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“I appreciate you all stepping in to keep an eye on her. This week she’s at our home, and we’ll get a security system installed at her place. We’ll reassess our plan when she heads back to hers. Hopefully, we’ve grabbed that fucker by then.”
Everyone murmurs in agreement. They all love Brooke and would do anything for her.
We spend the rest of church going over the financials and new orders that we’ve had come in.
He excuses us and I wait for the other brothers to leave. “Do you have a second?” I ask Dad as the door swings shut between the last guy who walked out.
“Sure, what’s going on?”
“When we finally find him—he’s mine first.”
Dad nods.
“I’m on Brooke duty once she’s done with school. Mom’s got Tripp, but I’ll pick him up in time for you guys to go out for dinner.” I look at my phone. “I have someone dropping off their bike. I’ll talk to you later.”
I head outside and over to the shop—ready to get this day over with so I can see Brooke.
***
I pull into the parking lot at Brooke’s school, pulling my bike into the spot next to her car. I’m not sure what my plan is, but I want to win her back. She’s the only one for me and I know I’m the only one for her.
I’m not naïve, I know I have to earn back her trust, and I will. We’ve been through too much to just wipe our hands of each other.
The bell ringing pulls me from my thoughts and my eyes go to the doors she’ll be coming out of soon. It’s fifteen minutes before she is walkingout. The sun makes her honey-blonde hair shine bright. I wonder if it still smells like peaches. I watch her walk gingerly down the steps and my anger begins to rise again, knowing why she’s hurt.
Her eyes flit around the parking lot and when she spots me, I swear I see relief written all over her face. I climb off my bike and slowly walk toward her. “You okay?” I ask when I reach her.
She looks up at me, without actually looking at me—I fucking hate it, but I’ll earn the smiles she used to give me.
Brooke shrugs. “Just tired and sore.”
“I’m sorry.” I don’t miss the way her body stiffens when I step even closer to her. “Get in your car and I’ll get you back to Mom and Dad’s.”
She scoots around me. “Yeah, okay, thanks.”
It takes ten minutes to get back to my parents’ house.
The minute we pull up, the front door opens, and Tripp comes running out, but instead of running to me, he runs up to Brooke. “Did you have a good day?” Smiling up at her.
My kid is the fucking best—he deserves someone like Brooke in his life. I stop next to him, resting my hand on his shoulder.
She smiles. It’s awkward, but it’s there. “It was great. Thank you for asking.” Her eyes look up at me and quickly look away. “I’m going to head inside.” Brooke places her hand softly on Tripp’s head and he smiles hugely at her, making me smile in return.
We follow her into the house, and I feel a tiny bit of hope.
***
My parents left a little bit ago to have dinner with some friends. I know Mom didn’t want to leave Brooke, but I told her that Tripp and I would stay. Now we’re waiting for the pizza to get here.
I know I pissed Brooke off when I told her I was staying while my parents were gone. It’s dirty, but after she changed into her “comfy” clothes, I sicced my son on her. He asked her to help him with the flashcards Mom bought to help Tripp with his letters.
She shot me a dirty look, but let my boy lead her to the sofa, where they are now. I sit in the chair, watching Brooke lay cards out on the table. “R…U…N,” she says softly. “What does that spell?”
Tripp taps his chin. “R-Run?”
Brooke gives him the first real smile I’ve seen on her in years, and it is luminescent…luminescent?“Good job,” she says and then holds her hand up for a high five, which he gladly gives her.
The pizza arrives and Brooke picks up the cards and hands them to Tripp. He takes them and disappears down the hall to my old room. I turn to smile at Brooke, and she stomps toward me. Oh shit.
