Brooke lost track of how long they stayed there, just holding each other. It was probably too long, if she was being honest. This hug was far too intimate and far too tender to be somewhere that anyone could just happen upon them. Reluctantly, she pulled back. Anna kissed her then, her kiss sweet and true.
“How about, I go refill our drinks and then we maybe make out for like three minutes and then we get back on the dance floor for a bit before we head back to Nate and Mel’s?” Anna wiggled her eyebrows mischievously.
Brooke couldn’t help but laugh. Anna’s casual planning of a make out session, mixed with the following promise of tonight, almost fully shook off the conversation Brooke had just had with her father.“That sounds perfect, Darling.”
Anna let out the softest, happiest giggle at Brooke's acquiescence.“Okay then.” She rocked up on her toes and pressed another handful of kisses to Brooke's cheek.“I’ll be right back.”
Brooke watched her go, taking deep breaths as she watched, trying to steady herself. Everything was going to be okay. She had Nate and Mel, potentially her parents, and the girl of her dreams actively wanted to make out with her. She leaned against the railing and looked up at the stars overhead. They were nearly far enough out of the city to have a good view of the night sky. The moment was interrupted by incessant buzzing against her ribcage.
She frowned as her phone buzzed again and again. Vivienne and Christine both knew that tonight was the wedding, they wouldn’t be messaging her right now. Maybe it was Nate or Mel looking for them? She slipped her hand in pocket to root out her phone. Once she had hold of the buzzing, she quickly scanned the screen and everything came crashing down around her.
Nick<3(7:37 pm):
I miss you, baby. I cannot wait
for you to get home.
Nick<3(7:37 pm):
I’m sorry about our fight.
I know I messed up.
Nick<3(7:37 pm):
I promise I’ll fix it.
Nick<3(7:37 pm):
You still love me, right?
Nick<3(7:37 pm):
This place is lonely without you.
Even our plants are sad.
Hope you’re having fun with
your friend.
Nick<3(7:37 pm):
Maybe call me tonight?
Nick<3(7:37 pm):
I just really miss you, baby girl.
Brooke almost dropped the phone. There was an odd thing about heartbreak, it caused a painful ringing in her ears and made the world feel blurry.
“Honey, I brought you a gin and tonic, they were out of the wine you’ve been drinking and I thought you could use it,” Anna said, her voice still light and airy.
Anna’s heart hadn’t just been ripped out, Brooke thought, miserably. Of course she was still happy and carefree.“Right. Your phone kept buzzing.” Brooke looked down at Anna’s phone in her hands, her grip so tight, her knuckles were going white.“I didn’t mean to read your messages. They just kind of rapid-fired in across the screen,” Brooke said, though she sounded like a completely different person. It felt as if she was watching this moment from outside of her body.
She exchanged Anna’s phone for the small glass of gin and tonic and downed the liquid in one gulp as Anna’s face went from confusion to horror.“Wait, Brooke.”
Brooke shook her head. When she finally spoke, her voice was small and broken.“Don’t, Anna. I should have asked. I’ve danced around so many damn questions this past week afraid of the answers and this is exactly why. If you’ll excuse me.” Brooke stepped away from her and walked quickly into the gardens, wanting to get lost in the midst of the hedge, needing to get as far away from the other woman as possible, before she could say something that she would regret.
