Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 88992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
“I retired from the NAFL today,” he says.
“What?” I gasp, my eyes widening. “Why did you do that?”
“I had to let it go.” He rubs the top of my hand with his thumb. “The fighting, the backstabbing, and the politics of it all aren’t for me. I lived in that world for far too long. It was the closest world I could find that was like the one my dad lived in, I guess. And I hustled, and I sacrificed myself for it … and I almost sacrificed you, too.” He comes closer, twisting our fingers together and bringing them to his lips. “You, Dr. Van, showed me what life could look like if I just … let go.”
My head spins, and I take his other hand to steady me.
“Will you accept my apology for walking out on you a couple of days ago?” he asks. “I’m sick over it. I keep seeing your eyes filled with such sadness and pain. Then, it just reinforced what I already thought. Now? I think it was the most idiotic thing I’ve ever done in my life, and that’s saying something.”
His words are music to my ears. I don’t know what they mean in the long run, and I’m afraid to read into them, but they’re beautiful all the same.
“Of course, I accept your apology,” I say, my chest burning with the heat of a thousand suns. “But you could’ve called. You didn’t have to come all the way here.”
“Yeah, I did. I had to look you in the eye like a man and take responsibility for my mistake. To apologize to your face for hurting you, something I never wanted to do. And I had to see for myself that you’re okay.”
I let go of his hands and take a breath. “I am okay. I couldn’t make your behavior make sense. That was the worst of it. I thought we had something with legs, something that I’ve never felt with anyone else, and I really, truly thought you felt that, too.”
“I do. I really fucking do. And one day I will explain all of this—not as an excuse, but for context. But I promise you that as long as we’re together, in whatever way you want to be, I won’t allow anything to come between us.”
A swell of warmth floods my body, causing my cheeks to match my dress. This is the Brooks I fell for. This is the man I thought I knew.
“Look,” he says, smirking. “I’m unemployed now. I’m renting a house from the mayor of this little town in Tennessee.”
I laugh.
“I have a cat who screams for hot dogs, apparently.” He melts me with his smile as he comes to me, wrapping his arms around my waist. “I don’t know what the future looks like, but I know I’m in a rebuilding stage. And I’d really, really like to see if we can build something together.”
Our mouths find each other gently, at first. He kisses me softly, carefully, like he’s testing the waters to see if this moment is real.
I smile against him, unable to stop the giggle of relief. His forehead rests against mine as he releases a shaky breath mixed with a chuckle. His hand slides to the back of my neck, tilting my face so he can see in my eyes.
“Let’s label this,” he says. “Me and you. Let’s put a name on it.”
“What do you want to call us?”
His smile is simple and perfect, and it fills me with a peace I can’t explain.
“I don’t know what the future looks like, but I know I’m in a rebuilding stage. And I’d really, really like to see if we can build something together.”
But I do know that if this moment is the foundation of whatever we’re building, we’re going to be just fine.
“You can put whatever label you want on it, but I want you to be certain of what we are.” He traces my neck with his fingertip. “Because we are.” His eyes twinkle with mischief. “Will you be my girlfriend, Doc?”
“I’d love to be your girlfriend.”
His face buries in the crook of my neck as his hands slide under my dress. I moan as his palms hit my skin, pushing a button that allows him full entry into my heart. I melt into him, knowing right where this is going.
And I’ve never wanted anything more.
Whimsy List: Updated
Have a one-night stand.
ORGASM! (with a man)
Wear a bold lipstick.
Buy more lingerie (and wear it often).
Stop being sweet.
Learn to flirt.
Take a self-defense class.
Get a tattoo.
Sleep in the dark without being scared.
Cut my hair. (bad idea)
Learn to be okay if others are disappointed (even if it’s in me).
Eat alone in public.
Do something spontaneous.
Make Anna proud.
Learn how to give a blow job.
CHAPTER
THIRTY
Brooks
“This is a birthday party?” I ask in disbelief.
Audrey smiles, taking my hand and leading me through a row of perfectly manicured hedges.