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He chuckles and shakes his head.“I think we’re best leaving things as friends.”
A wave of resignation washes over me.“Yeah.Always the friend, never anything else.”Great, now I’m reaching the sad level of drunk.This sucks.
“Babe.None of that.But it is time for you to get inside, grab some water and some painkillers, and get yourself to bed before ...”He doesn’t say anything else but what he doesn’t say is clear as day.
Before something happens I’ll regret.
I nod and let my lazy gaze roam over his perfect handsome face, a big part of me wishing that this was how Luca could be with me.Not all overprotective and growly like he was at the restaurant.Like he has any say over who I can date.Sheesh.“Thank you for an eventful night, Perfect Brock,” I whisper.
Then he does the sweetest, most Perfect Brock thing he’s done all night.He leans forward, wraps his hand around the back of my head, and ever so gently presses his lips between my brows.“It’s my pleasure, lovely London.”
After walking to the front door, I stop and watch as he reverses his car out into the street and waves before driving away.Somehow I know that it’ll be the last I see of Dr.Brock Bateman, but that’s not to say he hasn’t left a lasting impression on me.Or more so ...given me a hell of a lot of food for thought.
I just hope I remember everything he said in the morning.
After having a shower and washing the night away, I take some Tylenol and hop into bed, grabbing my phone off my nightstand where I’d left it and bringing up my messages.There arefivefrom Luca and one from my sister.
Violet: You better call me in the morning with a report, Bridge.I want to know how your date with the doc went.
Then Luca
Luca: Are you home yet?
Luca: Beautiful, I just want to know you’re home safe
Luca: Swear to God, if that asshole is taking advantage, I’ll hunt his doctor ass down myself.
Luca: London ...please just let me know you’re OK?
I roll my eyes as I read them, trying to ignore the flippity-flip rhythm of my heart.He’s still playing the big brother role, the whole ‘London needs protecting because she can’t look after herself.’I’ve been overprotected by Dad, Violet, the crew at the firehouse, and yeah, Luca, for my whole adult life.And I’ve always loved knowing that I had everyone looking out for me.
But maybe I’m over people thinking I can’t look after myself.I’m a twenty-seven-year-oldadultwoman.If I want to go out on a date, I can.If I want to get a little tipsy at the bar and laugh my ass off with that date after catapulting any romantic chance I had with him out the damn window by confessing a crush on Luca, then I should be able to do that.
I need to start worrying more about living my life and less what other people will think of how I do it.
I put my life on hold back in college for a man, and without realizing it, I’ve started falling back into old habits with Luca—and I’m not even sleeping withhim.I need some independence.I need to grow up and stand on my own two feet again.That can be a problem for tomorrow’s London though.
And as my eyelids grow heavy and I feel myself getting ready to fall asleep, I quickly type out a text to Luca to—at the very least—stop him from blowing up my phone.
London: Home safe.You can relax now, big brother.Good night.
Then I turn my phone to silent, roll over, and proceed to black out.
“You looklike you had a fight with a bottle of tequila and lost,” Dad says from his perch at the end of the breakfast table.
“Peter ...”Mom warns from where she’s cooking in front of the oven.
I move straight for the coffee-maker and grab the biggest mug I can find before filling it up and walking to the fridge to top it off with my favorite cinnamon-bun-flavored creamer.I don’t sit down before I take a big gulp of it.
“Damn, that’s good,” I groan, relishing the feel of the caffeine coursing through my veins.
I move toward the table and take a seat opposite Dad, leaning my head back against the chair and letting my lids fall closed.
“Hard night, sweetheart?”Dad’s amusement is evident in his tone.
I crack one eye open and glare at him.“I take it I’m the subject of firehouse gossip now?”
“Why would the Captain’s daughter be what everyone’s talking about?”
