“You think so?” Drew asked.
“Babe, look at you. You’re a knockout.”
Drew looked down at her form-fitting black jeans that she’d paired with a basic white tee. The black leather jacket she wore had belonged to her grandfather in the seventies. It was the kind of vintage item that people would pay big bucks for, but to Drew it was priceless.
“You know when we met I never would have imagined you’d be so good at compliments.”
“Well, I’m full of surprises,” Brooke chuckled.
“I’m beginning to see that.”
Brooke stood on her tip toes to give Drew a kiss on the lips.
“You’re learning,” Brooke teased.
Dinner was a fantastic five-star steak restaurant. But walking through the hotel with its thirty-nine Christmas trees was astonishing. Most lighting was flattering on Brooke. Heck the woman even looked amazing in the moonlight. Here, surrounded by the soft warming Christmas lights, was probably going down as Drew’s favorite look for her though. It helped that when it came to Christmas lights Brooke seemed almost childlike. As if all of her walls came down and she was able to just enjoy everything around her.
“We haven’t talked much about it since your breakup with Robin. But I’m not seeing anyone else, and I don’t want to,” Brooke admitted. She took a sip from a mug of hot chocolate that Drew had bought them. Drew turned to face Brooke. There was a sparkle in her blue eyes.
“I don’t want to date anyone else either,”Drew answered.
“Does that mean we’re a couple then?”
“Yeah. I guess that is what it means,” Drew laughed.
“Emily will be thrilled. She’s been begging for me to hurry it up already,” Brooke smirked.
“Well, the important thing is to keep Emily happy,” Drew teased.
Drew reached out her hand and Brooke took it. Their fingers interlocked at the knuckles. After a few more moments Drew glanced over and caught Brooke staring at her.
“What? Why are you looking at me that way?” Drew asked.
“I just realized that we’ve talked about my childhood. But I don’t really know anything about your background.”
“Ah. And you want to know more about me?”
“Of course I want to know more. I want to know everything,” Brooke offered.
Drew felt a familiar pang deep in her heart. She’d always hated this part of dating. Sharing her deep dark secrets made her feel uncomfortable. Most women didn’t know what to say to her after she shared what her past had been like. She hated seeing anything like pity in someone’s eyes. But this was Brooke. Something told Drew that Brooke would be able to handle her stories.
“Growing up both of my parents were a little out of control. They liked to drink and party. Having a kid didn’t really figure into their lives. So they treated me more like I was their pal. I would be out late with them and their friends. I didn’t know anything different. When I got a little older my mom sobered up. My dad didn’t. Mom gave him an ultimatum. Either get clean or get out. He was gone before I got home from school. I never saw or heard from him again.”
“That sounds really rough. I’m sorry. How are things between you and your mom?”
“Things between Mom and I have been great the last few years. She’s really tried to step up for me. Hence the reason my uncle gave me the lease on the shop. My mom probably threatened him within an inch of his life.”
Brooke gave a mild laugh. Her fingers squeezed Drew’s hand a little tighter. Drew forced herself to meet Brooke’s eyes, a little fearful of what she might see in them. There was no trace of judgement or pity in Brooke’s blue eyes. Drew felt a warming in her chest.
“Have you had any contact with your dad now that you’re an adult?” Brooke’s tone was a bit more restrained as she asked.
“No. And I don’t really want to. He could have stayed and he didn’t. Those are the only things about him that I need to know.”
She knew how bitter that made her sound. Drew didn’t care. Those were her true feelings. Brooke offered no chastisement, she simply squeezed Drew’s hand again. Drew would have done anything to break the silence that settled between them.
“Tell me more about your childhood. I know your parents are divorced, but I’m sure there has to be more than that.”
“Oh, there definitely is,” Brooke sighed.
