Aubrey caught her attention then waved at them to join them down at the other end. Brooke shook her head and shifted her back, to block seeing Justin and his girlfriend. She was enjoying this flirtatious and fun conversation.
“Okay, why did you pick to work at a hospital in Chicago?” Brooke leaned in closer. Their shoulders grazed one another a few times but never landed.
She placed her forearm on the table.
Logan leaned in closer, too. “Why didyouend up here?” Their arms nearly rested against one another, but a stubborn inch kept them apart.
“I asked you first.” Her skin itched, and she didn’t know why.
She couldn’t ever remember feeling this sort of electric pull toward someone. And she had no idea how to act normally. Logan stared back at her for a moment. He rubbed his jaw with his thumb and forefinger. She wondered if he would even answer, or if she should speed forward.
But then he said, “It was an incredible opportunity, and I grew up outside the city. My family is still there. I can make it home for Sunday dinners when I’m not working. Chicago is home. And what about you?”
Out of nowhere her pasta and salad arrived along with the group check. Logan took it from the server and set it on the other side of him.
Aubrey came over and plopped a wad of cash down. “This should cover our portion for the four of us.” She nudged her head in their direction.
They were putting their coats back on. Justin held out a jacket for his new woman then gently adjusted the lapel once she had it on. A solid gut punch gave Brooke a stomachache. The guy never did that for her. The woman stared up at him with goo-goo eyes. Geez, had Brooke ever looked at Justin like that? Maybe their relationship had been a total façade.
When she and Justin had hit it off at a small get together with Aubrey and Ian, Brooke hung onto him for dear life. In a new city, with no other friends to speak of, she had been vulnerable to his attention. Sure, Justin had bugged her in small ways, but with both of their chaotic work schedules they didn’t see each other too much. The breaks of time in between gave her enough breathers to handle him and look past his annoying habits. It probably wasn’t the most glowing recommendation for relationship goals that one wanted, but at the time it beat being alone. Had Justin done her a favor by showing his true colors before she pledged her life to him?
Maybe.
“Okay.” Brooke snapped her attention back to Aubrey. “Are you headed home?”
“Yeah, Ian has an early shift tomorrow.” Aubrey buttoned up her jacket. “Are you guys staying? I can hang a little longer and send Ian on his way if you want.” She gave her a look likewhat do you want me to do.
“Brooke’s food just arrived.” Logan opened the bill folder and stuffed the cash inside from Aubrey and the other amount left on the table. “I can stay until she finishes. I’ll make sure she makes it home okay. You don’t need to stay behind, unless Brooke wants you to.” He peeled open his own wallet and put more cash inside the bill folder then shut it closed.
“Umm.” Brooke picked up her fork for her salad. “Are you sure I won’t be keeping you?” Her stomach fluttered as she waited for his reply.
“Nah, I have no life besides working.” Logan leaned in closer. “I’m in no hurry to go home to an empty apartment.”
“Great.” Aubrey smiled.
Brooke stood and gave Aubrey a parting hug. Then Aubrey shimmied sideways through the crowd to the other end of the table where Ian, Justin, and the new woman waited forher return. Soon, they exited the restaurant. The tension spot between her shoulder blades finally loosened.
Logan brought his ankle up and rested it on his opposite knee. “So?” He raised a curious brow.
Her stomach growled. “Yeah—” She speared her salad and shoveled a bite into her mouth and chewed. Once she finished, she said, “Go on.” Then she went in for another fork full of salad.
“You now know why I’m here.” His lips twitched. The wrinkles around his eyes deepened as he held her gaze. “What about you? Why Chicago?”
She shrugged and finished her bite. “Why not?” She picked up her water and drank. Then she set the glass back down while acutely aware that Logan seemed to be tracking her every movement. “I figured it was as good a place as any.”
The messy town of her youth in middle-of-nowhere Virginia was a place she wanted to forget. A dead alcoholic mother and dead deadbeat dad she hadn’t seen since her childhood anyway, meant she didn’t care where she landed as long as it wasn’t where she came from. A big city meant lots of people and great ability to start over. Plus, her highest job offer was in Chicago. Brooke didn’t even hesitate when she was offered the job, she simply said yes.
“What about your parents?” Logan prodded. “Where do they live?”
“They’re dead.” Brooke speared another piece of lettuce then shoveled it into her mouth.
She hated talking about her parents. If anything, she avoided all personal conversations about her past. Her childhood was riddled with abuse and horrible memories. People didn’t want you to unload that on them. Instead, she learned to say the bare minimum about her less-than-ideal childhood and turn the conversation back onto the other person. It always worked like a charm.
“Ahh.” He placed his hand lightly on her forearm. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
Brooke shrugged. “I’m not.” She moved onto her pasta, taking a bite.
A look of confusion skated across his face. “You’re not sorry they’re dead?” Logan dropped his raised foot back onto the ground and leaned in closer.
