Page 40 of Face Off
Brooks: My room’s lonely without you. Plus, my roommate next door is a complete prick.
I can’t help but smile and laugh at Brooks’ text. He’s rooming next to Halloway, who’s been hounding him about going out to experience the Arizona nightlife scene since we’ve landed. I can only imagine the sounds he’s going to be experiencing over the next several days.
Hayley: I miss you already too.
Brooks: Have dinner with me tonight. I have someone I’d like you to meet.
Hayley: I wish I could, but I was asked to have dinner with Mr. Richards and his wife.
Brooks: Meet me after then?
Hayley: Or… you could come with me?
What better way to keep Doug Stevens away from me.
Brooks: So tempting. Let me rearrange somethings, and I’ll meet you. What time’s dinner?
Hayley: 5:30 at their villa.
Brooks: A little intimate but okay. I’ll see you at 5.
Brooks: Remember though, dessert’s on me.
Warmth spreads throughout my body as I picture what type of dessert Brooks has in store for me. Glancing at the clock on the wall, I see that it’s quarter to four, giving me a little over an hour to get Camden and me ready.
The light sound of knocking on my villa door has me scouring around the space in a frantic fluster. Brooks is going to have dinner with my parents tonight. Well unofficially since he has no clue they’re my parents, but nonetheless, I’m freaking out internally. Add the fact that Doug and his parents will be there, and you have a certifiable situation.
I open the door, heart pounding in my chest as I run my gaze down Brooks’ body. He’s dressed in business casual attire, more relaxed than game day, but still hotter than sex on a stick. His dark-wash jeans hang low on his waist as his white button up is rolled at the sleeve, showcasing arms full of tattoos. Tattoos that I can’t wait to run my tongue across later tonight.
“Don’t you look amazing,” Brooks says, grabbing me by the waist and pulling me close to him for a kiss.
“You’re not so bad yourself,” I say against his mouth before pulling back. “Camden, come on. We have to go,” I yell out as a happy-go-lucky ten-year-old comes barreling down the hall.
“Sup, Brooks.” He fists bumps him as he walks past us out the front door.
We walk next door hand in hand as Camden walks right into my parents’ villa without knocking. I’ve warned Cam before we came over to not mention that Pop and Gram were Mr. Richards and Celeste, but clearly, he’s forgotten the boundaries already. We follow him in, finding my parents and Doug’s parents in the seating area.
“Ah, Hayley, glad to see you came and with Mr. Miller no less,” my father says over the rim of his bourbon glass. He’s not happy; I can see it all over his face.
“Celeste. Wade. Thank you for having us,” I say, giving my mother a hug. “Jim. Kathy. It’s so good to see you.”
Doug’s mom Kathy eyes me with curiosity as I take a seat next to Brooks on a little love seat. His hand rubs small circles on my bare thigh, exposed from my dress riding up a little. The room is filled with uncomfortable tension as my mother pours a glass of wine for me and a whiskey for Brooks.
“So, Doug tells me it’s been so good seeing you again. Oh, how I’d love for you two to get together. I hear you’re single,” Kathy says, reaching over to place her hand on top of mine.
I sip my wine, eyeing my father over the rim of my glass. “Well, whoever told you I was single has been mistaken.”
“Oh.”
The sound of the front door closing cuts off the conversation. Doug strolls into the room holding a bouquet of roses. “Sorry I’m late. Had to finish putting out some fires before tomorrow’s game,” he says through a smug smile as he eyes Brooks. “Hayley, these are for you.”
Brownnoser.
Brooks’ hand squeezes my thigh in almost a possessive manner, sending electric bolts through my entire body. “Thanks,” I murmur as my mother comes back into the room.
“Ah. Good, everyone’s here. Shall we get dinner started?”
We all stand, moving to the dining area. As I pass my mother, I hand her the roses Doug brought me. “Pretty sure these were meant for you, the lovely hostess,” I say in the most sarcastic tone yet.
