Page 42 of Play With Me

“I’m getting a hair cut. How much do I owe you?”

“Fifteen even.”

I removed the cape from his shoulders and he stood up. Brook left a fifty-dollar bill on the counter, turned around, and called out before he left, “Thanks!”

I stood there for what felt like forever, though it had only been seconds.

What the fuck just happened?

I ran out after him. “Brook! Brook!”

He stopped and turned around.

“What the hell are you doing?” I asked when I caught up.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you walk into the barber shop, get a cut, and leave just like that?”

“What did you want me to do?”

“Stop fucking around, Brook. I’m not stupid. Why are you here?”

“I wanted to check on you. No, that’s a lie. I wanted to make sure that you were all right. I wanted to see it for myself. Is it really that bad that I care about you, Lola?”

“You could have said that.”

“I don’t want to pressure you. Take all the time you need to find whatever answers you’re looking for. I will be there when you’re ready but you’re the only one responsible for your happiness, I don’t want to force myself into your life. I want you to want me in your life but no matter what you choose, I will always care about you. I worried so I came. Now that I confirmed you’re okay, I’m satisfied.”

Well, I’m not!

“Do you want to have a coffee?” I asked. I wasn’t too sure where that came from, and as soon as I said it, realized that I didn’t want to take it back.

He checked his watch. Regret covered his face. “I can’t. I have somewhere I need to be.”

“Oh, okay.”

“But I’ll take a rain check.”

“Right.” I stepped back. I was afraid if I didn’t, he wouldn’t be able to peel me away from him, and I wasn’t ready for that. “I’ll see you later, then.”

“See you.”

That was the first odd encounter I had with Brook. The second one happened when he didn’t call to claim that rain check, and I decided to drive back home to Long Island.

Two days later, I saw Brook in a local park, sitting on a bench with his brother Jax. They were talking intensely. The day was warm for October and the sun teased with bright afternoon rays. A little girl ran up to the brothers, high-fived them both, then jumped back on the swing. Moments later, Brook stood up and left them. Feeling like an intruder, I flipped my jacket’s hood over my head and decided to follow him through the park. I should have just come up and said hello, but seeing him without guard was much more interesting. Something was off when he came to Eddie’s and I wanted to figure out what it was.

Fortunately for me, Brook didn’t have a car with him, and he went inside a coffee shop where he greeted a blonde woman. She kissed him on his cheek, once on each side, and they sat down in a booth and ordered coffee.

A stray cloud blocked the afternoon sun and I realized that I must have looked stupid wearing a sweatshirt. I leaned back against a fence post, and waited.

My gut twisted. I should have turned around and left right then. Instead, I decided to stand across that street like a stupid stalker, and watch them laugh and chit-chat like long-lost lovers. My eyes weren’t deceiving me when I saw her cover his hand with hers, lick her lips provocatively, and whisper seductive words right into his ear. He laughed, the same way I remembered him laugh with me. It felt wrong to see them together like that. Had I driven him away that quickly?

What the hell am I doing?

Before I realized it, they stood up and left the café.

I didn’t move.

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