Page 151 of Light My Fire

Then he eases out of her and shoves his way off of the bed with a wince. “Jackson, Wyatt, hold her.”

He disappears through the bedroom door.

“Where’s he going?” she asks, as I pull her up into my lap.

I pet her hair and Jackson climbs in bed with us, and lays his big hand down on her belly. He wipes her chin before kissing her gently.

“He’ll be back,” he tells her. “Just give him a minute. That was intense.”

“It was everything,” Brooke says, taking a shuddering breath. “I… I think… oh, my god, I don’t even know what I’m saying.”

“You don’t have to say anything. Just rest.” I toss the makeshift blindfold aside and run my fingers over her lips. “Close your eyes, baby.”

She does, with a sigh. A smile plays over her lips. “I like giving out prizes.”

I laugh softly. “You’re the best at it.”

“I’m going to go get a warm washcloth,” Jackson says, peeling himself off of the bed.

By the time he returns a minute later, Brooke is asleep. I shift down beside her to spoon her body with mine. She stirs a little, giving a “mmm” of approval when Jackson wipes her mouth, chin, neck and chest. She gasps a little in pleasure when he moves between her legs with the washcloth, but doesn’t open her eyes.

Then he lays down on her other side and catches my gaze.On the couch, he mouths.

I shouldn’t be surprised.

Luke’s sworn off of love and this was an intense night.

Jackson is running the backs of his knuckles over Brooke’s arm and watching her breathe.

Veryintense night.

CHAPTER 37

Brooke

I amin the break room at the clinic where I am interning, desperately paging through my notebook. I know I wrote this down. I looked it up two nights ago. I knew we were scheduled to do this surgery today and I wanted to be fully prepared. But now I can’t find my notes.

I slam the front of my notebook shut and look at it.

No. Fuck.

This is my red notebook. I took those notes in my green notebook. Which means my green notebook is still at home.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

And try very hard not to let my thoughts go tothis is what you get when you stay up too late at night texting your three boyfriends instead of getting your stuff ready for the next morning.

It’s always been my routine to get everything ready and laid out and quick to grab—clothes, books, lunch, whatever kind of jacket I might need for the day, an umbrella if the forecast says it might rain. Ifullyprepare the night before, so in the morning I don’t have to rush around and risk forgetting something.

But it seems since I’ve moved to Chicago that I’m a new person.

You are a new person.

I can’t avoid that thought.

And it’s true that I feel different in so many ways.

I also know that all of that has to do with the guys I’m dating.

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