Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 81113 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81113 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
I had no idea how long I cried. I didn’t even hear the front door opening. But the next thing I knew Michael was there, pulling me into his arms and hugging me, kissing my hair. I clung to him, crying even harder, whispering that I’d messed it up, I was so sorry, I messed it all up, and Michael… Michael just held me, and comforted me, until at last my sobs subsided.
Chapter Thirty-One: Michael
After I took care of Stevie, I went straight to the restaurant. Brooke had a shift tonight and no matter how pissed she was at Stevie and me, she wasn’t going to screw over her coworkers or do anything to hurt the restaurant that had been her second home ever since she was a child.
Brooke was at the host stand when I walked in. I knew that she knew I was there, but she pointedly didn’t look up from the computer screen. “Can we talk?”
She shrugged. “What is there to talk about?”
Brooke turned away from me and started to walk through the restaurant. I went after her. “Hey, honey, I know you’re upset, but—”
“Maybe you and Stevie should do your own reality show,” Brooke said dismissively, disdain dripping from her voice. “All about your love affair, it can compete with Mom’s.”
I grabbed her by the arm and dragged her into the hallway, to my office.
“Let go of me!” Brooke snapped as I closed the door behind us.
“No, you’re going to listen to me. I get that you’re upset. You have a right to be. I didn’t tell you what was going on and this wasn’t just something that happened last night, it’s been months. But you need to understand all that happened. This isn’t like with your mother, all right?”
Brooke folded her arms. “Oh, it’s not? Explain to me how.”
I sighed, leaning back against the door. “Listen. This whole thing with Stevie was unexpected, all right? I had no intention…I certainly never looked at her that way before. When she came back to interview for the job it was like seeing a whole new person. I’m sure I don’t…you know how amazing Stevie is. I genuinely never thought I’d fall in love again, and then it was happening to me before I even knew what to do.
“But I kept her at arm’s length. I didn’t want to ruin your friendship with her and I was scared of getting my heart broken again. And all the shit with the restaurant, I told myself that I just wanted sex, not a proper romance. I denied to myself that I could want anything else. And if it was just sex… I was ashamed to tell you, honestly. I was ashamed to tell you that I was casually fucking someone who wasn’t only my employee, but your best friend.
“And then Stevie left and I realized how wrong I had been. About the restaurant and about how I felt for her. I’d been a coward and I was ready to be with her seriously. But I thought—I thought she was happier without me, on her own. And if it was all over, then why tell you? Why tell you once it was all said and done that I’d just had this casual relationship with your friend like that?”
Brooke looked like she was softening, just a little, but her eyes were still narrowed and her body was still stiff, her arms folded. I soldiered on.
“Then I found out she was pregnant—and I knew that I had to get her back. I wanted and still want to do right by her. I want her in my life, and I already did before I knew about the baby but now it’s that much more so. I’m going to fight for her. I wanted to tell you the moment that we got back together and I asked her to come move in with me, with us, but she was scared about how you’d react.
“I’m not proud of hiding this from you, but I understand why Stevie was unsure, and honey, I really hope that you can forgive her, forgive me, us, because I love her and I want her to be a part of our family. I don’t want you to lose your best friend. Your relationship with Stevie is just as important to me. I want us all to be a family together.”
Brooke stared at me for a moment more, but then I saw her lip wobbling.
“Oh, honey,” I said, walking over to her as Brooke burst into tears.
“I’m just so sick of everyone hiding things from me!” she said, letting me hug her. “Mom hid her whole affair from me and never seemed to understand why it was so wrong, and now you were dating my best friend and neither of you told me. I don’t like being shut out of things! Why couldn’t either of you - even just telling me ahead of time that you were attracted to Stevie, or if she’d told me that she was attracted to you, before either of you did anything - there was no reason - I wouldn’t have… okay it would’ve been a shock but I wouldn’t have hated you guys or anything!”