Page 65 of My Ex-Best Friends

My body went cold but then I latched onto the last word. “Yet. Does that mean you’re open to there being an us?”

She slowly pulled away. “I don’t know. I just need time to think.”

I let her go and nodded. There was a lump in my throat preventing me from saying anything else so I just stepped back and watched as she walked away from me to join Sinclair and Lucy. I felt like I was burning alive from the pain but I wouldn’t ruin the time Sin got with her.

52

***Brooke***

“Ithought you were done crying. You and that damn dog kept me up all night. You, with your sniffling, and him, with his snoring.” Mom stood in front of me with a pair of tall socks in one hand and a step stool in the other. “I need all my energy to mess with Jimmy today and I’m working at a percentage of my best.”

I groaned. “I thought I was done, too, but Noah showed up with Sinclair and declared his love for me.”

“So why didn’t you leave with him?!”

“Because I’m not sure about being with them yet!” I realized we were shouting at each other and lowered my voice. “I’m just hurt, Mom.”

“Then let them kiss it and make it better. I’m going to get a new man soon and you’re going to have to go. Especially if what your aunt said about you is true. You can’t be here in that condition.” She waved her hand to encompass all of me. “Forgivethem when they beg, child. Or your aunt and I will pay you a visit the way we did your boyfriends.”

I gasped. “What did you say?”

She rolled her eyes and lowered her sunglasses over her eyes. “Goodbye, sweet child of mine. I’m going to scare an old man before heading to the diner.”

I sat there, staring at the spot in the room she’d been standing, so shocked by everything she’d said that when I heard the front door open, I assumed it was her and didn’t bother looking up. “First of all, if you kill Jimmy by scaring him, you’re going to get locked up and I’m not fighting for your freedom. There will be no Free Daisy t-shirt in your future. Second of all, do not threaten me with Aunt Karlene. You know I’m avoiding her and her news right now.”

“What about a Free Colt t-shirt?”

I snapped my head around and nearly screamed when it was Colt standing in the house with me instead of Mom. I gripped my instantly sore neck and nudged Lucy with my toe. “Some guard dog you are.”

Lucy farted and rolled onto his back.

“I have something to say to you.” Colt stood across from me, hands on his hips. “I’m angry with you.”

I gasped. “Excuse me?”

He nodded. “Yep. Pissed. So furious that I could shake you.”

It was so far from what I’d expected him to say that I forgot that I’d planned on being more stoic in front of them in my attempt to be stronger. “You’reangry at me? I don’t think so.I’mangry at you!”

“Yeah, I’m angry at you.” He moved closer and knelt in front of where I was sitting on the couch. “I’m angry that you ever left in the first place when we both know you belong with me. I’m angry that I didn’t get a chance to go through that pregnancy with you, no matter how it ended. I’m angry that you decided togo through it all alone to save us from the pain. All I want in the world is a family with you. I should’ve been there to take care of you. I should’ve been there to hold you after everything, Brooke. I’m so goddamn angry and I have been for so long that it makes it hard for me to breathe sometimes.”

My chest tightened as his words hit me.

“The only time in my life that I haven’t been angry is when you’re in my arms. I know it makes no sense. I’m so angry at you but I’m angrier at myself for hurting you. I should’ve shut the fuck up and listened to you. I should’ve been there for you. I should’ve never let you leave. I took your virginity, Brooke. Me. You’ve been mine since that night and I’m not letting you go again.”

Tears leaked down my cheeks faster than I could wipe them away. “I don’t-”

“I know what you told Noah. You need more time. That’s fine. Take your time but you need to know that I’m not letting you go again. I’ll chase you if you leave. I’ll follow you around this town on my knees for as long as I have to. I love you, Brooklyn. Jesus, I love you. You’re the only thing that’s ever eased the storm in me.” He gripped my thighs and took a deep breath before pulling me off the couch and into his lap. “I just need one kiss, baby.”

Having his arms wrapped around me felt too good. I sucked in a breath and then his lips were on mine. He didn’t start slow. He kissed me hard and deep, stroking his tongue past my lips and devouring me. Just before I could wrap my arms around him and lose myself, he pulled back and put me back on the couch.

Breathing hard, he pulled out his phone and held it out to me. “The guys at the boatyard are never going to let me hear the end of it, but it’s worth it.”

It took me a second to see what I was looking at. He’d changed the name of his boat. Tears filled my eyes as I read the new name, painted expertly on the side.Forever Brooklyn.

“The Havocseemed a little dark for the direction I’m hoping our lives take.” Squeezing my thighs, he stood up and slipped his phone away. “I’m not going away. Take your time forgiving us but the sooner you do, the sooner you can come back home and settle in where you belong.”

I wanted to stop him from leaving but before I could make up my mind, he was gone. I pressed my fingers to my lips and jumped to my feet. Lucy barked and jumped up, grumpy about me startling him out of his nap. “Come on. We need to go see Aunt Karlene, god help us.”

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