Page 39 of The Drop

Me-I wouldn’t have done that.

I totally would have.

“Brookie,” I hear Bear whine. “It’s cold out here. Either let us in or let’s go.”

I reopened the door and put my hand on my hip sassily. “What’s the deal?” I ask, keeping my gaze narrowed. Grant must have offered them something to be on Brooke’s babysitting duty.

He thinks I haven’t noticed that this keeps happening, but when I’ve been working a little too hard on The Drop,and he’s busy, he sends the boys over to keep me company, especially ifhe knows Cami isn’t home. Adam and Bear show up more than Gunnar, but I’ve heard Sasha has been giving him a hard time again about not calling enough.Poor guy.

“No deal.” Adam shrugs his shoulders. “We want you to come and hang out.”

“Yeah, Brookie, you’ve been so busy with The Drop, we miss you.” Bear smiles as I move back into the apartment to let them in.

“You know a pool party in October is a terrible idea.” I give it one last shot to get out of this. “Let’s stay here and hang.”

“Brookie.” Adam, already warned of my attempt to back out, smiles and shakes his head at me.

“I need to work on The Drop?”

This time, it’s Bear who closes his eyes and shakes his head, crossing his arms.

“We should get to know each other better?” I plead, holding my hand out toward Bear. “Like why the nickname Bear, Bear?”

They both respond at the same time.

“It’s his name.”

“It’s my name.”

“Wait, your real name is Bear?” I tilt my head at him, confused, having assumed it was his hockey nickname. “Like on your birth certificate?”

“I’m one of six boys, Brookie. My mom ran out of names when she got to me.” He smiles proudly, puffing his chest out a little. “They called me bear cub, and it stuck.”

“How are you single?” I sigh, clutching my heart, finding it the cutest thing he’s ever told me; Cami and I have both agreed that Bear is a real catch, but he doesn’t seem to date or hook up.

“You know, I don’t know, I guess…” He smiles shyly and rubs his hand on the back of his neck.

“Woah, woah, nice try.” Adam steps between us, cutting him off and points towards my room. “Grab your bag.”

I stick my tongue out at him and head back to my room to grab my bag, throwing in my towel just in case by some miracle I end up swimming, and grab my jacket off the bed. My phone chimes again.

Grant-Trouble.

“SNITCH,” I shout down the hall to Adam and hear them both laughing in response. Taking a quick look in the mirror, I twirled my hair around my fingers and let the loose beach waves fall around my shoulders. I’m in shorts and a long-sleeved shirt, my bikini on underneath, and I’m going to wear my cowboy boots for some extra warmth.

Heading back out to the living area. “I've got to say, I’ve never worn shorts out in October before.” I scowl at them while grabbing my boots and slipping them on.

“It’s all part of the fun, Brookie,” Adam said from behind our breakfast bar, holding up the bottle of tequila that we hid from him.

“You’re getting too good at finding that.” I roll my eyes, finishing putting on the other boot and walking towards them at the kitchen island. “I’ll have to hide it in Cami’s room next.”

“Ooh, don’t tempt me with a good time!” He waggles his eyebrows at me and passes shots to Bear and me.

I let out a surprised laugh, shaking my head, reaching for it and holding it up to meet theirs in front of us.

“To Brooke’s first college party,” Bear cheers, but before he can drink, I correct him.

“I’ve been to college parties here and at my old college,” I remind him, quirking an eyebrow.

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