I shrug a shoulder. “My mom is. Um… she remarried and she has a whole other family. We don’t really talk much…” I say, failing to conceal the disdain in my voice.
Brookes stops what he’s doing, arching a brow as he says, “And… your dad?”
A thick swallow works down my throat, the skin at the back of neck pricking. “My dad died.”
“Oh, shit. I’m sorry…”
I shrug again. “It’s okay.”
Brookes narrows a dubious eye, but thankfully he says no more about my dad or my family, or my past, picking up the tray with the steaks and walking around the island and outside the pocket doors. I follow because, frankly, I don’t know what else to do, and when we come to a big patio with a state-of-the-art outdoor kitchen that looks out over a glowing blue swimming pool, I’m in awe.
“This place is ridiculous,” I say on a breath. “It’s like an episode ofMTV Cribsbut in real life.”
Brookes shrugs a shoulder. “I guess.”
I can’t help but feel like a moron because I suppose for a guy like Brookes who grew up wealthy, this place is just a house. But to me, it’s a mansion. I’d never leave if I called this place home.
“So, you met Simon in college?” Brookes asks as he opens the hatch to the grill, placing the steaks onto the already heated plate.
“Yeah.” I release a sigh. “We started dating during junior year.”
“Was he always a dick?”
“I mean… probably.” I shrug. “I didn’t think so, but the more I reflect over the past couple of years, the more I wonder if maybe I settled when I shouldn’t have.”
“Ya think?” Brookes offers me an incredulous look.
“Yeah…” I shrug again. “Anyway, that’s pretty much me in a nutshell. I’m kind of boring.”
When I meet Brookes’ eyes, there’s something in his gaze that makes me suddenly nervous. With the way he looks at me so intensely, like he’s trying to figure me out, I can’t help but get all awkward and fidgety. He walks out from behind the grill and holds his hand out for me.
“C’mere,” he says, his voice all low and gravelly and, dare I say, sexy?
I swallow hard, my eyebrows drawing together when he waves me over and, as if I’m in some sort of sudden trance, I’m like a moth to a flame. He takes my hand, leading me across the lush green lawn to the very edge of the yard where the dunes slant down to the beach.
“W-what… are you doing?” I ask, my voice wavering when Brookes’ hand finds my waist, pulling me flush against him, my back to his front, all the air in my lungs escaping me at once, leaving me lightheaded, my legs like jelly.
“Cam suggested I post a photo of us on my Instagram,” Brookes says, his voice a low whisper, his warm breath skating against my temple.
“I lookterrible!” I object, suddenly coming to when he lifts his phone up in front of us.
“You look fine,” he says dismissively, his tattooed arm wrapping around my front, holding me right there. “Now, shut up and smile.”
When Brookes presses his lips to my cheek, I force a smile, looking directly at the camera, knowing damn well this is so not a good picture. But then he surprises by blowing a big wet raspberry against my skin and I can’t help but laugh, edging awayfrom him while he holds me hostage with his strong arm, unleashing more and more raspberries.
“Ew!” I squeal, but Brookes just sniffs a laugh, releasing me and I spin around, gaping up at him while wiping his spit off cheek. “That was so uncalled for.”
He says nothing, tapping something into his phone.
“Show me.” I crane my neck to try and get a look but he quickly locks the device, the screen fading to black.
“Let’s eat,” is all he says, sliding his phone back into the pocket of his shorts before turning and heading back across the yard.
CHAPTER 12
POPPY
Iwake from a dream I can’t quite remember, pulled from a deep, blissful sleep, my eyes fluttering open to a stream of bright light flooding in through the sheer curtains. It takes me a moment to remember where I am, sitting bolt upright in a state of utter panic. It’s only when I blink hard enough to see the ocean sparkling outside that it all comes rushing back to me.
