I pick up her hand and lace my fingers through hers. "Only to someone who does the same thing."
"Oh, so you also avoid most emotions by shoving them down or blowing past them with humor?"
I shrug once and nod. "I usually lean more broody than funny but yeah, same idea."
She gives me a knowing look, and I cock a brow. "Angsty shit," we say simultaneously.
She snorts, and I huff out a quick laugh before I grow more solemn, pulling her hand back into my lap.
"You've been pretty open with me," she says, brushing her thumb across mine.
"Exactly," I say simply. "Because I'm trying here. But I'm not usually like this."
She nods without looking at me. "I'm just not big on… feelings."
"But you can be with me. I'm not even sure why I seem to be able to talk to you about shit literally no one else knows, but I clearly do. And fuck, it feels good. It feels like… like how I'm supposed to be. Which I guess is the whole point."
She responds by glancing at me and smiling with only her eyes. I narrow mine and reach forward, grabbing her by the waist and sliding her into my lap.
"Hey," I say, peering up at her. "I told you, I want this. I wantus." I brush a loose hair behind her ear and search her gaze for understanding. "It won't be that simple out there. It's gonna take a little time and a whole lot of bullshit. But here with you, it's pretty damn easy. And that's what will help with the other stuff. You just have to let me in. Let me bethisforyou.Even if you are my mystery girl."
She arches her brow, dropping her hands around my neck. "You keep doin' that thing with your tongue—"
"Brooke, I'm serious."
She lets her lids fall shut with acceptance, before lifting them again. "Okay, okay, I know. You're right." I look at her smugly, and she rolls her eyes. "You're wise beyond your years, Twelve."
I consider pushing her. Asking her questions or forcing the issue so that she'll at least tell me how she feels about us. But I know better than anyone that just because you don't talk about a feeling, doesn't mean it's missing. So instead, I keep it simple, reminding myself that she's hiding it because it's there. And because it's big. Intense. Deeper than she probably ever expected.
"And you're scared I'm too young," I joke with a shake of my head.
Brooke visibly settles, pulling herself closer to me. "I mean, I don't know if I'mscared."
"You're scared."
She tilts her head sideways and looks at the ceiling. "Eh, hesitant maybe."
"Terrified."
"Skeptical."
"Straight up panicked." I plant a kiss on the side of her throat, and she opens up for me. "But I told you, you're worried for nothing."
"Let me guess," she starts, her words vibrating against my lips. "Your favorite cliché… actions speak louder than words."
"Exactly."
"Well…" She digs her fingertips into my shoulder muscles as I continue pecking up her neck. "There's still plenty of time to prove me right."
I pause my lips, hovering right next to her cheek. "Don't bank on that, Mystery Girl," I whisper, nipping her ear as my warm breath floats past her skin. "I've built a whole career on being pretty damn convincing."
Brooke hums, resisting every urge I know she has to simply submit. "We'll see."
I slide my hand under the flimsy material of her shorts to where I know she's naked underneath. "Yeah, baby," I say, brushing the pad of my finger past her middle. "You definitely will."
I'm dragging a little this morning, the lack of proper recovery from my game not quite mixing well with mine and Brooke's long night.
We didn't go to bed late—she had a meeting with Sadie, our community relations director, this morning—but by the time we were finallyfinished with each other and got back to her car, I could have slept for much longer than I was able to.
