Page 27 of Dreams on the Ice

I know exactly who he’s referring to. There is only one girl who I would know anything about, and that’s Brooklynn. I know he doesn’t live at our place anymore. So he wouldn’t have seen me bring her inside. It must have been Alexei or Lev who heard us fucking. I won’t apologize for that—ever.

“You know where Brooklynn is,” I murmur.

His lips twitch into a smirk. “Yeah, I sure as fuck do. But when are you going to make it official?”

I’m not sure how I’m supposed to respond to that. “I’m not five,” I murmur.

His lips twitch into a smirk. “No, you’re not, but you’re almosttwenty-five, and we’re going to throw you a little party down at the Tipsy Tavern to celebrate. It would be nice if she could be there as more than your neighbor.”

My lips twitch into a smirk. I’m not sure what they have planned. I can’t imagine it’s anything too outlandish. Twenty-five isn’t a major milestone event, so I’m not sure why they would really do anything. But at the same time, I’m not going to bitch, and I’ve been dreaming of turning twenty-five since I found out about my inheritance.

“Brooklynn is mine,” I simply state. And that’s that. There’s no need to explain shit because that’s just the way it is.

I’m not sure how else to describe her. I’m not sure that a title likegirlfriendis enough for what she means to me. We’re fucking adults. That seems stupid. She’s just plain mine. I don’t know what else to say about it.

I do know that soon enough, we’ll need to take our relationship to the next level, which would be living together, butI’m not ready yet. I’ve got to get my shit straight with my parents before I add any more to my current plate.

I’m thoroughly enjoying going to her place or her coming to mine and fucking until neither of us can breathe. I’m not ready to rock the boat quite yet. I’ve fallen for her, fell for her months ago, but right now, I’m just going to enjoy the moment and live in it.

“If you want to ask Brooklynn for party planning help, you’re on your own. I have a feeling she will make it a lot bigger than it’s meant to be. She likes to do things over the top.”

Reid snorts, then jerks his chin toward me. “I feel that shit down to my soul,” he says with a chuckle.

I watch as he walks away without saying another word. He doesn’t need to. He knows everything he needs to know right now, and by tomorrow morning, everyone will know that she’s my woman. And I don’t care. I’m proud of that, of her.

Proud to have her as mine.

I just hope that whatever happens with my inheritance and my family, she’ll be just as proud to have me as hers. Because, as of right now, it’s not looking good. I’ll probably be tight on money for a long time.

Too long

Light-years.

Chapter

Thirteen

BROOKLYNN

My client tiltsher head to the side as she tells me what color she’s thinking of going… and not just changing color. She wants to add bangs. Immediately, I know that something has happened.

“Bangs?” I ask.

She juts her chin in the air, and her eyes find mine in the reflection. “Bangs.”

Instead of doing what she wants, I spin her around and look down into her eyes. Her gaze finds mine, her eyes widening at my sudden move. Pressing my lips together, I roll them a few times before I clear my throat.

“What happened to make you want bangs?” I ask.

Her attention shifts from mine and flicks down to her lap before she shifts it back. “My husband cheated on me,” she whispers. “He left to be with her.”

I hum, knowing that it had to do with a man. No woman wants bangs randomly, along with a whole new cut and changingher color. It’s too many changes at once, so I knew it was because of something big.

“Okay,” I say on an exhale. “Let’s not do anything insane. Bangs could work on you, but I feel like that’s going to be something far too drastic. Let’s do a new style and color. Ease into the changes?”

Her gaze flicks to the side then slowly shifts back to meet mine again. “I just don’t want to be myself, not ever again.”

My heart aches for her. Completely breaks into a million pieces. I can’t imagine what she’s going through. I’ve never been married, but that kind of betrayal isn’t something you ever get over. It no doubt sticks to you, to your bones, in a way where it will never disappear.

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