Page 89 of Broken Boundaries

“You really do look amazing,” he tells me as he starts to walk away.

“Yeah, she knows,” Jazz says, linking her arm and pulling me close to her. “Ugh, we are so done with him.”

“I know, but I have to be nice. He might be in my life for awhile in a different way, you know?”

She laughs. “Yeah, I know. You’ll be his stepmom!”

“Let’s not go that far.”

She gives me a knowing look. “It’s true, though.”

“We’re going to pretend like it’s not.”

“Ignorance is bliss, I guess.” She holds up her plastic cup, and I tap mine on hers before we both take a sip.

When I look back over my shoulder, Brooks is nowhere to be seen. Jazz quickly gets my attention again when it’s our turn to play the game.

We spend all night playing games, eating Halloween-themed treats, and checking out everyone’s costumes. Before I realize, the best costume award has been announced, and people start heading out.

Jazz makes heart eyes at Owen while I look around for Brooks. There’s a chill in the air now, and I wish I had more than this flimsy cloak to wrap around myself as I stand off to the side of the square watching people leave.

A hand slides around my waist, and for a moment, I panic until I inhale the spicy scent I’ve gotten so used to.

“You ready?” he whispers in my ear, sending goosebumps down my arm.

“You have no idea.”

Someone walks in front of us, and Brooks quickly removes his hand from my waist. I visibly deflate as soon as his hand leaves my body. I hate hiding what we are. It was fine at first, but it’s starting to feel like I’m not important enough for him. It could also be the couple of drinks I’ve had that are making me feel angrier about this.

“Let’s go.”

I say a quick goodbye to Jazz, who is more than ready to run off with Owen, and follow Brooks to his truck, keeping a safe distance from each other so no one gets the wrong idea. Or I guess it would be the right idea in this scenario.

We spend most of the ride home in silence. The secrecy put a damper on my mood real fast, but I still let him take my hand to help me out of the truck. I still find comfort in his hand on my lower back as we walk inside. And it still feels like I’m home when he shuts the door behind us.

I walk to the kitchen and grab a glass of water.

“You’re mad,” Brooks says from somewhere behind me.

I sigh and turn to face him. “I hate feeling like a secret. It was fun at first, but I don’t want to hide anymore.”

He nods. “I know. You’ve been incredibly patient with me, and it’s not fair to you. If I’m being honest, I’m scared to tell him, which is what’s taking me so long.”

While he hasn’t outright said he was scared before tonight, I knew it anyway. Anytime I mention telling Zach about us, he brushes it off and quickly changes the subject. I’ve let him get away with it because I know he’s in a difficult place, but at some point, I have to think of myself, too.

“But I will tell him. This week. I promise.”

He takes a few steps toward me and reaches out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

“I’m sorry, darlin’, for ever making you feel like you were a secret. I want everyone to know, too. This thing between us feels more real than anything I’ve ever felt before.”

“Me too.”

The corner of his mouth tips up in a half-smile. “Good.”

I take a step closer and wrap my arms around his waist. I know there’s nothing we can do about this tonight, so I might as well end the night on a high note. “So, how are you going to make it up to me?”

He cocks a brow. “I think I have an idea.”