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Brooke shook her head. She had never fainted. Apart from the first time she’d realised she’d had a phobia of her own blood. Not since then.
‘Elsie, that paint you’ve... Brooke, are you okay?’
Brooke heard the kitchen door wing shut and footsteps on the kitchen floor. She closed her eyes and tried to slow her breathing. The last thing she’d wanted was for Max to see her like this all over a tiny bit of blood. He must be thinking how pathetic it was.
‘She’s had a bit of an accident with that silly till drawer. Come here and make sure you grab her if she faints.’
‘I won’t...’It took all her energy to shake her head and as she felt Max’s arms wrap around her middle and she slumped against his body. Knowing she wasn’t going to fall, she closed her eyes and focused on her breathing, trying to ignore Elsie cleaning and wrapping her finger.
‘There we go. All done.’ Elsie patted Brooke’s arm. ‘Take yourself upstairs and have a bit of a rest.’
‘I’m okay.’ Opening her eyes, she looked down at her finger. A large blue plaster covered the cut.
‘I’m not taking no for an answer, love. Go on, up you go. Max, can you make her a sugary cuppa please, love?’
‘Consider it done.’ Leaning forward, Max kissed the top of Brooke’s head before taking her shoulders and supporting her as she slid off the stool. ‘Come on, you.’
‘I’m really sorry, Elsie.’ Now she felt better, she could feel the all too familiar rush of heat illuminating her cheeks.
‘Don’t mention it, love. That was nothing. You should see how Ian gets.’ She chuckled as she put the First Aid Kit away on the back shelf.
––––––––
‘THANKS.’ BROOKE WRAPPEDher hands around the mug of hot, sweet tea as Max sat down beside her on the sofa. ‘Sorry I made a complete fool of myself.’
‘You didn’t. Loads of people have phobias.’
‘Really?’ Looking across at him, she raised her eyebrows. ‘Go on then, what’s yours?’
‘Umm, I don’t particularly like guinea pigs.’
‘Really?’ She laughed. ‘Guinea pigs?’
‘Yep. I had a traumatic meeting with one when I was five. I went to my best friend’s house, and he’d just got a new guinea pig.’
‘Ouch.’
‘Yep. Although, to be fair on this little guinea pig, me and my friend did fuss over it a bit too much when it really should have still been settling into its new life.’ He held up his thumb and pointed to a little white line. ‘I still have the scar today.’
‘Aw.’
‘Yep. I don’t know who was more shocked, me or this little bundle of fur hanging off my thumb.’
Brooke wiped the tears from her eyes as her shoulders shook. ‘I’m sorry. I’m not laughing. I’m really not.’
‘No, it doesn’t look like it.’ He nudged her shoulder and chuckled before using the edge of his t-shirt to wipe the tea dripping from her mug onto her jeans. ‘Sorry, I forgot you had a drink.’
Laughing, Brooke took his chin gently in her hand and kissed him. ‘I’ll forgive you.’
‘Thanks.’ Max grinned and nodded towards her mug. ‘Is it working?’
‘The tea? Yes. Thanks.’
‘Good, you should have seen how many spoonfuls of sugar I mixed in.’ He chuckled. ‘I never know how sugary sweet tea is supposed to be.’
‘No idea, but it tastes good.’ Taking another sip of her tea, she looked sideways at him.
‘What?’
