Chapter Twenty-Three
Brooke
Caroline walked into my room just as I was sitting down to let my foils process. I was touching up the color and adding in a new gorgeous toner I’d found. While I’d been doing my makeup almost every day, I still hadn’t changed anything in my hair, which was really unusual for me. The girls could always tell if I was upset by how my color changes went. Last week, Quinn and I had finally finished changing her hair to a beautiful soft lilac color. I hoped she kept it up for a while because it was some of my best work. As for me, not so much. My hair needed some work.
“It’s about time.” To my horror and surprise, she came over and wrapped me up in a huge hug. I wasn’t expecting her to react so strongly to my hair.
Even I didn’t do that.
“Not that I mind, but why are you hugging me? It’s just hair.”
She covered her mouth with her hand, and I could tell she was holding back tears.
“Care, what the hell?”
She smacked at my arm. “We’ve been worried about you.”
“Ouch, don’t do that!” I rubbed at where she’d hit. “I don’t maim you when you’re down.”
I was in trouble when she narrowed her eyes.
“I also don’t make you freak out about if I’m going to eat or have a panic attack in the middle of class. Hell, I was scared you were going to move back to North Carolina and leave me here all alone. This,” she said, waving her hand around, “makes me feel a lot better.”
She was making me feel bad.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I kind of lost my way.”
She sat down in the chair across from where I was sitting on the edge of my bed. “I’m just happy to see you snap out of it. I hate that you still aren’t back to your old self. Dom doesn’t deserve you.”
I winced at his name. “Can we…not talk about him? I kinda like being out of my dark hole, and if I have to hear his name or what’s going on with him, I might go running back into it. There’s also…new information I’ll let you in on soon, but I’m just not ready yet.”
She grabbed a makeup brush off my desk and started playing with it. “Of course. We can talk about anything.”
I smirked. “Anything?”
“Oh hell, you’re going to ask about Liam, aren’t you?”
My grin widened. “Start talking, sister.”
The blush creeping up her cheeks made me giggle.
“He’s…perfect. Honestly, B, I’ve never met anyone like him before. I could see myself marrying him.”
“Really?” My eyes widened. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you talk about a guy like that before, not even about Landon.”
She fidgeted nervously. “I know. There’s just something about him.”
I smiled softly. “As long as you’re happy, I’m happy. Maybe he can come hang out here so I can actually spend some time with him since I went AWOL over the summer?”
“Of course. We were actually just talking about what we wanted to do next weekend. I’ll see if he can come here.”
I smiled gratefully. “Thanks, Care.” My fingers fidgeted with the blanket. “I’m sorry I’ve been so awful lately. It isn’t fair for you or anyone else. I just…didn’t, still don’t really, know how to deal.”
She reached out and took my hand in hers. “It’s okay. Promise me if you feel yourself start slipping that you’ll talk to me. Or Josh. Or Riley. Or Qui—”
“I get the picture,” I said dryly. “I’ll try not to let it happen again.”
“At some point you’re going to have to see him.”
I tried not to blush as I remembered the kiss.
“I already did.”
She bit down on her cheek and fought back a smile.
“But I’m going to put off letting it happen again as long as possible.”
If only. Dom wasn’t exactly beating down my door.
“Josh is having a World Series watch party for the final game, and he really wants you to come,” she started. I immediately shook my head. “Just listen. Dom isn’t going to be there. He told Josh he has plans already. It would be good for you to see everyone. We all miss you, B.”
I really want to.
I relented. “I’ll try.”
To my surprise, she smiled. “That’s all I ask. Now tell me about what you’re doing to your hair.”
***
Walking into my brother’s apartment after staying away for so long was weird. Not just a little weird – like a foreign indie film strange. To their credit, they all acted like it was normal for me to be here. Matt waved and went back to talking to Jared. Caroline and Quinn were looking at something on a phone. Riley and Josh were curled up on the couch watching pre-game stuff. Drew took my arm, leading me into the kitchen so I could pour myself a drink. It shocked the hell out of me when Josh said he’d asked to take Austin’s room because he was going to go to grad school. I was proud of him, because as much as he’d hated studying, it was the last thing I’d expected.
“A little liquid courage?” he asked, winking. I smiled gratefully and downed the shot. He leaned in closer. “He’s not here, and as far as I know, he’s not coming.”
I gave him a quick hug. “Thanks, Drew.”
He winked again and took a shot of his own. For once, we weren’t drinking tequila, and I was thankful. I was quickly running out of liquors to drink if I continued to eliminate them based on bad memories. Not all of them were bad, though—Dom’s kitchen for one. It was just painful.
Since he’d brought me back to my apartment and made his declaration, he’d been radio silent, which made his little speech a bit underwhelming. Sure, flowers had shown up once, and I’d seen him a few times on my way to class, but it wasn’t exactly a winning plan to show me we belonged together. Quinn seemed to believe he was building up to some grand gesture. I thought he just wanted to make my emotions go haywire again for his amusement. And of course, I hadn’t told Riley or Caroline what had happened because they’d push me to talk about it. Talking was the last thing I wanted to do.
“I know the World Series is a big thing, but I don’t know anything about baseball except some of those players look damned good in those pants.”
Drew held his cup up to mine. “Preach. I don’t know anything about baseball. The last time I went to a game, I got so drunk they threw me out.”
I stifled a giggle. “How in the hell did you do that?”
He grinned. “I was yelling at the players, asking if they wanted to meet up after the game. It was embarrassingly descriptive.”
I gave him a side hug. “This is why I love you.”
He grinned. “We’ve missed you, B.”
We eventually made our way into the living room where everyone else was camped out. I opted to sit on the floor in front of the couch instead of making Josh and Riley scoot over. No one wanted to sit next to them most of the time anyway because they were too touchy feely. I made it through the first few innings without getting too distracted. But somewhere into the fifth, the door opened, and Dom walked into the apartment.
Everyone called out a greeting, mine notably weaker than the others. He went into the kitchen to get a drink. When he came back, he sat down next to me.
“Is this okay?”
I nodded and looked back at the television quickly. Dom was so close I could smell his spicy scent. It wasn’t fair that he looked and smelled so yummy all the time. He leaned across me to put his drink on the coffee table, brushing against my knees as he did. I was practically curled into a ball, not because I was cold but because Dom’s presence had me so tied up in knots.
“Are you cold?”
He wrapped an arm around me before I could respond, tugging me in closer to his side. I waited to see if everyone would turn to look at us. We’d been quite the spectacle lately, so I’m sure they were all waiting for the entertainment, but they didn’t. No one even glanced in our direction. What in the hell is going on here?
Dom leaned in closer, running his nose along my neck. “I’ve missed you. I’m sorry I disappeared. I had a paper that was worth a third of my grade due, so I’ve been locked up in the library.”
What was I supposed to say to that? No big deal? You don’t owe me an explanation after our last conversation a month ago?
“It’s fine,” I whispered out of the corner of my mouth while staring at the television. I really wished I understood this stupid game so I could use any excuse possible to gain some space. The only reason I wasn’t halfway across the room by now was because of the shots Drew and I had taken at the beginning of the night. Somehow, that felt a little more calculated now if I thought back on it.
I glared in Drew’s direction, and he pointedly ignored me in favor of the men in tight pants on the screen. Asshole. The longer the game went on, the more uncomfortable I was on the floor. My ass hurt from sitting on the hard ground. How long are these stupid games?
Dom must have noticed my squirming because eventually he pulled me into his lap. I gasped as he lifted me off the ground and sat stiffly as he settled us back against the couch. High-handed asshole. Before everything happened, I wouldn’t have thought a thing about it, but now things were different. His hands rubbed soft circles up and down my back, an attempt to calm me down. After a while, it was enough to make me relax against him.
Again, none of our friends even looked in our direction. Even my little squeak as he tugged me onto his lap hadn’t caused a reaction.
These jerks had to be in on it. That was the only explanation that made sense.
“Can we talk for a second?”
He looked at me through hooded eyes. Was he turned on that I was sitting on his lap? I shifted slightly and felt his hard length against my back. Yep, sure fucking was. I fought to keep my shock in check and not visible in my expression.
I stood up and waited for him to get up behind me. At the very least, I could offer him a little bit of cover for his situation from the prying eyes of our friends. He followed me into Josh’s room. I debated before closing the door behind us. I finally opted to shut it for privacy. Those bastards in the living room would probably be pressed against the outside trying to hear our conversation anyway. I probably shouldn’t make it easy for them.
“What’s going—”
My back hit the wall as Dominic’s mouth captured mine. I tried not to sigh into the kiss.
Damn it, I wanted to talk. I shoved at his chest and he moved back immediately.
“No, damn it, talking happens first. Tell me what’s going on.”
He tugged at a piece of my hair. “I really like your hair this color. It looks good short too.”
Son of a—
“Dominic, focus. I didn’t know you were going to be here tonight. Can you explain—”
His kiss was more insistent this time. My mouth opened to his, and I let his tongue glide across mine. It was sensuous torture because I wanted him to kiss and touch other parts. I shoved him back again. What the damned hell was going on? Every time I tried to talk, he kissed me to shut me up.
“What the hell? Damn it, quit kissing me.” I heard titters from the other room. The television had obviously been lowered so they could listen. “You nosy assholes mind your own damn business.”
Dom’s hand cupped my face so I’d focus on him. “I told you I was going to fight for you, Brooke. I never said I’d fight fair. I’m trying to give you space to figure out if you still want this, but it’s killing me.”
“You waited a month, Dom. Seriously, you dropped me off at my apartment with that kiss and then you disappeared again. You’re like a freaking riptide. I can’t keep being dragged under over and over. Eventually I’ll need oxygen.”
He rested his forehead against mine. “I’m sorry, that’s not how I planned for this to go. I really did get busy with my paper, and I didn’t want to wait this long before we talked again.” He pressed his lips to my temple gently. “Go out with me.”
“What?” I whispered. “I thought you were mad at me.”
“I’m sick of being mad, Brooke. I’m sick of missing my best friend. Go to Josh’s Halloween party with me. That gives you a few days to get used to the idea.”
My skin prickled as he ran his hand down the side of my face. This was the last thing I expected.
“Are you—”
He kissed me again. My fingers tangled in his hair. His hands dug into my hips and he pressed his lower half against me. He thoroughly devoured me. If I hadn’t been pinned against the wall I probably would’ve fallen to the ground. I felt his hardness against my stomach, and he swallowed the moan trying to escape me. We were both breathless when he pulled away.
“What was that one for?”
He smirked. “Because I wanted to. Just say yes, Brooke.”
I giggled. “Yes, Brooke.”
He wrapped his arms around me tighter. “God, you’re amazing. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too.”
As he leaned back, I had to fight my body to keep from following his. “Now, go out there and try not to look like I’ve thoroughly fucked your mouth with my tongue.”
My eyes widened. “What did you just—”
“Go on, baby.” He rested his hand on the doorknob. He leaned into my ear. “You should probably straighten your shirt out first, though.”
My eyes fell to my gaping shirt. Dom had just gotten an eyeful of my boobs. I tugged it back into place while he grinned smugly.
“Aren’t you coming?” This time his eyes fell, and I noticed the rather large bulge he was sporting. I bit down on my bottom lip. “I could help you with that.”
“Go, Brooke. Before I forget we’re in your brother’s room, and I fuck you on his bed.”
I sucked in a sharp breath, and he laughed. He gently pushed me out the door, closing it behind me. Our friends stared at me, clearly wanting me to tell them what the hell that was about. Too bad. It wasn’t going to happen. What happened between me and Dom was going to stay personal this time. And damn it, we were going to figure out what was going on between us once and for all. If anyone came between us, I was going to go after them, claws out.