Miles takes another puff, raising his brows and hollowing his cheeks. "Think about it and give me a call. This might sound bad, but we haven't had much interest. Between that and references from Jack and Levi, I could all but guarantee you the job."
Flicking the card rhythmically in my hand, I nod. "I will, thank you."
And I mean it. Maybe this is what I need.
Maybe this is all I'll have.
"You got it," he says before heading back toward the entrance.
I shove the card into my jacket pocket and click my phone screen on, bouncing on my toes with more nervous energy than ever. "Fourminutes," I whisper aloud, but I can barely hear my own voice as the same thunderous sound from before grows louder.
Suddenly, there's an all too recognizable popping sound that sends shivers down my spine. My head jerks up just in time to see a familiar bike rolling to a stop in front of me, and my heart stops as the rider pulls his helmet off, revealing himself.
"Hey you," he says, killing the motor.
I step forward, not quite convinced it's really him parked in front of me. "Twelve?" I question under my breath.
Drew's shoulders fall as he heaves a huge sigh, the corner of his lips turning up. "Mystery girl."
36
Drew
"Wait, what are you doing here?" Brooke slowly slinks toward me as I round the front of my bike to meet her.
Grabbing her shoulders, I give her a once over. "Are you okay?" I ask, my voice full of concern.
"Drew, don't you have a game like..." She wedges her wrist between our chests to check her nonexistent watch. "Now?"
Sliding my hands behind her ears, I cradle her cheeks in my palms. "Brooke," I say sternly. Her eyes snap to mine. "Areyouokay?"
She shakes her head and swallows hard. "Yeah, my aunt, she… fell. She has some stuff going on, but she's going to be okay, I think. And I'm… um..." Tugging her toward me, I wrap my arms around her and hug her tight. "Fine," she finishes through a breath.
Her body is rigid against mine, all of my fear about how she'd take the rumors resurfacing and pushing through the concern. "You saw them didn't you?"
"Saw what?"
My jaw grows tight as I pull back and look at her deeply. "The headlines."
Her lips part as she shakes her head. "Yeah, Drew. It's fine. We knew this might not go anywhere and—"
"What? No," I cut her off, my pulse pounding. "Don't do that."
"I'm just saying," she tries again, her voice weak. "I know this is a lot—you're making changes, I'm making changes. Maybe the two just don't… mesh."
My stomach drops, an intensity building in its place. "Are you serious?" I shoot out, the pain and frustration twisting my words before I can stop them.
Brooke's eyes go wide, then her brow furrows. "Well, I just mean… I thought that..." She drops her head into her hands and continues speaking, her voice muffled by her palms. "Fuck, I'm messing this up."
I stand frozen, forehead creased, trying to make sense of what's happening. I thoughtIwas the one screwing with this—the one ruining everything we've built.
I pull her hands away from her face, lowering myself to meet her eyes. "Talk to me," I say, my voice calmer now.
Brooke raises her head slowly, her shoulders sunken. "I promised my mom that I wouldn't just write this off because it was easier."
"Easier than fighting for it?"
"No," she whispers, huffing out a laugh under her breath. "Than losing it."
