Chapter 3
Brooke
* * *
At least the house was nice.
The modern two story porch-wrapped house sported a nice large lot that had a car port and overlooked the sea. The interior was the kind that suited my cosmopolitan taste with it’s high ceiling, tasteful leather furniture and a kitched with designer cabinets and quartz counters. The soft cream and burgundy colors created an ambience of serenity and I loved the wooden floors, real fireplace and walk in closet.
I didn’t feel particularly comfortable knowing Officer Asshole was my neighbor, but thanked God the house was to my liking, and wasn’t designed in such a way that we were right next to each other.
There was a space of about fifty feet between us, and my back garden mostly had a view of the sea.
I was, however, very envious of his place since he had a boardwalk that went right up to the harbor. It looked like most of that land was his.
“Brooke, are you going to move from that window any time soon?” Noah asked, coming into the living room.
I turned toward him and frowned. He’d just brought in my suitcase, and I could already see the water had gotten to the contents inside.
“I can’t believe the crap from this day.” I shook my head then rested my hand on my forehead. My laptop was in that suitcase. I had a lot of things stored on my Google Drive and my Dropbox, but there was some stuff that wasn’t.
“Just be glad you’re safe.” He raised a brow and stared at me with his piercing blue eyes. He had a tan that made his blond hair look lighter.
He set the case down and opened it. Just as I’d thought, the water had gotten to the inside.
“Shit. Everything’s ruined.” I huffed. It was soaked, through and through. All the stuff I’d put together before moving across the country…everything.
“The other bags are the same. This was the one I thought would be okay.” He offered a look of sympathy.
“Great, so I have nothing but the clothes on my back.”
“Looks that way. I can run out and get some stuff for you in a little while. There may be a few shops open late.”
Normally I would have declined, but today I felt I needed the help. It was nearly eight and I was tired. I’d been traveling since six in the morning.
“I think I’d love that.” I nodded, bringing my hands together. “I’m glad you came.” Who knows what I would have had to put up with if I hadn’t had him by my side. I was certain Officer Asshole would have taken me down to the station and all but ordered an internal examination on me.
“You know I’ll always come if you need me.” He smirked as if the idea of him not being there when I needed him was completely far-fetched.
I was inclined to agree. “Thank you. Thank you so much.” I nodded.
If there was ever an image to show what a best friend looked like, he would be it. He was truly always there for me, and I knew he would do anything for me, like the time I lost my passport in Paris and he flew over to help me and sorted everything out. After that, I knew he would do absolutely anything for me.
The best thing he’d ever done for me, though, was give me an exclusive interview. Sure, he was my best friend, but Noah hated interviews.
That interview had landed me the junior features editorial position atPeople Magazine, and that was when my career really took off. I would say it was one of the stepping stones that got me my current assignment here in Wilmington, too.
It might have been an awful day, but I had to remember why I was here: for the highly coveted position I’d worked so damn hard for.
Out of the five seriously qualified competitors I had back in LA, Perry had chosen me to do the yearly special. All the people who had ever been featured inPeoplehad been amazing, but this year’s subject wasn’t just any old special.
This year the issue would be on professional marathon runner Sally Weinstein. The extent of her greatness blew me away. I’d followed her career for years because she was my role model. I loved her and all she stood for. She was the kind of person who’d been a great example to me in my life.
Sally had been voted the most influential woman of the year byPeople Magazine, and I was going to write the exclusive.
That was going to be the epitome of my career.
Remembering that made me feel good. I would feel better later when the effects of the crazy day passed, a crazy day that definitely could have been avoided.
