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)
“Nobody wants to hurt you, Brooke, and I’m so sorry that’s what’s happened. It was unfair to you and we should have done better. We should have treated you better.” I rubbed her back. “Not even your mother, all right? Whether she did or not is another story but she never meant to. We all love you and we want what’s best for you. Especially Stevie. She cares about you so much, I promise you that.”
Brooke sniffled and I pulled back, holding her shoulders so that I could look her in the eyes. “But this isn’t just a fling for us. Okay? Stevie and I are in love. I love her, and I want to be with her. And I promise you right now, I’m not going to lie to you or hide shit like that from you ever again. I want you to be on our side, I want you to be a part of our family, especially because…” The corner of my mouth turned upward into a smile. I just couldn’t help it. The thought made me giddy. “Because you’re going to be a big sister for the first time.”
Brooke gave a half-laugh, half-sob, and hugged me. “I’ll talk to Stevie,” she promised me, pulling back. “But, um, for tonight I think I’m going to crash somewhere else. Give you two some space… and, well, get my own head on straight. Y’know?”
I nodded. “I know. And I understand.”
“But I think that we’ll… if you just give me a little time to adjust, I think we can be a family. We are a family. We can move forward.”
I grinned at her, feeling such relief that I thought I might collapse. “I knew I raised a good egg.”
Brooke rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. “Yeah, well, you still owe me for keeping secrets.”
“Of course.”
“Maybe you can finally give me that pony I wanted as a kid?”
“…don’t push your luck.”
Chapter Thirty-Two: Stevie
When I got a text from Brooke, I expected it to be something scathing or angry. I hadn’t ever seen Brooke be really vindictive, but she’d had some choice words to say to her mother when she’d first learned about the whole affair thing, and I had no doubt she’d have some choice words to say to me, too.
I opened the text with a heavy heart, my adrenaline already spiking in a fight-or-flight panic. But when I actually read the text, everything in my brain screeched to a halt.
Brooke was apologizing.
Hey hon. I overreacted a bit, I think. I’m not happy you guys kept it from me for months, but Dad explained things to me and I understand now. I’m happy for you two. We’re going to work past this. I want to talk when I get home tomorrow. I’m crashing at your brother’s place. Enjoy the night!
The night alone, with Michael.
I was surprised at the change in tone, even after talking to Michael, but then again, this was an example of Brooke’s warm and loving nature. She really didn’t hold grudges. She just wanted to be treated right. And she deserved that.
When Michael showed up that night after the restaurant had closed, I pumped him for details. He sat me down and explained everything that he’d discussed with Brooke.
“She felt left out and betrayed,” he admitted. “And I can understand that. I think I should have told her back when I first was attracted to you. But I didn’t want to act on that attraction, and then I did but I was denying that I felt anything for you, that I loved you, and then you were gone and I figured it was all over, so…”
My heart skipped a beat at the I was denying that I loved you part, but I tried to play it cool, even as I felt my face heating up. “I understand. We should have said something sooner, you’re right. I was wrong about that. I feel like I was a coward.”
“Well hey, I was the coward who told you he didn’t want a relationship, and I was wrong about the restaurant. So it evens out.” Michael winked at me and I found myself smiling back helplessly. “She knows that you love her, and she doesn’t want your friendship to end. I was worried about that. I know your friendship is important and I wouldn’t want to get in the way of that. She also said…”
Michael took a moment, and I could see that this meant a lot to him. “Just like, she said, she wanted me to be happy. And I know only you can make me as happy as I am. I love you. I’ve known it, but I haven’t said it, and I thought…well maybe you already know. I haven’t exactly been subtle. But I need to say it. It’s important that I say it. I never thought I could love again, that I could even think about falling for someone again, and now here I am, more in love than I ever thought possible.”