He pauses briefly, waiting for me to fill the silence, and when I don't, his arms fly in the air. "Okay, since you're not denyingthat, then what's the excuse this time?"
My head shoots up, my armor now in place. "There's a lot ofreasons."
He raises his brows expectantly. "Like what? The fame? The image? Because I play professional hockey? Or is it because I'm on your friend's husband's roster? Because you do realize how you got this job, right?"
My lips drop open, wanting to argue, and my hand twitches at my side, desperate to wag a finger in his face. But he's not wrong. I know I only got this gig because Levi's married to Alex, and with how much it's changing my plans for the future, I'm actually so grateful that's the case.
He stops briefly before his eyes close slowly and scoffs. "You still don't think we could be on the same page because of my age."
I cross my arms over my chest, leaning into my last excuse. "You're twenty-five, Drew."
"And you're thirty-one, Brooke!" he yells. "And you don't seem to have it all figured out."
"Yeah, that's the point! Imagine how little I hadfigured outsix years ago."
"Okay," he mocks in agreement. "So, is that it then? You're older than me, so I couldn't possibly want the same things as you?"
"Youdon'twant the same things as me! It's clear as day. The parties..."
"Uh huh," he nods, sarcastically agreeing.
"The attitude."
"Yep."
"The..."
He narrows his eyes, waiting for me to continue. When I don't, he crosses his arms over his chest. "Go ahead. Say it."
"Listen, I'm not judging your test from last year, but..."
His arms fly to the top of his head, and he brushes his hands down his face. "I don't fucking do drugs, Brooke," he says matter-of-factly.
My head snaps back, and I hold my hands up in surrender. "Okay, well, you can't deny the women."
A bitter laugh sneaks from his throat. "The women, huh? It's funny you're pretending to care because it sure seems like I'm the one who wants you and you're—"
"Youwantme?"I repeat, unconvinced.
His expression melts into one of frustrated confusion. "What?"
I actually smile as I shove my hands into my pockets. "How was your date last night, Drew? Was that planned before or after you offered to stay at my place? What? I didn't invite you in, so you had to go find someone who would?" I stop mid-ramble, before starting a new one. "Ya know what? No, you are free to do whatever you want. And you should, really. But that's my point.That'swhat you want. And that's fine! That's what I wanted way past twenty-five. But if you're still there. Ifthat'swhat you're looking for—then this..." I say, repeating his gesture from earlier. "Isn't going anywhere."
Drew turns around, rubbing the back of his neck before he whips back to me. "You have no idea what you're talking about."
"Oh, don't I? You do realize that pictures of you and the blonde actress you were with last night are all over the internet."
"Yeah, I do," he snaps back.
I let out a dismissive laugh. "Oh my God, and I'm the crazy one?"
"Yeah," he nods, his whole body on edge. "You are."
"And how's that?" I throw back.
Drew's lips purse as if he's fighting to keep his next thought in.
"That's what I—"
