“Love you, Polo!” he sing-songs back, then he shuts off the water and opens the shower door.
“Love you too, C,” he adds more seriously as he pecks my cheek while grabbing for a towel. “Here, let me grab her a washcloth so you can hop in the shower.”
“Thanks.”
He winks at me. “Teamwork makes the dream work.”
Chapter Thirty
Two months later
Ipuff out a breath and touch up my lipstick a little before flipping my visor back up. I sit back in the driver’s seat of my parked car and take in my surroundings. I can’t believe I’m really about to go inside…
I haven’t stepped foot in a fucking bar—hell, anywherenearone—since the night of my rape. Here I am now, however, outside Portside Pub. And I know—damnit, I know—that Caleb and Marcus are both in there and neither of them would let anything happen to me. Heck, I know half of the people inside there now—the guy that owns this place frequents the gym, for crying out loud—and logically, yes, I know I can trust them, but fear still has me all coiled up in knots anyway.
I just need another minute, I think. I need to take in some deep breaths—in through my nose, hold for four seconds, and then puff it out slowly—just like Brooks taught me. Suddenly, movement underneath the fire escape catches my attention.
There’s a younger girl there. I say young, but she looks like she could be in her late teens, maybe her early twenties. I squint. Has she got—bubbles?
How silly is that?! She’s outside the fire escape, just blowing bubbles. She grins to herself, watching them float up into the air.
What’s that even like, to be that carefree? Instinctively, I find myself immediately wishing that she’s able to carry that kind of whimsy about her throughout her entire life, that she never has to endure the harsh realities of just how cruel and senseless some people can be. Odd, yes, because I don’t even know her.
But, I suppose one could say that means that my thornscouldpossibly be softening a touch, if I’m not reacting to the sight of her with bitter jealousy, the way I would have in the past.
Someone else peeks out the back door, he scans the surroundings, and then smiles when his eyes catch on her. Wait—hold up. Is that—
“Brooks?!” I call out, stepping out of my car.
The man looks up and over at me, in the direction of my voice. Itishim! What on earth is my dang therapist doinghere?!
“Lauren? Hi! Oh my gosh! What are you doing here?” he calls back, coming over to greet me.
“I was just wondering the same about you! I’m late because of work, but I’m supposed to be meeting up with—”
“Oh, seriously, My-lanta… how did I not put two-and-two together?! Caleb and Marcus, duh!” He cuts me off, gasping. “I just met them earlier, and I can’t believe it didn’t click!”
He surveys me up and down now, eyes wide as he takes me in, here, in the flesh. We’ve only ever had sessions over telehealth. I can’t believe it myself, because Ifinallyget to meet the man who has worked tirelessly to make me feel somewhat human again after my attack.
I seriously owe Brooks Gallagher so much; this guy right here is a fuckin’ miracle-worker.
“You’re here… at a bar,” he notes, his lips curved into a proud smile. “I feel like we just had a session about this—ope!” He claps his hand over his mouth, glancing over his shoulder at the girl with the bubbles. “Morgs, you didn’t hear that, okay?”
She titters. “Daddio, I just assume you knoweveryoneby now,” she snarks.
Brooks chuckles. “Lauren,” he says to me, “this is my daughter, Morgan. Morgan, this ismy friend, Lauren.”
Morgan caps her bubbles and approaches me, holding her hand out. “Pleased to meet you, Lauren!” she chirps. “Welcome to Portside Pub too! My boyfriend, Taryn, just took over ownership from his dad today. It’s his grand, soft re-opening!”
“Well, congratulations are in order for Taryn then, I presume,” I state. “Small world, I guess.”
She nods, and Brooks asks her, “Why are you out here blowing bubbles, anyway?”
“Oh,” she says, glancing down at the bubble wand in her hand, “I don’t smoke. I just needed to come out for some air. Figured I’d jazz it up a bit while I’m at it.”
Brooks grins, then looks back at me. “Well, Lauren, wanna come in? We just cut into the Pride cake, but there’s still plenty left.”
“Pridecake? That’sseriouslya thing?” Shit, I just thought Caleb came up with that for Marcus on his own…
