Brooklyn

“Where are we going?” Drew asks as I order him back into my car after stopping by Kelly’s, the aroma of the comfort food of our younger years surrounding us. “Aren’t we going to sit on the beach and eat like we used to?”

I shrug, turning the key in the ignition. “I thought about it, but I figured I’d combine our two favorite pastimes into one. Grab Kelly’s and sit on the roof of the café while we eat it.” I lower my voice. “Like we used to with your dad. Figured you could use a little familiarity today.”

“Don’t you need to get back to work? You’ve already wasted so much of your time taking me to see Alice, then to get the DNA swab. I don’t want to take up the rest of your day.”

“There’s no such thing as wasted time when it comes to you.” I keep my eyes glued to the road as I steer toward downtown. The truth is, I have no desire to leave Drew’s side. Not right now. Not after this. “I wouldn’t be able to concentrate if I went back to work. All I’d be thinking about is...” A tightness in my throat prevents me from continuing.

When I saw him standing in the doorway to my office this morning, I assumed he was there to confront me about the bomb I dropped on him this past Sunday. Never would I have imagined it was to ask for my help so he could maintain custody of his girls. In an instant, nothing else mattered. All my other concerns and fears became insignificant and inconsequential. I wonder if it’s the universe’s way of leading me down the road I should have taken...toward Drew instead of away from him.

“What a vile bitch Carla is?” he finishes with a slight laugh, one that still makes my heart skip a beat.

A tiny part of me wishes I no longer reacted this way to his endearing voice, husky laugh, woodsy scent, but the truth remains, I do react this way. I always have. He’s the only person who’s made me feel things I didn’t think were real, that I thought only existed in books or movies. This man has brought me to the highest of highs and lowest of lows, but at least it was something. And isn’t something better than nothing? Do I really want to sacrifice that passion for security?

I shift my eyes to his, staring into dark pools of admiration and respect. It’s so deep and poignant, it sends a shiver through me. Goosebumps pimple my skin, his gaze saying more than Wes ever has with words. Isn’t that what I’ve always wanted? To physically feel someone’s love, instead of just taking their word for it? If it weren’t for our disjointed history, the decision would be easy. I thought Drew’s inability to ever notice me was the nail in the coffin of our future. Now I’m not so sure.

“No,” I say, concentrating on the road once more. “I need to be here for you.” I grip the steering wheel a little tighter. I’m worried my words may give him too much hope. Then again, maybe that’s not a bad thing. Maybe hope is exactly what he needs right now. “Just like I know you’d be here for me if I were going through something similar.”

“You know I would, Brooklyn, despite what my past behavior may lead you to believe.” He reaches for my hand and I willingly remove it from the wheel. The instant his fingers wrap around mine, a shiver rolls down my spine. It’s subtle, but there’s no denying how my body reacts to him. It’s just as strong as it was when we were teenagers.

I keep my hand joined with his as I drive into downtown, a blush blooming on my cheeks whenever he steals a glimpse at me. I like to believe I don’t pull away so he’ll feel the comfort he needs, but that’s not entirely true. Ever since I first linked hands with him earlier today, I’ve craved the warmth of his skin on mine, regardless of how innocent the touch is. As much as reason tells me to keep my distance, my heart seems to be the one calling the shots today.

“And we’re all going through this,” he adds after a long silence.

“But they’re your girls.”

“You helped raise them, too. You changed diapers, gave them bottles, sang them to sleep, dealt with meltdowns, wiped their tears. They’re your kids, too, Auntie Brook.”

I inhale a shaky breath when he calls me that. How much longer will I hear sweet, innocent Charlotte say those two words? I’ve tried to remain positive all morning for Drew’s sake, but my hope of this being smoke and mirrors is nonexistent. I remember the woman Carla was during their marriage. Drew may have been happy to ignore it, since he’d landed a trophy wife, but I saw it. We all did. There’s a strong likelihood Charlotte, and possibly even Alyssa, isn’t Drew’s.

“You’ve always been a permanent fixture in their lives. They don’t remember a time you weren’t there to play with them, or sneak them a chocolate chip muffin, or read them a story before bed. This affects all of us.” He pauses. Our gazes lock briefly before I refocus on the road. “How are you doing?”

I pinch my lips into a tight line, fighting against the emotions that have been coursing through me since I read the pleading earlier. I’ve done everything to remain strong and levelheaded for Drew’s sake. Those girls are his weakness...and his strength, just like Drew’s always been my weakness and my strength.

“I’m trying not to think about it too much, but it’s hard.” Tears form in the corners of my eyes and I blink them away. “Since the moment you walked into my office—”

“I’m not sure walk is the right word for what I did,” he jokes, trying to lighten the mood.

“No.” I smile, playfully rolling my eyes. “That’s certainly true. You pretty much barged right in. But as I read those papers, all I could think was what if she wins? Did I waste the little time I could have spent with Charlotte by keeping my distance from you over the past month? Am I really that selfish?”

“Don’t say that. You’re the most selfless person I know. You’ve made a career out of putting others’ needs before yours. There’s no way of knowing exactly what’s going to happen, but you’ll always be part of Charlotte’s life. We all will be. I don’t care if I’m forced to mortgage my damn house to pay for the legal fees. I’ll do it just to fight for her. At least she’ll know I did everything I could to keep her mine.”

“You’re a good man, Drew.” I pause, then add, “I’m sorry.”

“I’m sorry, too,” he replies. “More than you know.”

I float my eyes to his, holding his gaze. The tone of his voice makes it apparent he’s no longer talking about his current predicament but the past we share. For the first time since he learned the truth about that night, a part of me believes he truly does regret how things transpired between us. Shouldn’t that count for something?

We sit in comfortable silence the remainder of our short drive to the North End. Once we reach the café, I pull my car behind the building. Our grease-laden bags in hand, Drew jumps out and rushes toward the driver’s side to help me out. We walk toward the rickety fire escape, about to climb up the scaffolding, when he stops, his eyes zeroing in on my heels.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay in those?”

I shrug. “They’re not optimal, but I’ll be fine.”

“Says the girl who threw a fit when I tried to get you into a pair of skates several weeks ago. Yet you’re happy to climb a fire escape in a pair of fuck-me heels?”

I inhale a sharp breath, my face heating and insides tingling. His fervent voice saying those words brings back memories of that one night together, the things he whispered as his hands roamed all over my body. My mouth waters at the thought of experiencing that again.

“I mean...” He averts his gaze.

Emboldened, I step toward him, ensuring my shoes are in his line of sight. I have to admit, they are hot. As much as I loathed the dress my future mother-in-law chose for me to wear at my bridal shower this past weekend, the beige Christian Louboutin pumps were a rather pleasant surprise, and a very nice addition to my shoe collection.

“You think these are fuck-me shoes?” I ask in a sultry voice.

This isn’t fair to either one of us, but we need something to take our minds off our problems. For a few minutes, I want to pretend I’m not engaged to another man. I want to pretend Drew may not lose his daughters. I want to pretend he did show up at my house the morning he left for college and this is part of the happily ever after I’ve fantasized about for so long.

When he returns his eyes to mine, they’re dark, full of need. It sets those butterflies in my stomach into overdrive. He licks his lips, bringing his body within a whisper of mine. “Will you be upset if I say no?”

“I should be.” I bite my lower lip, my core clenching. My skin flushes, my fingers aching to reach out, grab the back of his neck, and force his lips to mine.

“But you’re not.”

“I...” I trail off, struggling to form the words I should say. I’m so tired of lying, of pretending just to protect my heart.

“You?” He arches a brow, inching even closer but still ensuring our bodies don’t touch, remaining just out of reach.

“I think...” I peer into his mesmerizing eyes, torn. How would I feel if Wes were in my position? If he still harbored feelings for an ex and was currently a breath away from kissing her? It doesn’t matter that I may not love him. I still care about him. I can’t hurt him like that.

Snapping out of my fantasy world, I step back, the connection breaking. “I think we should go eat before our food gets cold.”

Drew’s shoulders fall as he briefly closes his eyes. “Of course.” Doing his best to pretend my rejection doesn’t hurt, he starts up the steps. I kick off my heels, carrying them as I follow him up. He glances back every few seconds, making sure I don’t slip, just as he did whenever we came up here during our younger days. When he crests the ledge, he hoists himself over, placing the bags of food on the ground before turning around to help me.

Once I have my footing, I pause to take stock of the roof. We used to come up here practically every day during our childhood. It’s like no time has passed, like we’ve been transported back to our formative years. Stealing a glance toward the far end, I spy the remnants of the hockey net Drew’s father set up so he could practice. It’s the hockey net where I shot my first goal, thanks to Drew’s insistence.

Being here with him reminds me how strong our bond is, how much we’ve been through and survived. Yes, we’ve had our fair share of difficult moments, some instances when I thought my entire world was falling apart because of him. But we’ve had some amazing memories, too. Shouldn’t those outshine the darkness? Shouldn’t those be the moments my mind focuses on instead of all the times I felt marginalized, forgotten, tossed aside?

A hand lands on my lower back and I shift my eyes to Drew’s. He gestures toward a picnic table, and I allow him to lead me to it. We sit down to feast on lobster rolls, whole belly clams, and Kelly’s famous roast beef. Neither one of us says a word as we listen to the buzz of the city below us, the aroma of tomatoes and garlic wafting up from all the restaurants lining the street.

When I can no longer eat another bite, I push my plate away, noticing Drew didn’t eat as much as he usually would. I watch his profile out of the corner of my eyes. He’s reflective, pensive, his brows creased as he stares into the distance. I wonder what’s going through his mind, if he’s wracking his brain for any piece of evidence Alice can use in his upcoming battle with Carla.

It takes no time for him to realize I’m staring and he meets my gaze, his lips curving up in the corners. He looks different than he did when I first saw him this morning. Yes, he has an uphill battle on his hands, but at least I was able to give him a little peace of mind that we’ll do everything to fight this. I return his smile as a breeze blows my dark hair in front of my face, but I make no move to try to smooth it back. I simply revel in the solitude and serenity being up here with Drew brings me, pretending things between us never changed.

“Penny for your thoughts?” I ask when his eyes never shift from mine.

He smirks. “Care to up that to a quarter? Those legal fees won’t pay for themselves.”

I cringe. “Sorry. I can talk to Alice, see if she can work something out.”

He reaches across the table, clutching my hand. “Don’t worry. I can afford it.” He pauses for a beat, then withdraws, the lack of contact leaving me longing for more. He assesses me for a moment, then leans forward, placing his elbows on the table and folding his hands. “Actually, I was just thinking of the night Carla asked for a divorce.”

“Oh.” I shift nervously on the wooden bench.

“The first time,” he adds, although it’s unnecessary. The timbre of his voice makes it apparent which time he’s referring to.

“I’m not sure now’s the right time to discuss this.” I jump up, collecting our trash, avoiding his eyes as I busy myself. “I shouldn’t have said anything. You were better off not knowing.”

“Why do you think that?” He gets to his feet, helping me clear the area.

“I told you.” I keep my head lowered, hoping he’ll drop the conversation.

“Yeah, yeah. I know. I couldn’t remember and you wanted to forget. I’m sure you’ve rehearsed that one for years.” He brings his hand to my chin. I stop, losing myself in his familiar, soulful eyes. He leans into me, his mouth less than an inch from mine. “What’s the real reason?”

“That is the real reason,” I insist weakly, swallowing hard, my gaze focused on his lips. My heart pounds in my chest, the electricity running through me strong enough to light New York City.

“Talk to me, Brooklyn.” His voice placid, he scrunches his eyebrows together as he pleads with me like a desperate man begging for clemency.

I shake my head, chewing on my lip. “You’ll never understand.”

“I think I will. More than you realize. Please… Just help me wrap my head around it. Then we never have to talk about it again. I promise.”

I draw in a deep breath, trying to calm my overwrought emotions. I’m so tired of hiding the truth, of pretending we can be friends when that ship sailed long ago.

“Because if I had told you the truth, you’d be faced with a decision.” Our eyes lock. “I couldn’t stand the thought of you choosing her over me, which I knew would happen. So I decided for you.”

“But it wasn’t your decision to make.” His neck is strained, the veins in his forehead throbbing.

“Maybe not. But after everything we’ve been through, everything you put me through, I figured it was my best shot at protecting my heart.” Stepping back, I cross my arms in front of my chest, warming myself against a sudden chill, despite the pleasant temperatures. “Or at least I thought it was.”

“But it wasn’t?”

The hope in his voice is overpowering, enthralling, consuming. God, I want to tell him I moved on, that I no longer think about our past. About the way his lips taste. About the way his kisses breathe life into me. About the way his touch jumpstarts my heart. But I do. Constantly.

“We both know I’m powerless to control how my heart feels about you.”

His lips part, his eyes wide as my confession hangs in the air. A confession I never should have made.

Embarrassed, I whirl around, grab my shoes, and hurry toward the fire escape. “I should get going. Wes is probably wondering why I haven’t returned any of his calls.”

“Of course,” Drew scoffs as I’m about to climb down. “Just keep running away, Brooklyn!”

The tone of his voice gives me pause and I stop in my tracks, slowly facing him. “What the hell’s that supposed to mean?”

“No. Please, go.” He gestures to the fire escape, frazzled. “You’ve made an art form out of running from the truth. Don’t stop now. Go. See the man you’re marrying.”

“Don’t be jealous, Drew,” I sneer, masking my truth with anger. “It doesn’t look good on you.” I turn to climb down, but he storms toward me, grabbing my arm and forcing me to stare into his fiery gaze.

“Jealous?” he bellows through the wind. “You think I’m jealous?”

The intensity in his tone renders me speechless. The seconds seem to stretch into minutes, into hours, into an eternity as I wait to see what he’s going to say next.

“Okay! You got me!” He releases his hold on me, digging his hands into his hair. “I’m jealous!”

I exhale a small breath at his admission, both excited and scared at the same time.

“I’m jealous of the rain that hits your skin because I wish I could be the one to know what that feels like.”

“Drew…,” I caution, but it does nothing to stop him. He’s obsessed, a man desperate to finally put it all out there.

“I’m jealous of the sheets on your bed that get to keep you warm at night because I wish it were my arms doing that.” His eyes glued to mine, he closes the distance between us. I’m frozen, unable to move, unable to breathe, unable to walk away. “I’m jealous of the wind that gets to blow through your hair because I wish it were my fingers.”

He pauses, studying me, a subtle quiver in his chin as he struggles to say the next words. “Most of all, I’m jealous of how happy Wes makes you.”

I push out a laugh, my reaction involuntary. “You really think Wes makes me happy?”

He opens his mouth, my words catching him off-guard. The silence stretches, my heart pounding like a caged beast begging to be set free.

“If he doesn’t, why are you marrying him?”

“You’re so stupid, Drew.” I briefly lower my eyes as I swipe at my tears. “There’s only one person who’s ever made me happy.” I return my gaze to his.

“Who?” His Adam’s apple bobs up and down as he waits intently for my response.

I shake my head, wanting to lie, but I can’t. I don’t understand what I’m doing, why I’m admitting this. A force more powerful than any I’ve experienced is at play, turning me into a puppet.

My lips lift into a smile. “You.”

Every muscle in Drew’s body relaxes the instant that word falls from my mouth. He goes to close the distance, but I hold up my hand, stepping back.

“That summer before my junior year was the happiest I could remember. Then you broke your promise and, in doing so, my heart.” My throat is tight as I struggle to say the words I’ve wanted to utter for too long now, tears spilling over my eyelids, cascading down my cheeks. “For years, I wondered if I imagined it all, imagined the feel of your lips, the warmth of your arms, the way my body fit into yours so perfectly. How could it have been real when you did everything to pretend I didn’t exist?”

With each word I speak, my tears become more numerous, but I can’t stop. I’ve kept this in for years, not wanting Drew to see the power he’s held over me. No more. He needs to understand why I’m doing what I am, why I need to move on.

“No one ever made me feel more invisible than you did. I swore to myself I would afford you the same compassion you did me...none.” I swipe at my tears, summoning the strength to continue with this exercise in torture. “Then you had a baby of your own and I saw a glimpse of the old Drew...my Drew.” I point to myself, my voice strained. “Little by little, you came back to me, so much so that when I saw you that night Carla asked for a divorce… I don’t know. I thought things would be different. But they weren’t. You were still the same Drew you always were, the one who tossed me aside the instant something better came along. You never noticed me, never paid any attention to me…until I told you I was engaged to another man. So whatever this is, whatever you think you feel for me, I know it’s not real. You’re just scared of being alone and are out of options.”

I turn around again, my hands shaking as I reach for the ledge.

“You think I never noticed you?” his voice thunders from behind. It’s so cutting and deep, I almost feel the ground tremble below me.

I glance over my shoulder, the passion in his expression reaching my soul. “I—”

“I’ve always noticed you, Brooklyn,” he interrupts, stalking toward me. “Always. Even when you didn’t think I was looking. I noticed you used to put half-and-half in your Americanos every morning, but recently switched to whole milk instead.”

I part my lips, about to tell him that kind of thing is insignificant, but no words come. It doesn’t matter how small the detail. This is something even Wes has never noticed, as evidenced by the fact he still stocks half-and-half in his refrigerator.

“I noticed you get this adorable look on your face when you’re real excited about something. Your eyes have this gleam, and I wish I could be the reason for that excitement.” His tone softening, he closes the distance between us, a slight smile building on his lips. “And I noticed you were always the one my heart wanted. Always. For the longest time, I refused to believe it because I knew I’d never recover if you didn’t feel the same way about me. The truth is, Brooklyn Rose Tanner, you’ve had my heart since the first time I pushed you on the swing on the oak tree in your front yard and you asked me to make you go higher so you could fly.”

My lower lip quivers as I listen to his heartfelt plea. Wes has never spoken to me with so much emotion, so much longing, even when he proposed. His words were sweet, but not full of meaning. Not like Drew’s.

“Just being near you has always made me feel like I’m flying. Because of you, I’m the man I am. I’m the father I am. Because of you, I want to be a better person.” He stares at me, swallowing hard, his chest heaving, his breathing labored. “So you’re wrong, Brooklyn. I’ve always noticed you.”

His confession rings out in the air, leaving me stunned mute, frozen in place. When I make no move to retreat, as I’ve been prone to do, he steps closer. The tension between us is no longer strained. It’s something else entirely…something much more electrifying.

“Brooklyn, tell me something.” There’s heat in his eyes as he stares at me, licking his lips. “What exactly did we do that night?” His voice is husky, wanton. It makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, a delicious shiver rolling down my spine.

“Just what I said to Molly.” I swallow hard. “We stopped just short—”

“Yeah, yeah. I heard all that.” He inches even closer still, only a whisper between us.

I want nothing more than to erase that last breath separating us, but I want this more. This heat. This need. This anticipation. I haven’t felt this alive in years. Almost seven years to be exact.

Lowering his mouth, his breath intermingles with mine. “What. Did. We. Do?”

My eyes zero in on those lips I remember being pressed against mine so fully, so firmly, so perfectly. “We kissed.”

“Did you enjoy it?”

“Yes,” I breathe in a throaty voice. “It was the best kiss of my life.” He doesn’t need to know that, but I can’t stop myself, a slave to this man and the way he makes me feel.

He smirks flirtatiously, a whisper between our mouths. I brace myself for his kiss, my lips tingling in anticipation. As much as I should, I won’t stop him. I’ve been fighting this for years. It’s time I wave the white flag and surrender to what my heart craves.

I wait, and wait, and wait, but his kiss never comes.

“Did I kiss you on any other parts of your body?”

I dart my tongue out, nearly skimming against his lips as I moisten my own. “My neck.”

He brings his mouth close to my throat. Instinctively, I crane my head toward one side, giving him better access. But he still doesn’t touch me. He remains just out of reach, not a single part of his body on mine. I grow even more unhinged as his breath caresses my skin. I have no idea what he’s trying to do, but whatever it is has turned me into a ball of putty in his very capable hands. This is better than any foreplay I’ve ever experienced. I don’t want the moment to end.

He inhales. “Mmm. Lavender.” He shivers, as if overwhelmed with sensation, before returning his fiery eyes to mine. This is a new look for him, his gaze harsh, punishing, saturated with need. “Where else?” His words come out like a growl.

“My stomach.”

He lifts his hands toward me, stopping just shy of clutching my hips. “Did I circle your belly button, dragging my tongue along your hip bone?”

I gasp. “You remember?”

He slowly shakes his head. “No. I always imagined doing that. Did I kiss you anywhere else, Brooklyn?”

My heart pounds as I contemplate my next answer. This entire scenario seems incredibly surreal. I’ve never spoken so boldly about these kinds of things before, not even to Wes. I certainly shouldn’t be talking this way to Drew, but I’m glued to the spot, glued to him, reliving the past.

“My breasts,” I answer finally, my voice barely audible.

“Fuck.” He bites his lower lip with such force, I expect to see blood. Nostrils flaring, he clenches and unclenches his fists before slowly bringing his hands toward me. My breathing increases, my chest rising and falling with each shaky inhale and exhale. The nearness of his hands unhinges me, turning me into a tightly wound ball of need as I succumb to the moment...succumb to Drew

His mouth hovers over mine and I close my eyes, mentally returning to that night, to the incredible sensations I experienced, ones I’ve gone back to time and again just to feel something.

“Did I touch you anywhere else?”

I subtly nod.

“Where?”

His gruff voice causes goosebumps to prickle my skin. “You know where.”

He readjusts his stance, brushing his waist against me. If I weren’t overly sensitive and hyperaware of everything, I probably never would have noticed it. But his erection skimming me flames my lust, an insatiable desire sparking to life. I whimper, my body trembling from the nearness of him.

“Tell me, Brooklyn.” The heat of his words skates across me. “Did I make you come?”

“You know the answer,” I pant. “You overheard what I told Molly.”

“That’s true. But I want to hear you tell me.” He licks his lips. “Did I make you come?”

I no longer hear the busy sounds of the Boston streets below us, no longer feel the wind on my face, no longer smell the city air. I’m in another world, in the erotic dream I’ve fantasized about for years now. For a moment, it’s just us. No Carla. No Wes. No past. Like I always imagined it would be.

“Yes.”

His jaw clenches, every muscle in his body tightening as my response lingers between us. He inches closer, leaving absolutely no room for the Holy Ghost, as Aunt Gigi would say. His mouth scrapes mine and I plump out my lower lip. I feel like an addict whose next fix is right in front of her, but she can’t have it yet.

“With what?”

“Your fingers...”

He moans, harsh and volatile.

“And your tongue.”

“Fuck,” he hisses. I can tell he’s barely keeping it together. And I don’t want him to. I want him to lose control. And I want to lose control with him. “Did you enjoy it?”

“It was the best orgasm of my life. I’d never experienced anything like it before. And I haven’t since.”

A groan falls from Drew’s throat as we remain locked in place, our bodies almost touching, his lips hovering over mine. Abruptly, he steps back, running a shaky hand through his hair and turning from me. It leaves me bewildered, confused, uncertain.

“You should go,” he says firmly. He glances over his shoulder. “As much as I want you, you’re not mine to have.”

His words are like ice water thrown over me, the heat coursing through me just minutes ago sizzling out. The reality of what I almost did hits me hard. What if Drew weren’t so concerned? Would I have been careless and allowed him to kiss me? Would I have kissed him back? I know the answers to those questions. I hang my head in shame.

“How will you get home? Your bike is—”

“I’ll borrow Gigi’s car,” he snaps. “I just... I can’t do this with you.”

I nod, my heart heavy. It’s not just Wes I’m hurting. I’m hurting Drew, too. I can’t string them both along. I love Wes. We’re a good match. But it’s nothing compared to the way my heart pounds an erratic rhythm when I’m with Drew. Is that enough to sustain a relationship, though? How can I reconcile this Drew with the one who broke his promise to me, then pretended like it never happened?

“I’m sorry.” I’m about to head down the fire escape when he speaks again.

“This wedding’s a mistake, Brooklyn.”

I lift my eyes to his. There’s so much emotion. More than I’ve ever seen from Wes.

“I see it. Everyone around you sees it. What’s it going to take for you to finally see it, too?”

I part my lips, then give him the only answer I can, the only answer that would make this decision easy. “Forgetting the past.”