Chapter Thirteen
Bree
There were few things more embarrassing than your ex finding out you were a Twilight fan. Like yeast infections. Those were bad. This still might be worse. “It’s a big scene in the movie. Highly quotable. You can look it up.” Bree could dictate the entire scene to him, but she wasn’t going to give Eric more ammunition to use against her later.
Her plate was empty, and she’d drained her wine glass in embarrassment. Eric’s phone call had effectively ended their date, whether he wanted to admit it or not. Bree thought it was a good thing. They’d done well and ended on a relatively high note. She didn’t need to push her luck. She lay her napkin back on the table.
“Bree, it’s okay. I don’t have to leave,” Eric assured her.
“I know. I’m done with my plate.”
“We can order dessert. They have tiramisu.”
As bribes went, it was a good one. “If I hadn’t had the bread, the salad, the baked potato, and the steak that ate New York, I’d consider it. But I’m stuffed.”
The vein in his forehead started throbbing again. She watched him formulate a dozen responses and not voice a single one of them. It shouldn’t be this hard. It never used to be. Maybe they couldn’t go back.
“We can do this, Bree.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“No, but you were thinking it.” Eric reached across the table, hooked his finger under her chin, and closed her mouth. “I know you, Bree. I fucked up, but I do know you. You’re trying to take a step back. I can’t convince you of anything if you don’t give me time. If you want to stop this,”–he waved his hand between the two of them—“I’ll understand. I’ll be pissed at myself for hurting you so badly we couldn’t give it another shot, but I’ll understand. But if you do want it, you need to give me, and us, a real chance.”
“I hate it when you get all reasonable.”
“So do you want tiramisu?”
“No. I’m really very full. And very tired.” He looked like he was going to say something else, but Bree cut him off. “Allie,” she offered in explanation.
Tomorrow was another chemo day. Bree was not looking forward to it, although she would be much better prepared now that she knew what was coming. Allie dreaded it even more. Bree had caught her crying in the bedroom when she’d gone in to put away more laundry. Allie had slapped a brave face on, but it dissolved as soon as Bree had told her to drop it. Bree didn’t need brave from her friend. She was there to be the rock.
She’d underestimated how hard it was going to be.
When Allie had asked her for a favour the afternoon before, Bree braced herself. Allie asked her to buy birthday cards for her daughter up to the age of eighteen, and all the event cards she could find, and Bree knew. Allie had limited energy. If she felt she should be spending it writing future messages to her daughter, Bree couldn’t argue. She’d cried in the car, done the shopping, and put on fresh mascara before she returned to the house.
“Okay,” Eric agreed, understanding more than she expected him to. “I’ll take you home.”
He helped her into the raised seat of his black extended cab. A year ago, Eric had been driving a hard-topped Jeep that was lots of fun in the summer and an icebox on wheels in the winter. His new ride had all the bells and whistles, including a seat warmer, which had her snuggling into the cushions.
She didn’t think she’d closed her eyes, but when she finished blinking they were halfway back to her place.
“You really are wiped, aren’t you?” he asked.
“It’s been a stressful few days. Mentally. Not to mention, I’m not used to chasing after a toddler,” Bree admitted.
Eric grabbed her hand and pulled it over to his thigh. “You’ll get through this. It’s what you do. You fight till the very end.”
She wasn’t surprised when he walked her to the door, but she didn’t expect the order to wait outside until he searched her place. “Last night, Forrester was waiting for you inside. I’m not going to risk that again.”
Bree had gone almost a whole day without thinking about Marcus Forrester. “I don’t think he’ll try it two days in a row.”
“You’re still waiting outside until I check it out.”
When he finally let her in, he didn’t let her get further than the door. Eric pinned her against it, and dropped his forehead to hers. “I’m going to kiss you right here, because if I get any further into your apartment with you, I’m not leaving till morning.” He lowered his mouth slowly, giving her time to draw a breath she knew she was going to need. She was right.
Eric didn’t let her up for air.
His five o’clock shadow scraped lightly along her cheek when he angled her head for better access. His tongue speared into her mouth, demanding surrender. Bree gave it to him. She’d missed him so much she wanted to make up for every day they were apart with one kiss.
