Page 116

I never knew how much I needed that. Not only for the current weight off my shoulders, but to let go of my past and whoever didn’t react as chill.

My gut tells me Brooke is it. My end game. The person I want to spend the rest of my life with. Hell, thinking of growing old with her even makes me excited for my birthdays to come, which is crazy to think about!

Even so, it’s liberating to live my truth.

Some days it's a bitter pill to swallow that the only reason I met her was my parents kicking me out. I can't quite decide yet if it was the universe's way of looking out for me or a cruel prank.

As much as I try to remind myself it is what it is and how mulling over it won’t change a thing, my thoughts keep circling back to the could have been’s.

I think she'd get along with Ella. My little sister used to be a bossy little shit too at times. They’d have a grand old time conquering the world.

"Hey."

Think of the devil. A very beautiful devil. Brooke’s soft voice appears by the stairs, barely louder than a whisper. My lips curl into a small smile as I listen to her sock-clad steps coming closer.

Suddenly, a sweatshirt flies at my head.

"Hey." I chuckle and pluck it off my shoulder and the side of my head. But as soon as I hold it in my hands, a bundle of socks follows and hits me right above my ear.

"At least you're not outside this time," she mumbles and sits down next to me as pluck the socks off my head. Now Dick decides to get off his butt and tap over to us. What a traitor.

“So, I'm not good enough for you to get out of bed for, but Brooke is? Rude." I poke his shoulder as he trots by and pout.

"Shut up and put on your sweater," Brooke scolds me and grins as Dick curls up next to her, his head on her thigh. I’d be offended if her smile weren’t cute enough to die for.

Well, maybe not die. But cute enough to put socks on for.

"I love you, Kieran, but you turn into a whiny bitch when you have a cold, so I'd rather you stay healthy for the rest of the season."

"I'll try my best." I chuckle and hand her Daisy so I can maneuver around and bundle up. "Happy now?"

"Eh." She shrugs, the corner of her mouth twitching. "Happy is a relative term. But I'm glad if you're warmer now." Her eyes wander to one of my tattoos on the side of my throat.

"What a fancy way of saying you love looking at me half naked." I wiggle my eyebrows and take Daisy out of her arms again.

"Want to know a secret?" She leans closer and lowers her voice. "I love looking at you even more when you're completely naked." Her fingers find the nape of my neck, and she pulls me closer. "Happy birthday, baby."

"Thank you." I steal a kiss. "It already is."

For a while, we sit by my window and stare at the snow piling higher, flakes dancing in the grey winter.

I could do this all day. Stare at her reflection. Feel the weight of her head on my shoulder. And listen to her fighting against sleep.

But, alas.

"Brooke?"

"Mhm." She’s adorable when she’s half asleep.

"You might want to lean against the couch. I have to get up."

She scrunches her nose, a dissatisfied hum coming from the back of her throat. "Why?"

It's rare to hear her whine, so I'm reveling in the feeling for a moment. Only one.

"Because –“ I point outside. Even through the grey gloominess and curtain of falling snow, I can see four shadows making their way over to my house. The smallest of them stumbles and face-plants into the snowy ground, and I know I will get to listen to Lauren complain about it in the foreseeable future. “We’re getting visitors. Well, I’m getting visitors, I’m the special birthday boy after all, but you’re here too, so I guess it’s ‘we.’”

She blinks against the light, trying to make out the shadows. Her face relaxes once she sees them.