Page 39 of Until Forever Falls

Brooks is quiet—not in an uncomfortable way, just listening as Ruby peppers me with questions, offering little of his own. Every now and then, he answers when prompted, but for the most part, he’s content to sit back and let our conversation unfold around him.

I don’t push him. We don’t need to talk about everything. But there’s starting to be a part of me that wants to, to bridge that gap and close the distance after everything that’s happened.

The clink of dishes and the sizzle of the grill are familiar background noises, almost making everything feel normal. But then Ruby’s sharp clap cuts through it all. She’s smiling, her eyes bouncing between Brooks and me like she’s trying to piece something together.

“Feels like just yesterday you two were sneaking out back during Dylan’s breaks, thinking no one noticed,” she says, a teasing note in her voice.

Her words hit me like a sudden wave, pulling me under before I can even brace myself. It’s strange how something so casual, so innocent, can dredge up a memory I thought I’d forgotten. I’m back there in an instant—reliving those stolen moments with Brooks.

I remember how he’d lead me through the back door, the cold bite of the metal handle against my fingers as we slipped away, shutting us off from everyone else. How his laugh would echo in the alley as we passed old wooden crates and faded posters on the wall, the ones that had started peeling away years before. Then, he’d pull me close, and in that slip of time, the world would soften, as though we were the only two starts left in a sky emptied of everything else.

“That was a long time ago,” I say, forcing a casual tone, though the edge in my voice betrays me. The last thing I need is for this conversation to wander further.

Ruby isn’t deterred. She chuckles lightly, brushing off my attempt to redirect. “Long time or not, I’ve watched a lot of folks come and go over the years. Let me tell you, what you two had? That kind of connection doesn’t just come along every day. Most people go their whole lives without finding it.”

Beside me, Brooks shifts in his seat, and a soft sound escapes him—his throat clearing, maybe—but he doesn’t say anything. It’s impossible to tell if his lack of response carries agreement or discomfort.

“People change,” I say, knowing she wont believe me.

Ruby’s eyes hold mine, unfazed. “Maybe. But there are things you can’t rewrite, no matter how much time passes.”

The bell above the diner door jingles softly. It’s a small sound, but it ripples through the restaurant, drawing my attention. The room grows unusually quiet, conversations faltering mid-sentence. Even Ruby pauses, her energy suddenly still as her eyes lock onto the door.

When I follow her stare, icy clarity hits me. I understand the reason for her reaction now, but there’s no escaping it. No escaping her.

Denise Rivers.

My mother.

14

Brooks

Then

The party downstairs is loud enough to shake the walls, but up here, the room feels charged in a more deliberate way. Chloe leans against Colt’s dresser, arms crossed, and her lips curve in a way that might be seductive if it weren’t so calculated. Every move she’s made tonight has led to this—her relentless circling, her careful timing, all designed to corner me here, away from everyone else.

“I figured you would have come looking for me by now,” she quips, her voice dripping with confidence as she pushes off the dresser and saunters toward me. “Guess I was wrong.”

I remain by the window, pretending to be interested in the group of idiots playing football drunk on the lawn below. The string lights flicker like they’re about to give out, casting weird shadows on their stumbling forms. One of them trips, sending a loud cheer through the group, but even that doesn’t drown out my building irritation.

“Didn’t know I was supposed to.”

“Come on, Brooks,” she teases, stepping further into my space. Chloe’s hand brushes my arm like it’s supposed to mean something. “You can’t tell me you don’t miss it…missus.”

I instinctively take a step back, putting space between us. “I think we both know that ship sailed a long time ago, Chloe.”

Her eyes narrow, and for a second, her playful facade slips. “Because of her?”

“Her?” I feign ignorance, though we both know exactly who she means.

“Dylan,” she spits her name like it’s poison. “Ever since she showed up, you’ve been different. Distant. You used to actually have fun, Brooks. Remember that?”

I laugh, though there’s no humor in it. “Oh, my distance is because of her now, not because of anything you did, right?”

Chloe’s expression hardens, and she steps closer, blocking my view of the lawn. “I know you, Brooks. You’re always wanting to save people,fixthings. Is that not what she is? A project?”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

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