Page 104 of Chasing Forever
He steps closer. “A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell.”
“So, it was better than pretty good?”
He chuckles, and I trace the last name on his badge with my finger. God, I could actually make it my last name now. That’s something we need to talk about.
“Believe me, getting woken up with your mouth wrapped around my dick is indescribable.”
Romy enters the store and covers her eyes dramatically. “Ew. Ew. Ew.”
Brooks doesn’t move away from me, only securing me to him tighter. “Get used to it.”
“Mommy and Daddy, make them stop,” she says as the door behind her opens.
“Romy, grow up.” My mom comes inside. “Oh, hello, Brooks.”
“Brooks, my man.” My dad follows my mom inside.
“Can you not speak like that?” I shake my head at my dad.
Brooks releases me, puts his hand out for my dad, and hugs my mom.
“You’re ruining our sacred morning tradition,” I say, sidling closer to Brooks, like a dog who refuses to stop being petted.
“Sorry to interrupt, but Lottie’s been keeping you all to herself.” Mom walks around the store, moving things around into different places. “We’d like to invite you over for dinner.”
“Um…” I say and shake my head at Brooks.
“I’d love to.” He smiles wide at me, and I scrunch my eyebrows. Is he crazy?
“I get that you’re doing things a little backward, but we’d like to reverse it now that our daughter has finally come to her senses.” Dad smiles at me as though he’s proud of me.
“Is this going to be a running joke our entire relationship?”
All three of my family members look at one another. “Yeah,” they answer in unison.
Brooks puts his arm around me and kisses my temple, chuckling.
“So dinner at our house next week. Wednesday work?” Dad asks.
“Sounds good to me,” Brooks says.
Mom continues moving things around. “Would your parents like to join us?”
Brooks stiffens next to me. I wind my arms around his stomach and squeeze.
I haven’t told anyone that Brooks has distanced himself from his parents. Any time I try to bring it up, he just keeps saying they’re all dead to him. I can’t imagine, with how he’s feeling, what it must be like to see his dad’s campaign signs on every inch of Willowbrook.
“I’m sure they’re busy with the campaign.” He kisses my cheek and grabs his hat off the counter, placing it back on his head. “I better get going. See you all next Wednesday.”
He nods at my family and walks out of the store.
“Did I say something?” my mom asks.
But I realize that Brooks forgot his coffee, so I ignore her question, snatching it up and rushing out of the store. “Brooks!”
He’s already beside his squad car. I hold out his coffee to him, but he doesn’t take it.
“I’m sorry. I just… wasn’t prepared. I haven’t talked to them or about them to anyone but you. I haven’t answered their phone calls.”
