She had zero desire to share a back seat with Justin for the duration of the ride. Even if the car ride would cut her travel time in half.
“Just take the ride home,” Justin muttered with no attempt to hold back his annoyance. “I promise not to talk to you. We can ignore each other the whole time, you’re good at that.” His words had an edge to them.
Apparently, he forgot he left her. But he was good at forgetting, because he had already forgotten their time together. She needed to do the same.
You can’t let him win. You can’t let him know he hurt you.
“Okay, then I accept.” Brooke adjusted her purse strap. “Thanks for dropping me off on your way.”
Ian blew out a rattly breath. “Then follow me.” He took the white dress bag from Aubrey and waved everyone to follow him.
They left the warmth of the dress shop and weaved around a few shops and down a back alley until they arrived at his car. Gingerly, Ian loaded the dress into the trunk of the car. Then they climbed in. Ian and Aubrey sat up front. Justin and Brooke settled into the back seat. Luckily, when Ian started the engine, the radio blared and filled the car with its obnoxious noise. Brooke appreciated Ian didn’t turn the volume down. Even he seemed to know this car ride would be awkward for everyone.
Brooke gazed out her passenger window and stared at the tall skyscrapers as they weaved through the city. She didn’t glance at Justin once.
But then Justin interrupted the silence, he whispered, “Do you have a date for their wedding?” He leaned across the empty seat between them, making himself far too close.
Brooke flashed him a pointed glance. Then she shifted and scooted her body as close to the window as possible. “Why do you care?” She hissed as she peered back out the window. “You don’t get to worry about me anymore.”
Her blood simmered a touch below the boiling point.
“I feel bad— I don’t want you to have to go alone.”
“I see,” she muttered low enough so Aubrey and Ian couldn’t hear. “By some miracle you’ve seemed to find your conscience again. If you, for some unknown reason, need me to set you free from guilt, just know I’m fine.”
“Great to hear,” he muttered. Justin adjusted the sleeves of his jacket. Then whispered under his breath, “Will you ever not hate me?”
“I don’t hate you.” Brooke shifted and faced him. “Dislike you, yes, but I decided a long time again not to waste my time hating anyone. But why do you care?”
“I just do.” His voice sounded small.
She found his response unrecognizable from his normal overly confident demeanor.
“If you must know,” Brooke sat up straighter, “I’m going with Logan to the wedding.”
Justin lifted an eyebrow. “Dr. Schofield?” His lips pinched a bit. “The new general surgeon?”
“Yep.” Smugly, Brooke smirked. “The very one.”
“Are you two dating?” Justin wiggled around in his seat. “Since when?”
“You promised me no small talk.” Brooke saw her street coming into view. She spoke over the radio and leaned between the two front seats. “You can pull up to the curb after this light.”
“You’ve got it.” Ian eased through the intersection then stopped at the curb.
Brooke unbuckled her seatbelt and climbed out of the car. “Have a great night everyone. Aubrey, I’ll see you tomorrow at work.” Then to her great satisfaction, she shut the door and walked to her building. This time Justin got to be the one with all the questions and none of the answers.
CHAPTER 9
Logan walked briskly from the hospital to Brooke’s apartment. His long and stressful day had him in a weird headspace. One of the surgeries had numerous complications. While it ultimately turned out okay, the entire experience had left him anxious. He knew Brooke loved this band, and he didn’t want his off mood to dampen the evening.
Her apartment came into view. George was stationed outside again. Logan waved then fetched his phone out of his pocket. He shot Brooke a quick text to let her know he had arrived as he neared the lobby door.
As he slid his phone back into his pocket, he greeted George. “Good evening.”
George smiled when he recognized him. “I see you’re back to take Brooke out. I knew you had a good head on your shoulders.”
“Thanks.” Logan shuffled his feet and looked down at them. He hated lying about their relationship, but he genuinely considered Brooke to be a friend. “But we’re only friends.”
