The words were still in my mind now, hours later.
So was the way she’d looked. Brooke had looked like I’d really hurt her. The expression on her face had been one of someone who’d lost someone close to them—her father. I should have recognized it more than anyone because of the loss that had gripped me when Olivia left me.
Left me—better to say that. She’d died, but it felt like she’d left me.
And…there I was thinking about her again.
Not good, definitely not good.
I didn’t go to work that day, instead taking a personal day and spending it on the beach.
When I got back, I had one thing on my mind, one thing I had to do before the day ended, and that was apologize to Brooke. Thankfully she was home when I got back.
I rang her doorbell and waited patiently outside. It wouldn’t have surprised me if she didn’t answer the door, but I hoped she did. After a minute or two, I rang the bell again and heard strange noises coming from inside the house. It sounded like water.
“Brooke?” I called out. Her name felt foreign on my lips, and I realized it was the first time I’d said it out loud.
Then the door flew open and a very distressed Brooke stood before me, drenched with water and dripping head to toe.
Inside the house, it looked like someone had turned on a river because water was everywhere. The sound I’d heard had been water, and it seemed to be gushing from the kitchen.
“Oh God no, not you. I can’t deal with you right now so please go away.” The frown on her beautiful face was enough to tell me how pissed off she was at my ass.
She went to close the door but I stopped her.
“Please, wait.” I put my hand up. “I’m sorry about this morning.”
“Justthismorning?” She gave me a pointed look.
“The other day too, but this morning was worse.” I nodded.
“Yes, it sure was.” She held me in place with her gaze, intense but with something else that flickered in the depths of her eyes.
“What happened in here?”
She looked me over hesitantly then pressed her lips together. “Burst pipe.”
“Let me fix it?”
That hesitant look returned to her face.
“Come on, it looks pretty bad in there, but there’s nothing I can’t fix.” I offered a small smile.
This time she blinked and nodded, but I noticed a slight flush to her cheeks.
“Okay.”
My whole body sighed with relief, and it felt like the first right thing I’d done in days.
I stepped inside, hoping I could fix more than just her burst pipe.
