Page 19 of Stevie
“Oh, that’s for my little sister, Tyler. She’s in a wheelchair. I try to make the house as accessible to her as possible, and she’s really into baking, so I had the counters lowered for her since my kitchen is where she usually bakes. The countertops are adjustable.” I watch him walk over to the island and push a button on the corner, and the counter moves up.
“Oh, wow, that’s…”Kind? Sweet? Caring? Beautiful?“Really cool,” I inwardly groan at the dumb choice of words before turning around so I can busy myself with the pastries. I’m about to plate them when his camera chimes and an automated voice sounds,“Driveway.”
“Expecting company?” I ask as he looks at his phone.
“Oh fuck,” I watch him pale, and panic washes over me.
“W-who is it?” I ask as Brooks heads to the front door, his body tense and eyes wide with fear.
“Stevie, you have to believe me when I say I am so sorry, and please, please don’t freak out.” He opens the door before I can ask what he is talking about, and a woman about our age walks in, carrying a little human, and an older woman stands next to her.
“Mom,” Brooks says, and I hear the nervousness in his fake happy tone. Mom? Oh, no. “Pip! What a surprise. Come in.”
“Hey Brookie, we just wanted to come see you before the farmers–” Brooks’ mom stops speaking when her eyes land on me. “Oh!” She smiles brightly and walks over to me. “You must be Stevie! We were starting to worry we’d never meet you!” She pulls me into a hug as I stare in bewilderment at Brooks, who looks like he would love to be anywhere else right now.
“Oh?” I laugh nervously. “Yeah, things have been kind of chaotic.” It’s the best excuse I have. Why is Brooks talking about me to his mother?
“Do you think you’ll be able to come over next weekend?” His mom asks. “I know the girls are just dying to meet Brookie’s girlfriend! He talks about you so much!”
Girlfriend?I glance up at Brooks, who has the most apologetic look on his face.Oh, he’s fucking dead.
Brooks
CHAPTER EIGHT
Oh god, I’m a dead man.
I continue to watch asallof Stevie’s people-pleasing southern hospitality pours out of her while she chats with Mom and Pip. She’s playing this girlfriend role so well, too well. Throughout this afternoon, I’ve thought several times that she’s going along with this. That it’s happening, and she will have my back fully.
Then, her eyes meet mine and… I’m a dead man.
“Well,” Mom sighs as she and Pip head to the door. “We’ve taken up your whole afternoon. We’d better go if we’re going to get to the farmer’s market. Stevie, please come over next weekend.” Stevie smiles brightly as she leans in to hug my mom.
“I think we can get there, right baby?”Is… is she talking to me?
“Uh-huh.” My voice cracks.Smooth Brooks, fucking smooth.Once the door closes and my mom and sister are down the driveway, I feel the room drop in temperature. Stevie turns to look at me and… fuck.
“Girlfriend?” she hisses, and my hands instantly go up in defense.
“Listen, it’s not what you think.”
“It’s not? Because to me, it seems like you are lying to your family about me being your girlfriend.”
“Okay, it’s exactly what you think, but wait!” I panic as she lunges at me. “I had a good reason!”
“Oh,” she laughs dryly. “I can’t wait to hear this one.”
“They kept trying to put me on blind dates. So, I told them I had a girlfriend.”
“Why me?”
“You had texted me, and my sister saw your name, and she asked if you were my girlfriend. It was a little white lie, I said in a panic, and it blew up.”Much like this.
I watch Stevie relax and shake her head. “So what now?”
I chuckle while scratching the back of my head. “Well, Peaches, you could always admit your feelings for me, and we can make this legit.” I can barely hold back the laughter at the look of horror on her face.
“Actually, Brooks, that’s a great idea.” My smile falls as I stare at her, confused. “I do have feelings for you. Irritation and horniness.”
