Page 67 of Need Me
Chapter 16
Brooke had intended doingher hair towards evening, but she’d been so sweaty from all the physical exertion that she couldn’t wait toshower.
Brooke grew concerned when 6:15 came and went. It wasn’t like Robert to be late. She texted him, but he didn’t respond, so she calledhim.
“Sweetheart, where are you?” she asked when his voicemail picked up. “I hope everything is okay. Call meback.”
A car pulled into her driveway as she hung up. Looking out the front window, she smiled in relief as she saw that it was Robert. She stepped onto the front porch and waved at him. When he didn’t get out, she frowned and started down thesteps.
* * *
Paralyzingfear froze Robert as Brooke approached his car. His fight or flight instinct made him want to back out of her driveway and speed away. But the considerate, responsible part of him wouldn’t allowthat.
He hit the button to roll down the window as she came to hisdoor.
“What’swrong?”
Seeing Chase and Anna so happy with their babies…he couldn’t help it. The terrible memoires had risen from the grave to haunt him. It had been over a year since he’d had a panic attack but he could feel one so close his breath began to come in shortgasps.
“I shouldn’t have come,” he said. “I’m not feeling well.” He hated hiscowardice.
The concern in her eyes deepened his guilt. “Come inside. I’ll get you feelingbetter.”
“N-no. You might catch it,” he said and then pounded on the steeringwheel.
Brooke jumped and took a step back. “Robert, why are you somad?”
“I’m sorry. I hatelying.”
Her brow knitted in confusion. “Lying about what?” She put her hands on her hips. “Get out of the car, Robert. Now. We’re going inside and you’re going to tell me whathappened.”
Her authoritative tone made him smile a little. “Okay.” He pulled the keys out of the ignition and exited thecar.
Brooke took his hand and smiled up at him. “Whatever it is, we can deal withit.”
I doubt it.“Okay.”
Despite his growing disquiet, Robert allowed Brooke to lead him into her house. They went to the living room and she had him sit on thecouch.
“How about a little wine while we talk,” shesaid.
“I could kill for abeer?”
“There’s plenty in the fridge. When I get back you can tell me who has upsetyou.”
He watched her as she went to get his beer and tried to pull himself together. “I had to come to do this before I chickened out,” he responded. “We have totalk.”
On her return Brooke’s expression turned apprehensive. “It must be important as I’ve never seen you soupset.”
That’s because for the last few months he’d managed to suppress his past, but the birth of the triplets triggered his painful guilt. Seeing the happy family just reinforced the decision he’d made not to have children was the right one. He could not go through the pain again, it would killhim.
Robert decided to get right to the point. “Look, I’m really serious about you, but I have to tell yousomething.”
She straightened her spine and a guarded look settled on her lovely features. “Okay. Goahead.”
“I don’t want children,” he blurted. “I thought you should know before things continue between us. It wouldn’t be fair for you not toknow.”
Her mouth opened a little and then shut again. She remained silent for several moments. “You don’t want kids right now orever?”
