Scarlett reached over and placed a hand on her shoulder. Scarlett’s comfortability with little displays of affection was just another indicator that she had sisters. As an only child Brooke had a hard time understanding the urge to comfort someone in a physical way. Still, Brooke had to admit that the touch was comforting.
Brooke looked up and caught Emily and Scarlett exchanging a look. Suspicion crashed through her like a wave.
“What was that?” Brooke demanded.
Emily met her eyes and instantly looked guilty. Brooke shot her a severe glare. Emily glanced over to Scarlett who shrugged her shoulders and buried a laugh in her hand.
“It’s nothing,” Emily began.
“Yeah, that look was super subtle,” Brooke mocked. Emily groaned.
“For crying out loud, Em. Just tell her.”
“Fine. All of us girls are going to get our tattoos from Drew in two days. I was just wondering if I should try talking to her or anything?”
Brooke tossed Emily a weary smile.
“Seriously, just tell me which friend you want me to be. I can try to help smooth things over,” Emily offered.
Brooke’s heart warmed at her friend’s offer. This was something she alone could fix with Drew.
“You’re a good friend. But I have to fix things with Drew myself,” Brooke grinned.
“Look at you growing up and doing an adult relationship. I never thought I’d see the day,” Emily teased.
“I will never understand you two,” Scarlett laughed.
“This is just what it looks like when two only children have a friendship,” Emily sent a warm smile Scarlett’s way.
“We both know that we love each other,” Brooke assured Scarlett.
Scarlett shook her head and chuckled.
“Does this mean you’re ready to turn offGrey’s Anatomyand go get dinner?” Scarlett asked. Emily squeezed under the blanket with Brooke.
“Just one more episode?” Emily pleaded, sticking her lower lip out as she looked at Scarlett.
“Please,” Brooke added.
“The two of you are weird together,” Scarlett laughed. She pulled part of the blanket onto her lap and squished in closer.
“I’m ordering food and having it delivered,” Scarlett added.
“And that’s why I’m glad Emily found you. Together, the two of you are just perfect,” Brooke teased.
Emily groaned, but Brooke knew she was secretly touched by her words. Emily could never let her know how much something meant to her. But Brooke knew she was all talk. Her friend looked intimidating, but inside she was all fluff. Brooke rested her head on Emily’s shoulder. Emily gave Brooke’s head a scratch. The two of them made an unlikely pair of friends, but Brooke wouldn’t change a thing.
Chapter 21
Drew finished setting up her work area for the day. It wasn’t every day that she had a group of nine schedule an appointment. Today was the day that Vera Lossett and all the women who had the benefit of being in her group were coming in. Drew had been texting Vera all week making slight changes to the small tattoo design. For the most part Drew was ready. Though she did worry slightly about seeing Emily.
As Brooke’s best friend, Emily had to know everything that was going on between the two of them. Now Drew would be tattooing her. She pushed that thought out of her mind. Drew opened the cabinets next to her small kitchenette and sink in the back of the shop. The box of rose tea stared at her, its mere presence taunted her. This was Tuesday, which meant that it was the day she and Brooke usually had tea together. The habit had developed almost by accident. Seeing the box of tea hurt like an arrow through Drew’s heart. An arrow might have hurt less than the pang she felt down to her bones. A reminder of what she and Brooke had. The longing for what she had hoped they might become.
Drew loved Brooke, and she thought that the same was true in reverse. Still, she couldn’t get over the fight they’d had.How could Brooke care for her, but not understand why she had been so upset? Drew closed the cabinet; there had been too many reminders of Brooke over the last couple of days. She didn’t need another one. Drew couldn’t take the way her heart leapt every time she heard Brooke’s door open down the hallway of the apartment building. She couldn’t stand watching Brooke walk to work just a few feet ahead of her every morning. Drew could see glimpses of Brooke in the bookstore throughout the day, even when she wasn’t looking. Her eyes and her heart seemed hellbent on finding Brooke. If only she’d allow herself to bend enough to talk to Brooke.
Drew heard the commotion of multiple people pulling up to the shop. Car doors closed and there was so much laughter in the parking lot. She looked out her shop’s window and couldn’t help but smile. There was something about watching the group with their bright smiles and easy laughter that tugged at Drew. She met Vera at the door to her shop.
“There she is. The woman of the hour,” Vera laughed.
