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Her soft, warm hands cup my face. “So, what you’re saying is, you don’t know if I’m worth it.”
“Brooke, I come with more baggage than Delta Airlines. You deserve better than a guy like me. And the little guy… is his father in the picture?”
She shakes her head.
“Did he want to be involved?” I ask, wanting to know if this guy is as big of an asshole as my bio father.
Dropping her hands from my face, she spins away but still, my hands are on her waist. I pull her back into my chest. “You’ll get no judgement from me.”
“He doesn’t know. My dad took the job here, and I transferred with him.”
“And you changed your name to Dulce so it would be harder for this guy to find you.”
Her mouth twitches. “Just on my student I.D.”
“I’m going to need more wine.” I walk to the door, hand on the knob.
“Are you leaving?” Disappointment laces through her voice.
“To get more wine.” If there was ever a time to drink, it’s now. It’s cliché, but she’s everything I never knew I wanted. “A little liquid courage couldn’t hurt.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
BROOKE
Restless energy bubbles under the surface as I anxiously await Reed’s return. The mere thought of him acknowledging Caleb's presence and not running away in fear provides me with a glimmer of hope. Yet I find myself grappling with the uncertainty of what his presence and acceptance signifies. Does it imply a willingness to take a leap of faith and embark on a romantic relationship with me? Or am I simply misinterpreting his open-mindedness?
As I pace back and forth, my footsteps create an imaginary path into the carpet, questions swirl within my mind. What will I say to Reed when he comes back? How can I express my feelings without twisting his understanding of the situation?
I’m confused and awestruck that he’s here with me, but there’s a delicate balance to be struck, as I need clarity of his feelings, while being mindful not to force any assumptions or expectations upon him. The words I choose upon his return hold the potential to shape the course of our relationship, and I must choose them wisely.
Being a theatre major, I over-analyze everything. How should I stand or where to look? What facial expression to use. Nervous energy runs through me the same as before I step on stage.
But this is life—it’s not pretend.
Startled, I turn to see Reed standing in front of the door with a shopping bag and two bottles of wine in the other hand.
He’s staying.
“I thought you changed your mind,” I say, unable to look him in the eyes.
Reed sets the bottles on the counter and takes out a knit cap, striding towards me. The look on his face reminds me of the night of the bonfire. Confident and sexy like he has me all figured out.
“We’re going for a walk.” His hands stretch the cozy knit cap. “It has a hole for your ponytail.” Then he pulls my hair through the opening and adjusts it along my forehead.
“Thank you.”
His hands run down my arms before he reaches into the bag and gets out two pairs of gloves. Removing the tags, he shoves them into the kangaroo pocket of his blue and white Stallion’s hoodie. “My team jacket is in the car. We’ll get it since you forgot your coat.”
The air feels like a weighted blanket as we weave through the lodge’s walking trails. I fold the jacket over my arms, so I don’t reach for his hand. The ball is in his court. He knows about Caleb and my dad.
We come upon a wrought-iron bench looking out to a meadow. Reed puts one glove on and clears the light snowfall away. He takes his jacket from me and spreads the outside of the coat down on the seat.
He pops the cork out as we sit and reaches into The Lodge gift bag, coming out with two plastic cups.
“The saleswoman thought I was crazy. She said there’s a winter storm warning, so we better get this party started.”
He hands me my cup, then throws his arm behind my back and angles into me. Both of us bring the wine to our mouths, and its warmth travels through my body but at the end, I shiver. I know it’s time to talk about us.
