“Brooke, I’m so sorry. I know you were trying your best to reach out to me. I know you were trying to find a way to make things better. I shouldn’t have pushed you away. I should have stayed and had that conversation with you,” Drew declared.
“You weren’t ready. I caught you at a time when you were overwhelmed. That was a fair reaction. You had every right to feel overwhelmed. I’m sorry that I didn’t see that. I’m sorry that I was busy trying to fix something, when what you needed was comfort,” Brooke answered.
The words did more to heal the pain inside of Drew’s heart than she could have imagined. On reflection Drew reached out to hold Brooke’s hand. Brooke stared at her hand for a moment before reaching out her own to meet it. Brooke interlocked their fingers up to the knuckles.
“It does mean something to me to hear you say that. But going forward I want to slow down. When I feel the need to bolt I want to find a way to let you inside instead,” Drew promised.
“I want that too. You’re not the only one who has those moments. I’ve been known to bolt from time to time.”
“What? You?” Drew said with not-so-subtle notes of sarcasm. Brooke shot her a glare but smiled warmly.
“This isn’t the right time for this, but I simply can’t wait any longer. Drew, I love you. I have loved you for a while. I’m not simply falling for you. I’ve fallen already, but my love keeps growing. Sometimes it scares me because I’ve never felt this with anyone else. But I wouldn’t change the way I feel for you, not for anything in all the world.”
The admission left Drew shocked. Of the two of them, Drew was certainly the more outspoken about her feelings. There had been plenty of signs that Brooke had fallen for her. Still, it was nice to hear the words spoken out loud. Drew swallowed hard, it was her turn to tell Brooke exactly what she was feeling in return.
“It was exactly the right time. We can build from this moment. Going forward knowing exactly where we stand with each other. Because I love you, too. There’s nothing I want more than to come home to you every night. I know that side of things happened fast. But I miss not sharing a bed with you. I miss not having you close. You have become so important to me in such a small window of time. And it is scary. But I wouldn’t change it either. Because my heart belongs solely to you.”
“Drew?”
“Yeah?” Drew answered.
“Take me home,” Brooke demanded with a smile.
“Gladly,” Drew smirked. She rose from the chair and pulled Brooke to her feet.
Home. It was such a simple word. Yet the apartment where Drew lived had not been her home before Brooke moved in. Brooke and her unruly cat had shaken her life up and made her apartment a home. Now home would be the place where they made a life together.
Chapter 23
Epilogue
Brooke busied herself around the shop. There was a business in her actions that she found comforting.
“What do you think of this one?” Emily asked from the yellow velvet chair.
Brooke glanced up from the box of books she was organizing. Ever since Emily and Scarlett had decided on an actual wedding date her friend had been obsessively thumbing through wedding magazines. Today, she was thoroughly enraptured by the topic of outfits.
“It all depends on what you want,” Brooke said with a grin. She loved seeing her friend this happy.
“Brooke,” Emily whined.
“Okay. You don’t like dresses, you want the jumpsuit or even a regular suit. Scarlett also probably doesn’t want a dress.So decide on the colors. You could both wear white or black. Or one of you could wear white the other could wear black.”
“Oh, what if we both wore white?” Emily asked excitedly.
“I love that for you,” Brooke beamed a smile at her.
“Are you sure you’re up to be my maid of honor?” Emily asked.
“I love that you think I’d allow you to make anyone else your maid of honor,” Brooke teased.
“I love how possessive you are as a friend,” Emily teased back.
She waited a long time, studying Brooke.
“So did you get the ring yet?” Emily asked.
“I did,” Brooke felt a hot blush spread across her face.
