Animate Me / Chapter Twenty-Four / The End of the Woo

“They can’t order me to stop dreaming.” Cinderella

The next morning, Brooke wakes up and looks troubled.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, stroking her cheek.

“It’s our last day of woo week,” she says sadly.

She has no idea how the dread of tomorrow is creeping up my spine.

“Don’t remind me. I don’t want it to end. Let’s not end it…let’s just keep it going,” I reply, trying to sound upbeat.

She smiles softly. I can tell there’s nothing she’d like more. “By the way, I’m making dinner for you tonight,” she informs me.

“Really? You’re cooking?” I guess the look of disbelief on my face is a bit off-putting.

“Watch it!” she warns me. “I can cook…I can bring home the bacon and fry it in the pan, you know.”

I smile at her. “And I love that I’m learning that about you.”

“Besides,” she continues. “I haven’t wooed you enough. You deserve a lot of woo, world-class woo.”

My girl wants to woo me. I reach over and gently squeeze her hand.

“Okay, Ms. Woo, dazzle me.”

When I leave her place it hurts to drive away. It’s a physical pain, like I’m being pulled apart. Everything feels wrong the whole way home.

So I spend my afternoon with B-Girl, doing the digital color work over the inked lines for the new issue. I’m going to hate when I get so busy that I’ll have to give up this part of the process, because every time I color in a page, I feel like I’m bringing B-Girl to life.

It’s not long now before Brooke meets her. However nervous that makes me, I know in my heart she’ll adore her just as I do. B-Girl is the physical manifestation of my love and admiration for her. I think Brooke also understands by now that with her strength, kind heart and goodness she’ll always be a super hero to me.

• • •

Incredibly impatient to be with her again, I break Curtis’s dating law and show up early for our dinner. Instead of peonies, I’ve brought roses from my garden, and a bottle of red wine. When she opens the door she’s barefoot and wearing an apron, her cheeks flushed.

“I thought I’d come a little early and help,” I offer as I step inside.

“I bet it’s because you missed me so much you couldn’t stay away,” she teases.

“Am I that obvious?”

She turns and kisses me.

“Yeah,” she acknowledges laughing. “It’s one of the things I’ve always loved about you.”

She directs me to open the wine while she stirs and fusses over the stove. The salad and garlic bread require her attention as well. After I pour the Chianti, she lets me taste the Bolognese sauce. It’s so good that I moan happily, and she grins. My girl can cook…damn.

For a moment I glance around and wonder if she’ll let me move in…like, tonight. With Brooke, wherever she is, is where I want to be.

She makes me wait while she carries everything outside to the patio. The last thing she does is take my roses, now nestled in a little vase, out to the table.

“Come on Mr. Woo,” she coaxes, pulling me by the hand.

I smile and follow as she leads me to her little wonderland. The table is tucked under a canopy of twinkly lights, with the Harry Connick CD playing. The food smells wonderful.

“Wow, Brooke,” I sigh.

“See, I can woo too,” she says grinning as we take our seats.

“Thank you…for this.”

She smiles sweetly, unfolds her fancy napkin and smoothes it over her lap.

My heart’s so full as I watch her refill our wine glasses. It’s all the little details of what’s she’s done for me that tell me so much.

We take our time and savor dinner, despite a nervous buzz. There’s a current of electricity crackling through us only slightly muted by the wine and her soothing touches. Woo week has been everything I’d hoped for and more…but with heavy hearts, we both know it’ll soon come to an end.

When our plates are pushed away we finally face the looming elephant on the patio. “How are you feeling about tomorrow?” I ask, trying to mask my anxiety.

She looks down and I see the darkness move over her expression.

“Not great,” she admits.

“What are you most worried about?”

“Well, obviously I’m not looking forward to my conversation with Arnauld. It’s not going to be fun.”

I nod and wait for more.

“He doesn’t like it when he doesn’t get his way.”

I sit silently, staring at my wine glass before taking another sip.

“What do you think he’ll say?”

“I’m not sure. His manipulation can take different directions.”

“Are you ready for that. I mean, you’re sure of what you want, aren’t you?”

“Yes, of course.” She takes my hand in hers. “I’ve just got to deal with him and get it over with.”

I suddenly picture Brooke with Arnold and my stomach falls. A seed of fear is planted, growing through me wild and untamed. What if he says something that scares her just enough?…enough so that she’s not so sure after all?

Feeling edgy, I push my chair back and get up, walking to the railing. I take a deep breath trying to calm myself as I gaze at the view.

I feel her settle next to me. “Are you okay?”

“I’m nervous,” I admit. “I don’t want you to have to go through this. It makes me crazy how he tries to manipulate you.”

“I know,” she admits. “But I need to finish this conversation with him so we can move forward.”

I turn and look at her. She needs to understand how serious this is for me. “Brooke, you know how much I love you, and now that I know you love me too, everything’s changed. I can’t share you with him or pretend to the world that you’re not my girl.” I take a deep breath and imagine life moving on as it was, as if nothing happened. I shake my head. “I just can’t.”

“I don’t want that either,” she says quietly.

I know what has to be said. “This has to be it…an end for Arnold, and a beginning for us. If it isn’t…”

“Yes?”

“I can’t just sit back and watch you with him, knowing you love me. You have to make a choice. It’s the only way for me.”

She steps into my arms and rests her cheek on my chest.

“Well, of course I choose you,” she says softly, with no trace of hesitation.

My breath catches as I pull her tight against me. When we kiss, the emotion is raw as if each fear we had buried this week has broken through the soil and come to light. Every feeling is heightened and dramatic like it’s the last time we will be together, even though we both know that isn’t the case.

Pulling me inside to her bedroom, she’s rendered in gold from the cast of the twinkly lights outside the window. She kisses me again, but this time soft and slow, like butter melting.

“Brooke,” I moan as her fingers purposefully unbutton my shirt, and slide it off. She leans into me, kissing my shoulder, and tenderly feathering her lips up my neck.

I’m silent, yet my heart speaks to her as I hold her close.

Love me

I sense somehow she hears me. She pulls back enough to look up into my eyes.

“Oh, Nathan,” she whispers. “Don’t you realize how much I need you?” Her voice has a desperate edge, her grip tight on my arms.

Show me

Her shirt peels off easily, a white flag waving before it falls. My lips trail across her forehead and into her hair. Hands reach, skimming bare skin, but it’s not enough. Insatiable, I crave more and more…I desire everything…every part of her.

“I need you too, Brooke, more than you know.” I run both hands through her hair and pull her into a kiss.

Choose me, my heart murmurs.

Her hands pull my jeans open and I sigh as her fingers slowly dip inside.

“I want you, baby,” she says softly.

Another deep kiss, there’s a sharp pull from my heart to hers.

“I’ll always take care of you…cherish you,” I say gently.

Believe in me.

“You promise?” She moves my hand to her breast, now bare.

Cross my heart

“Yes, yes,” I assure her, fingers circling as she leans closer.

Be with me…forever.

She pushes her skirt off her hips, until it puddles around her feet. She’s glorious in her bare beauty, curves to graze with my tongue, my fingers, my soul.

Her lips press against my ear, the soft whisper. “Make love to me.”

Yes. She is mine.

Up on the bed, I’m on my knees with her soft hips cradled in my hands. I pull her closer slowly. The sense of fullness once I’m completely inside of her is overwhelming. She’s a vision as she moves with me. Even in the faint light I can see her eyes look straight through me.

I love you, Brooke

“Nathan,” she whispers, again and again as I touch her tenderly.

Never stop calling my name…especially when you’re in my arms

“Is this what you need?” I ask, my fingers sliding, full of intention while I continue to rock into her. I watch her carefully, every stroke an attempt to make her tremble.

“No one has ever made me feel like this.” She tightens and sighs, then opens deeper.

We are meant for each other, Brooke

The way her hair fans across the sheets is startling, a silk headdress, worthy of a queen.

“Do I feel good to you?” she whispers, then moans.

I can’t…I can’t find the words for her perfection

“Jesus, Brooke.”

Shining eyes. “…oh, my love,” she whispers.

I curl over her, and her legs trail mine as my strokes go deeper, harder, pushing us somewhere we’ve never gone. She gasps with each thrust and I feel her sigh of surrender right before my movements become desperate and hard.

“I love you…so…much,” I stutter.

She cries out and pulls me close as we climax. The world falls away as we hold each other tightly in our own mysterious and unending galaxy.

Our bodies seem to stay connected long after we finally pull apart.

• • •

I wake just as dawn breaks and slowly realize where I am. Brooke’s wrapped around me like a starfish on her rock and I sigh with contentment. The memory of the night before fills me with hope and resolve.

In the quiet I conclude that it’s a waste of time to worry about our future. It is certain and destined, even if we have to crawl out of the jungle to shed a monkey on our journey. Brooke will find another job, I have B-Girl and plenty of savings…but most importantly, we will be together.

By the time Brooke wakes, my positive attitude is solid and it rubs off on her too. We watch the DVD collection of Gumby and Pokey episodes over coffee, toast and jam. When it’s finally time to head out, I keep it light agreeing that I’ll text her mid morning. I resolve to listen to Wayne Dyer on my iPod as long as possible while I visualize Brooke and me, united in our own little world.

• • •

I try to focus on work and get a fair amount done. I’m proud I’ve lasted until almost eleven before I finally text her.

Thinking about my girl…how’s it going? Have you seen Mojo yet?

I’m fine, love. No, he’s been in closed-door meetings all morning so I haven’t had to deal with him yet.

Okay. I’ll check in with you later. I love you.

I love you too. XO

I take a break from Bucky and take some time to study Joel’s Robbie model sheets for the new project when I suddenly hear my name.

“Nathan?”

I think I recognize her from HR. She always has a fake happy look on her face.

“Yes?”

“I need you to come with me.”

“Where are we going?”

“We need to talk to you.”

“We? Can you tell me what’s this about?”

“Please just come with me,” she insists. The happy smile is gone.

So this is how it’s going to go. I turn off Wayne Dyer silently hoping that he stays with me even if I have to leave my iPod behind.

I follow her to the elevator. It’s the most nerve-wracking ride I’ve ever had, the silence is like a deafening scream. As soon as we step off I realize that we’re heading towards Arnold’s office.

“Why aren’t we going to HR?” I ask, trying to manage my nerves.

“It was decided to have this meeting here.” She says simply likes she’s giving me directions to the mailroom or something.

When she pulls open his office door I pause at the threshold, realizing that there isn’t a single thing inside I’m ready for. Curtis taught me that in football a blindside is when you are tackled without seeing it coming. My instincts tell me to run the other direction, but I know a man must face things head on.

I am Brooke’s man, and I will not run.

I step inside and scan the room. The main HR lady is in the first seat, sitting so upright she looks like she has a metal rod up her back. Then there are two suits watching me carefully, another strangely familiar looking guy sitting just outside the pack and then finally Arnold, seething like a monkey who’s had his banana taken away. The death glare he gives me would totally derail me if Wayne and his affirmations didn’t have my back.

Brooke is gloriously absent from this train wreck and I’m so glad. It’s the one bright spot of relief in this cheery gathering.

“Please have a seat Mr. Evans,” suit lady directs and points to the chair facing the firing squad. “These are our lawyers, Mr. Ruiz and Mr. Felton,” she informs me as she points to the suits on my right.

Damn.

I have two thoughts. The first is that I’m pretty sure I’m not here to get a promotion. I have to fight off a smile at my humor in the face of disaster.

The second is that they can fire me for some bogus reason and blast me out of here on a rocket. It’s not going to change anything that matters to me.

Fuck them…every single one of the soulless fuckers.

I move to the chair, sit down and fold my arms over my chest defiantly. Let’s get this done.

I’m ready, you raving assholes.

Bring it on.