, joining the kitchen group.
“Sophie. It’s been a while.” Sophie was Y/n’s roommate in the dorms freshman and sophomore year. She had been a frequent third wheel with them, but after the breakup any friendship with him went out the window. She still holds a grudge for the twenty-two year old girl she had to put back together when he went off to flight school.
“Not long enough.” She mutters.
“Sophie.” Y/n warns, “Behave.”
She rolls her eyes, and Hangman’s grin widens.
“This is going to be an interesting weekend.” He claps, “Sophie, do tell-”
“Can it, Hangman.” Y/n cuts off with a raise of her hand.
“We need to go get ready anyway.” Y/n presses a kiss to Mickey’s lips. Sophie grabs a water from the fridge before leaving them to head upstairs with the rest of the girls, "Separate plans, remember?”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m sure these guys have quite the night ahead of us too.” He nods to everyone around him.
She smiles and turns around in his hold so she can see everyone. Her gaze sweeps past everyone, holding on Bradley’s for a second too long.
“Don’t worry, we’re gonna take good care of him.” Jake grins.
“That’s exactly what I’m afraid of, Bagman.” She shakes her head and the group laughs at her choice of name.
“This place is really nice.” Bradley comments, taking another long swig of his beer. One bottle gone, he needs another immediately.
The happy couple turns their attention to him.
“Yeah, it was Sophie’s grandpa’s place. They were kind enough to let us use it for the weekend.” Y/n explains.
“Y/n, you need to shower before we leave!” A voice calls from upstairs, he’s sure it’s Sophie. Y/n groans, leaning further back into Garcia’s hold.
“Go get ready.” He whispers in her ear, “We’re all coming back here tonight anyway.”
She turns in his hold to press another kiss to his lips. Bradley’s eyes struggle to leave the hands on her hips, his thumb sliding back and forth.
“Natasha, you’re mine!” She declares like a true bride, “Bridesmaid duties. Let’s go!”
“Duty calls.” Phoenix laughs, hopping off the counter to follow her up the stairs with the rest of the girls.
Mickey didn’t want anything crazy for his bachelor party. That is how they ended up keeping it simple with a bar crawl. Cold beer, darts, and loud music.
Bradley found it easier to relax now. Without Y/n in the same room, the weight on his chest lessened. He rolled his eyes watching Hangman try to hustle some locals at pool. Bob barely had two drinks before getting way too into classic rock. The rest of the groomsman swapped stories and rehashed the glory days. For a few hours it felt easy like old times.
Across town Y/n and the girls were in a little more chaos with dares and lots of cocktails. Free drinks kept pouring themselves with the light up tiara doing her favors. Each place they managed to turn into a dancefloor as they continued their bar crawl in the small lake town the wedding would happen later this weekend.
She was flushed from all the alcohol, and glowing from all the attention. Everything all day had been so focused on her and Mickey, but she couldn’t forget the look on Bradley’s face in the kitchen. The way he watches her is the same as it was ten years ago, but she would never say that to anyone outloud. Sometimes it makes her heart race in a way that it only has once before.
It was just past midnight when the girls ended up pouring into the same bar the boys were already occupying. Bradley was leaning against the bar, grinning at something Coyote said when he felt it. The shift in the air.
Across the room, he sees her on the dance floor. She was laughing with her friends, radiant and alive as she feels the music. She suddenly stops and looks out over the room, it would seem she noticed him at the same time.
For a heartbeat, neither of them moves or looks away.
“What are you guys doing here?” Mickey suddenly shouts from Bradley’s side. He walks up to the dancefloor and she finally breaks to smile at her fiance. She pretends not to still feel his gaze over his shoulder. She squeals with laughter and reaches up to hold her veil in place when he twirls her around.
“Well, well.” Hangman drawls, “Our boy here has that look again. The ‘I just saw my high school crush kiss the quarterback’ look.”
“Fuck off, Hangman.” Bradley scoffs.
Phoenix cuts him a warning look. Bob leans across the other side of the bar.
“Don’t listen to him, Rooster.” He hiccups, “You two didn’t even date in high school-”
“Okay, you’re cut off.” Phoenix places a hand on his shoulder.
“Nuh-uh, the night is still young!”
The night was not in fact young. The group managed to close down that bar before getting rides back to the house. It was a lot of drunk stumbling and a dozen shoes kicked off at the front door.
“Almost there, buddy.” Bradley grunts, carrying most of the weight of the WSO on his shoulder.
He lifts up his head just enough to be able to squint at him, “You’re a good friend, Rooster.”
He manages to get him through the door to their room and gently dumps him on the bed.
“No seriously.” Bob sighs as he kicks off his shoes and slides under the covers, “You’re everyone’s best friend. We missed you buddy.”
He drifts off to sleep before he can say more. Bradley doesn’t really need to ask why he missed him, he knows he’s been distant but didn’t realize everyone else did too. Was he that obvious?
Bradley stands there for a moment to gather his thoughts. He can hear loud laughter somewhere upstairs. The bridesmaids are probably dealing with a similarly drunk Y/n right upstairs. He drags a hand over his face.
Tomorrow is the rehearsal dinner. Tomorrow everything would be a lot more real. Even with Bob’s loud snores, Bradley couldn’t drown out the truth. The girl he once thought he would marry is sleeping upstairs, and in less than two days, she’d belong to someone else.
“Still can’t make a pot of coffee for shit, huh?”
That voice makes him jump in place. The house had been quiet, no one else could possibly be up this early. Except for her of course.
He turns and she’s standing on the bottom step, her hair in a messy bun that he’s seen a million times. She’s wearing a UVA tee that nearly hits the bottom of her sleep shorts. For a split second, it’s like the last ten years never happened to the two of them. It’s like they’re back in their apartment arguing over who forgot the creamer last time at the store. She’s barefoot and sleepy-eyed, but she still looks stunning.
“Good morning to you too.” He clears his throat. He steps out of the way when she gets closer and takes over for him. She measures the grounds with the confidence of someone who’s done it a million times over.
“Do you still drink it like motor oil?” She lifts her brow, but doesn’t look up at him.
She snorts and presses start on the machine.
“You’re up early.” He comments. Neither of them stepping away from their close proximity.
“Yeah, I always wake up early after a night of drinking. I think it’s supposed to be a punishment.” She tucks a short strand of hair behind her ear.
Bradley snorts out a laugh. The scent of coffee fills the air as the machine has finished gurgling, Y/n reaches into the cabinet to his left to pull two mugs out.
“Well, this already smells better than whatever I was gonna make.” He comments, taking the mug she slides over to him.
“Trust me, I haven’t forgotten the cup that nearly killed me on my way to my Contracts final.”
“It wasn’t that bad,” He chuckles, “Plus, If I remember correctly, you aced that final anyway.”
She rolls eyes and turns to lean against the counter facing him.
“And that caffeine had nothing to do with it!”
“You act like I didn’t contribute to your academic success.” He leans, matching her stance. It’s all too familiar to lean in like he used to.
“Oh, really? Please enlighten me.” She smirks, her face skeptical.
He takes a sip of the hot coffee, her gaze drops down to his mouth at the action for a second. Bradley sees it.
“What was that professor's name? He asks, drawing a blank.
“Fleming.” She says instantly.
“Right, Fleming. He was terrifying. He was horrible, but you got to worked up over that case study that you argued with him back and forth for twenty minutes straight in front of the entire class.”
She groans, finally turning away to hide her face in one hand.
“You were amazing. Then I had to-”
“Morning.” Sophie’s voice calls, cutting directly through their conversation. Y/n shifts like a deer in headlights. They were just talking in the kitchen, but with the look Sophie is giving her you’d think otherwise.
“Good morning.” Y/n smiles.
“Didn’t mean to interrupt the memory lane.” She looks between the two of them.
“Just talking over coffee.” Bradley defends.
Y/n cuts her a look that has Sophie holding up her hands in defence. She makes her way over to the coffee to pour herself a cup, but the moment has passed. The conversation has moved on. Sophie dives into wedding questions with intention. Everyone else starts to slowly shuffle in with their hangovers.
“You alive?” Y/n asks one of her friends who can’t voice an answer as she throws herself down on the couch.
“You guys are weak.” Hangman announces loudly, making some people groan, “I could go another round right now.”
“Of course you could.” Mickey rolls his eyes.
“Hangman, if you’re feeling that good that means you can cook!” Y/n grins from her stool.
“I don’t think so Mrs. Soon-to-be-Garcia.” He shakes his head, taking the last of the coffee. Y/n shoves him out of the way to start the next batch.
Bob stumbles in last, looking like death. His hair is stuck up in a dozen different directions.
“Morning, roomie.” Bradley hands him his own coffee and he just holds it with an unsure stare.
“This might kill me.” He mumbles.
“Well, there’s only one way to find out.”
“Shut up, Hangman.” Y/n smacks his shoulder.
Everyone gets coffee, bagels, gatorade and slowly recover. Hangman does end up cooking eggs and bacon for everyone.
“So,” Mickey claps his hands together, “We have the rehearsal dinner tonight at seven so we have time for lake activities today!”
“We can go swimming, we’ve got boats, paddleboards-”
“Absutely not, not anything I can fall off of.” Bob groans.
Despite the collective hangover and groaning happening, there is still excitement to the air with the rest of the weekend plans ahead of them.
Hangman pushed Phoenix off her paddleboard. Mickey and Coyote took off in the kayaks. The rest of the bridesmaids hung out on floats half in and out of the water. Bob sat on a cooler, claiming he would join when the world stopped spinning. Bradley hung back sitting on the edge of the dock, his feet in the water.
“There she is!” The girls cheer. Bradley looks over his shoulder to see Y/n running down from the house. She has a new white bikini on now. She doesn’t join her friends on the beach, instead she walks down the dock making his heart race as her steps get closer.
“You gonna hide up here all day?” She asks, Bradley doesn’t take off his sunglasses to look up at where she stands.
“Somebody’s gotta be the lifeguard.” He raises his beer.
“What lifeguard doesn’t wear sunscreen?” She crosses her arms over her chest.
She snorts a laugh and shoves his shoulder lightly.
“You feel like driving a boat? I think you might be the only trusty captain we’ve got.” She squints to look at him.
This is how Bradley ended up driving them all over the lake. The speaker came with them, as did the drinks. Y/n is standing on the bow of the boat, the wind whipping her hair all over. She looks carefree and twenty again. She looks like his again.
“Careful, Bradshaw.” Phoenix claps a hand to his shoulder from her seat behind his captain's chair, “That’s a married woman you’re looking at.”
“Dangerous words, Bradley. Dangerous words.”
He doesn’t ignore how serious she is being with the use of his first name. Not something he frequently hears from her. She leaves him and sits back down towards the front with everyone else.
By the time they are docking again, the sun is starting to lower for late afternoon. Y/n shakes some of the water from her hair as she jumps the gap to the dock from the boat. For just a moment, he’s right back there.
The cherry blossoms on campus were in full bloom. Finals were a month away so she insisted they take the last weekend they weren’t cramming for finals to go to the lake and celebrate their upcoming graduation.
She was wearing a pair of cutoffs over the dangerous red bikini Bradley has an affinity for. It was how she incentivized the trip.
“You’re terrible at skipping rocks.” She teases, watching another one of his throws drop straight into the water.
“I’m just weeding out the bad rocks for you.”
“Your honor, I think the defendant is bullshitting.” She pinches his side lightly, causing him to pull her in tight against him.
“I don’t think rock-skipping will hold up in court.” He leans in to whisper in her ear.
“I’ll just have to do something about that.”
Only a few more weeks until they graduate. She has already been accepted for grad school to complete her law degree. She doesn’t know it yet, but he finally got his papers approved for the Navy. Flight school was his ultimate dream. She knew this, but he had yet to tell her of his future with it.
He holds onto her as they sway watching the lake in front of them. He knows he’ll leave her soon. They don’t have a future, he’ll be packing his stuff from the apartment the second he gets notice.
“I could stay like this forever.” Her voice soft.
He’s helpless against her words. He leans down and kisses her, and feels the world tilt. He could smell the spring air, the blossoms, the lake, her shampoo. He knew even then that he would never love anyone like this ever again.
“Earth to Bradshaw!” She calls.
Bradley suddenly shakes out of his thoughts and focuses on the present again. Y/n stands there waiting to tie up the boat.
“All that sun go straight to your brain?” She laughs, behind down to tie everything up. Her mouth still holds a teasing smile.
“Something like that.” He mutters.
She tilts her head, looking up at him. He can’t pull his gaze from the house in front of them. She waits a beat too long, waiting for him to say something.
“Okay, well I need to go get ready. Can’t keep the groom waiting, huh?”
She turns on her heel and walks back up to the house, Bradley watching her every step. He’s rooted in place, still swaying slightly on the boat. His heart is racing as if he’d just flown a mission. The truth has slammed into him harder than he ever could’ve imagined. He’s still in love with her. How the hell is he supposed to watch her get married tomorrow?
Bradley felt like he was holding his breath from the moment they walked into the restaurant. Twinkling lights are strung across the patio and the tables are decorated with flowers and champagne. Bradley is going to need something stronger than that.
Everywhere he looks there’s evidence of the happy couple. Hand in hand talking to family. Pictures projected on a wall. Napkins with their names in the bottom right corner. The happy couple. She looks radiant in the mini white dress that he parades her around the room in. Every toast came as a reminder of what he gave up. What he carelessly threw away thinking it was the right decision to make. He forces yet another smile and raises his glass.
Phoenix narrows her eyes on him. She knows her best friend well enough to know something is eating away at him. She doesn’t get the chance to question it before a large hand is tapping him on the shoulder.
“Mr. Y/LN?” Bradley asks, taking in the sight of Y/n’s dad standing overhead. Bradley quickly stands and reaches out a hand, his arms spread wide to pull him in for a hug.
“Bradshaw!” His voice booms, it doesn’t look like he’s aged a day in the last ten years, “Look at you! I hear you're a Navy pilot! I knew you could do it, kid.”
“Thank you, sir.” Bradley nods.
“Seriously kid, this is everything you wanted. I hope it’s everything you thought it would be.”
Bradley hesitates and it’s clear. His eyes flash over to Y/n’s table.
“I always thought it would be you, you know.”
“Hmm?” Bradley turns his attention back to the father.
He simply shakes his head with a wistful smile and claps him on the shoulder again. “Life is unpredictable.”
He is swept away to greet other family friends, but Bradley stays standing exactly where he left him.
The words echoing like a bell.
I always thought it would be you.
Bradley needs air after that. He can’t listen to one more speech either. He makes it to the parking lot and sits in the back of the Bronco, dropping the tailgate to sit on.
“You gonna tell me what’s bugging you so bad?” Nat asks, her voice calling across the lot.
“What do you think?” He scoffs,
“I don’t know. You haven’t been yourself.” She sits next to him.
“I haven’t been myself since she came back into my life.” He sighs, “I still love her, Nat. I never stopped. I’ve just been pretending all these years, but it’s always been her.”
“What the fuck, Bradshaw?”
“Jesus, I mean it’s been ten years-”
“No, I don’t think you do.” She finally looks into his eyes. She can see the heartbreak, “It’s the night before her wedding. To one of your closest friends.”
“I know.” He says desperately, “It’s the worst thing I’ve ever done, but I can’t keep quiet. I don’t know if I can just sit here and watch this happen.”
She looks back and forth between his eyes, still startled with the confession.
“Tell her. But if you blow up her life, you better be damn sure she wants you to. And that you’ll be there for the fallout this time.”
Hours later, after the food has been packed up. Tables cleaned. Laughter and music fading into cars as they all make their way back to the house. Tomorrow is the wedding day. Tomorrow is go time. The house is quiet tonight.
Bradley made his way out to the dock, still dressed from the rehearsal. He hasn’t been back to his and Bob’s room yet. He couldn’t sleep. He still couldn’t breathe.
A cool breeze swept across the lake and footsteps behind him made him jolt. He turned to find the culprit, only to find the last person he needs to see right now.
She wears a large hoodie that’s pulled down farther than her shorts. She blinks at him in surprise, finally looking up and seeing him at the end of the dock.
“Oh-sorry! I didn’t know anyone was out here.” She apologizes.
“Couldn’t sleep.” He admits, finally turning back out to look towards the lake.
She doesn’t move from her spot half way down the dock just yet. She can’t decide if she should go or stay. She lets the silence stretch, just the sound of the water lapping.
“I couldn’t sleep either.” She admits, taking a seat next to him. Her toes skim the surface of the water. She flinches at the chill, slowly getting used to it before her whole foot reaches.
“Wanna talk about it?” He asks, daring to look at her. Her gaze is already on him and she doesn’t pretend that it wasn’t.
“Honestly? I don’t know.” She admits.
He can’t pull away. He can’t stop studying her face and every expression that crosses it.
“Don’t marry him.” He blurts, his voice low and raw.
“Shut up.” She laughs, not taking him seriously. She shakes her head and finally breaks their eye contact.
“I mean it.” His voice still serious, “Don’t marry him.”
His words make her heart stop for a full second before beating so hard she’s sure it’ll break right through her chest. Her breath catches in her throat and she sits back a little.
“Don’t do this, Bradley. I’m getting married tomorrow.”
“Which is why I have to do this now. I love you, Y/n.”
“Oh my god.” She gasps, getting up from the dock and taking a step back. He gets up suddenly too, he reaches out to cup her face in his hands. She doesn’t pull away, giving him the confidence to trace his thumb over her cheek back and forth. He hasn’t touched her like this in years, his thumb is burning with the contact.
“I love you. I’ve never stopped loving you and leaving was the biggest mistake of my life.”
“Bradley, you're deciding to do this now?”
She doesn’t step back out of his grasp, but the look in her eyes halts his every move. Her face still cradled in his hands, though tears are clouding his vision. She has tears streaming down her face now too.
“And what? I’m just supposed to give up my future and run away with you right now? Call off my wedding?” Her voice shaking, her expression shifting to anger.
“You’re not throwing away your future. Just this specific one.”He whispers, “Just your future with him. You are my greatest love, and I’m sorry for waiting until now.”
She finally snaps back from his hold, her breathing heavy. “Goddamit, Bradley!” She yells. She wants to scream, she paces the dock. Her hands tangling in her hair as she spins away.
“You don’t get to do this! You don’t get to sit on your hands for the last ten years and then drop a bomb on me like this less than twenty-four hours before I walk down the aisle!”
He remains frozen with guilt, his gut twisting. Her eyes are blazing and tears coat her cheeks.
“I couldn’t keep it in anymore.”
“Fuck you.” She spits, “You’re selfish. You were selfish ten years ago when you left me and you’re selfish now.”
She shoves past him, her bare feet pound against the dock, she doesn’t turn back this time.
“You should leave, Bradley.”
She doesn’t look back, slamming the sliding door as hard as you can slam a sliding door. Bradley remains paralysed on the dock. For the first time in years he told the truth. It may destroy everything.
Her hands were still shaking when she reaches Sophie’s door. Everyone insisted the night before the wedding to sleep separately so she isn’t with Mickey tonight. Thankfully, Sophie is asleep when she enters. Y/n slides under the covers but her eyes are wide with adrenaline.
Bradley’s voice wouldn’t stop replaying in her head.
I never stopped loving you.
She sat up abruptly, her throat tight. Sleep is going to be impossible. She slipped back out of bed to the bathroom and closes the door with a soft click. She lends against the sink and takes in her reflection. She really should be focusing on her beauty sleep, but instead her eyes are red and puffy with tears.
Mickey was safe. He was kind, and warm, and didn’t mind the late nights at the firm. He never hesitated with her. He never made her doubt herself and she maybe loved that more than she actually loved him.
Bradley? His words cut through everything she tried to build for herself over the last ten years. When they dated, he was her whole future. She would’ve followed him anywhere, that’s why it stung so bad when he chose to leave without her. That’s also what scared her. She knew she could give up her future for him. Could she do it again?
Her stomach twisted. She couldn’t keep this in. She couldn’t wait until morning. If she were still to get married tomorrow in front of all their friends and family, she needed it all out on the table.
She managed to sneak her way back into their room and carefully wake Mickey up.
“Hey, I thought this was bad luck-” He mumbles, trying to wipe the sleep from his eyes.
“Hey, hey, what’s wrong?” He suddenly asks, he can see that she’s been crying.
She swallows hard and takes a deep breath.
“I don’t know if I can do this.” She sighs, “I can’t start a marriage without you knowing everything.”
“Okay?” He sits up. “What is it?”
“Bradley told me he’s still in love with me.”
“He what?” Mickey’s voice elevating.
“I would be lying if I said that part of my heart doesn’t belong to him.” She admits.
The room goes completely silent at her admission.
“You deserve so much more than what I can give you. You deserve someone who can give you one hundred percent of themselves.”
The sun hadn’t even begun to rise when Bradley’s alarm went off. He didn’t sleep much, but wanted to be on the road before everyone got up. There was no way he could face today. The tears on Y/n’s face and the way she tore herself away from him was enough. She didn’t want him here, and he didn’t need to witness her walk down the aisle to someone else.
He packed the few remaining things he needed in his duffle before he slung it over his shoulder. No one was awake, he could make his escape without an audience.
He reached for the front door and pulled it shut quietly behind him. Cool morning air meets his face and he turns to walk toward his car.
His head snaps to the chair on the porch he wasn’t expecting to be occupied. Least of all by Sophie at this hour. He can barely see her in the morning light.
She tilts her head, studying him, “You’re really gonna just leave? After last night? After everything you said to her?”
“No, I understand just fine. You blow up her life at midnight, confess you’ve been deeply in love with her this whole time, and then what? You sneak out at dawn? Classic Bradshaw.”
The words cut deep. More accurate than he would like.
“She made it clear, she doesn’t want me here. She’s the one who told me to leave.”
She laughs humorlessly, and it pisses him off even more.
“Shows how much you know about your girl, I guess.” She scoffs, “She’s upstairs right now calling family, caterers, half the damn guest list to cancel the wedding. She called it off.”
He stops dead in his tracks. His heart stopping with it.
“Yeah, she’s up there right now with some of the girls crying her eyes out. I think she still doesn’t know if she did the right thing. She’s tearing up her life right now since you grew a spine after ten years.”
“Okay, Sophie.” He holds a hand up to get her to stop, “She really called it off?”
He steps closer to the porch again to come back in.
“Yeah, she did.” Her voice softer now, “Don’t you dare make her regret it.”
Bradley took his sweet time climbing the stairs, trying to think of anything he could even say in this situation. He stopped just outside the door, hearing chatter inside.
“... yes, I understand the deposit was nonrefundable. The wedding has been canceled.” Her voice is raw.
“Y/n, you don’t have to make all these calls. We can call some. Just take a breather.”
“No, I’m okay. I need to let everyone know.”
Bradley knocks softly at the door, not wanting to lurk any longer. Guilt is clawing up to this throat. He honestly doesn't know if he can listen to this any longer either. He needs to help. She shouldn’t have to be doing this right now at six in the morning.
The conversations inside the room stopped immediately. A moment later, the door cracks with Phoenix peeking through. Her expression is sharp and angry, she immediately steps out into the hall.
“Unbelievable.” She shuts the door behind herself, “Of course it’s you.”
Bradley opens his mouth but Phoenix jabs a finger into his chest.
“What the fuck are you doing, Bradshaw? Are you trying to show up at her door like Prince Charming right now?”
“No!” His chest tightens, “I just need to see her. Sophie said she-”
“She called off the wedding? Yeah, she did.” Phoenix groans, “Jesus Christ, Bradley. Ten years. And last night you finally grow some balls? Do you know what kind of mess you made for her? For Mickey?”
“I know.” His voice cracking, “I know I screwed up. A lot. But I can’t let her go this time. I love her.”
Phoenix finally drops the daggers she had been glaring.
“You better have it together this time.” Her tone is still serious, “I mean it. If this was all for nothing, you screw this up again and I’ll kick your ass.”
Bradley remains frozen in the hall while Phoenix gets everyone else out of the room. He knocks softly on the door frame, she looks up from her phone. She sits on the bed with a mountain of pillows, she runs her hand back through her hair for what looks like the hundredth time today.
“Well, you got what you wanted.” She sniffles.
“I didn’t want to hurt you like this.” He admits.
“No? Well mission accomplished anyway.” She laughs bitterly.
He steps closer to her bed, still careful on the approach. “I know I don’t deserve anything from you, but I need you to know that I meant every word I said last night. I love you, I’ve never stopped.”
She stared at him for a long time. She makes him wait for a long time before breaking it with a whisper, “You’re such an asshole.”
Her phone lights up with notification after notification, more concerned texts and unanswered calls.
“I kept telling myself I was over you. That I hated you for walking away from us. That I was safe with Mickey and he would never do that to me. He is a good person. But every time you looked at me this weekend? I felt twenty again. I could feel what never went away.”
His breath caught. Heart stalling.
“I couldn’t marry him knowing part of me still loved you. That’s not fair to him. Or me.”
“Y/n-” He takes a step closer.
“Don’t. Don’t make a promise you can’t keep. If I let you back in, Bradley, I need to know you aren’t going to disappear on me.”
“Never.” He drops to his knees, “I’m not going anywhere. Not ever again. I’m all in.”
Her hands trembled in her lap and all he wanted to do was reach out and take them in his. A privilege he hasn’t had in a decade. They hover for a second before he reaches out and takes her hands in his. They’re cold, but she doesn’t pull away. He wraps his callused hands tighter around hers, grounding himself in the fact that he’s touching her again.
“Y/n I don’t deserve you, but I promise I want to spend my future earning you. Earning this love. Earning everything back and more.”
“God, do you know how many times I hoped I would hear that?” She sighs and closes her eyes. Her hands holding onto his a little tighter.
“We’ve lived other lives. You aren’t the girl I left behind and I’m not the boy who left. We’ve grown. But I know-” he pauses, “You’re the person I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
“I don’t know what my future looks like. I know things are done with Mickey, but I don’t want us to rush anything. I do still love you, but you’re right. We aren’t those people, so I think we need to learn.”
“I would really enjoy that.” He finally smiles.
did bradley deserve the happy ending bc honestly idk lol
