Priya froze, caught completely off guard. “How did you…I was going to…Everything happened so quickly—”
“Oh, I bet it did.” Brooke let out a sharp breath, her voice tight. “As quickly as the snapshot you took of him in bed?”
Priya opened her mouth, but no words came out. She hated that Brooke had found out like this—through a screen, like a stranger.
“I know your room, Priya,” Brooke said. “I’ve slept in that bed, snacked in that bed, cried in that bed. I knew exactly where Ethan was the moment I laid eyes on that photo. What in the world is going on with you? My brother, Priya? Seriously? I mean, hookups aremydepartment, not yours.”
“It’s not like that, Brooke,” Priya said. “We’re nothooking up.”
“So, you guys are together-together?”
“No…I just…” Priya took a deep breath before going for it. “I used to have a massive crush on him. It was kind of a thing for years.”
“Are you kidding me right now?” Brooke said, practically choking on disbelief. “I told you every single detail about my crushes—the good, the bad, thecringey—and you were keepingthisfrom me? Seriously, Priya!”
“And what would you have done if I had told you?”
“Oh, I would have marched straight up to Ethan and told him about it. Or made up horrible stories about you, just to keep you to myself.”
Priya shook her head, laughing. “Yeah, sounds like you had my back, for sure.”
“Hey! Nobody takes my best friend away without a fight.”
“Nobody’s stealing me away from you,” Priya said. “It’s just…I felt like I was at rock bottom after the divorce. Then Ethan showed up, and something just clicked, like I had a shot at feeling alive again.”
“So what…he’s your rebound?”
Priya sighed. “It’s complicated.”
“Complicated? Oh, Pri, that’s dangerous territory. You know how it is with him—you only have to follow the trail of emotionally wrecked exes he’s left in his wake. But honestly? I’m not just worried about you. I’m worried about him too. You’re nothing like the girls he’s dated before. His walls are down, Pri.”
“What are you saying?” Priya asked, the pulse quickening in her veins. “That he’s into me?”
Brooke let out a quiet breath. “Well, first there was that weird call the other day. He just sounded different, you know? Softer. Distracted. And now this photo. One look at him and I knew. He’s not just fooling around. He’s letting you in.” Brooke paused for a beat. “Whereishe, by the way? I’ve been trying to get a hold of him.”
“He’s out riding,” Priya replied, turning Brooke’s words over in her mind. Brooke was right. She’d been so caught up in the way Ethan made her feel that she hadn’t stopped to think about what he might need from her.
“Hey…” Brooke sensed the shift in her energy. “You know I’m rooting for you, right? I just don’t want either of you to get hurt. Today, his photo is trending. Tomorrow, it could be yours. I’m not sure if you’re ready for that kind of attention.”
“I know, I know…And really, thank you.” Priya meant it more than Brooke probably realized. A lot had surfaced today, including her years-long crush on Ethan, and Brooke had been more understanding than she ever expected.
“Hey, Brooke?” A smile tugged at her lips. “When did you become so wise? Weren’t you the one who used to ask me if you should break up over a text or a call?”
“I’m a genius, except when it comes to my own relationships.” Brooke giggled.
“Okay, but seriously, enough about me, your brother, and this whole photo situation. What’s happening at your end? I can’t keep track of where you are anymore.”
“I’m in Indonesia with my fur baby, darling. A wonderful little healing sanctuary in Ubud,” Brooke replied. “Hang on, I’ll send you a pic.”
A photo popped up on Priya’s screen: Lady Whiskerbottom lounging on a mat, lush greenery spilling through open windows.
“Aww.” Priya’s heart ached a little at the sight of her. “She still carries herself like a queen, even if time’s caught up with her.”
“Yeah, she’s slowing down, and it’s hitting me harder than I expected. But I’ve found her a brilliant spiritual healer. She’s getting a catnip chakra cleanse today.”
“Really?” Priya laughed. “And you? What have you been up to?”
“I’m exploring orgasmic enlightenment,” Brooke announced.
