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I reached toward the center of the table to get some cream for my coffee as Brooke did the same, our hands brushing as we grabbed the pitcher. We pulled back in unison.
“Sorry,” I said.
“No worries. You go.” She’d barely made eye contact as she spoke, turning up the volume on the unsettled feeling still lurking in my gut.
I reached over again, pouring a little cream into her cup before moving on to mine.
“Thanks,” she said.
“No problem.”
I couldn’t for the life of me tell how she was feeling this morning—other than uncomfortable being near me. Unlike dinner, where she’d been seated right next to me, this morning Brooke was right across from me—Liam to her left, Leah to my right. My declaration had to have been a lot to process, so I was doing my best to be patient, trying to give Brooke as much space as I could.
I planned to tell Leah about Brooke and me in the car on the way to the heliport—getting to the Hamptons by helicopter was the only way to travel these days. Apparently. It would just be the two of us on the drive over to the port, presenting the perfect opportunity to talk. It would also give Leah some time to digest, should she need it, before we were back with Liam and Brooke.
I didn’t ask, but I assumed Brooke would be taking the same opportunity to talk to Liam. Judging by his smile when they’d first come down for breakfast, he was still in the dark. I didn’t think he’d be upset—just maybe a little awkward around me.
I pushed my plate away, my stomach too topsy-turvy to eat anymore.
Leah glanced over, concern drawing her features. “You barely ate. Are you okay?”
I nodded. “Not that hungry, I guess.”
She furrowed her brow. “And you barely slept last night. What was it, after three by the time you came back to bed?”
Brooke shot me a look, likely doing the math on my bedtime.
“You were up, too?” Liam asked. “Brooke couldn’t sleep, either.” He squeezed her hand, adding, “She always has trouble sleeping in a new place.”
I had forgotten that Brooke and I had that in common. My mind flashed to an image of the first night in our new apartment. Since we were both wired, we talked, watched tv, and made love until 4 a.m., when we’d finally drifted off to sleep.
“I’m surprised you didn’t run into each other,” Leah said, snapping me back to the present.
“We did,” Brooke said. “For a few minutes outside. I hope we didn’t wake anyone.”
She glanced around the table, and everyone shook their heads. Relieved she’d mentioned it, I relaxed a little. We were already keeping enough secrets and didn’t need to add one more.
“If no one minds,” I said, “I think I’ll excuse myself and get a head start loading our stuff into the car. Leah, are all your things ready upstairs?”
Leah nodded, but Robert spoke first.
“Before you get moving, Lillian and I have a little surprise.”
I immediately tensed, although I had no idea why. What could Leah’s parents do that could be so bad?
“We thought, why bother each driving to the heliport when you all can take this opportunity to spend more time together? So we ordered two cars—one for us old folks and one for the four of you.”
That. They could do that.
“Yay!” Leah said. “Great idea, Mom and Dad. Thanks!”
Well, shit,I silently cursed, glancing at Brooke again. I could tell by her tight smile that she was thinking the exact same thing I was: we both needed a new plan for sharing our backstory with our respective partners.
An hour later, Leah and I were waiting in the driveway, bags stacked and ready to go. Leah traveled with two large suitcases, one carry-on-sized bag, a garment bag, and her purse. We were only supposed to be gone for three days, and I had no idea what was in each bag, but I didn’t dare question it.
The front door opened, and Brooke came out. Before I could even think about it, I rushed over to her, ready to help with whatever bags she had, but all that followed behind her was one carry-on and her purse. I couldn’t hide the surprise on my face.
“What?” she asked.
