Page 28 of Coming Unraveled
“It’s Everleigh.”
Jolting upright in bed he lets her words wash over him.
With fear clutching at him he asks, “What’s wrong with Everleigh? Is she hurt? Sick? Oh my god, I need to come home.”
Jumping from the bed, he begins to frantically look around the space, tossing clothes haphazardly into his suitcase.
“Brooks. Brooks!” she shouts, finally drawing his attention.
“Yeah?”
“Everleigh is fine, but she may have realized what kind of mistake she has made. She has been walking around like a zombie the past few weeks and actually closed the pharmacy early when she read that you have moved on.”
“Moved on?” he inquires as he finally takes a seat back down on the bed, running a hand through his hair, neatly trimmed this morning as the producer demanded that it had become overly long.
The producer, Charleston.
He has heard rumors that he and she were being linked together in the tabloids, even though the only time they are together is on set.
But maybe he can use this to his advantage. Make Everleigh realize what she’s missing.
“Look, I’ll be home in time for Cassidy’s wedding. Just take care of her while I’m gone, Avery.”
“Do you still love her, Brooks?” Avery whispers into the line.
“I do, but, you see, that was never our problem.”
“What do you mean? Love fixes everything.”
“Sometimes love isn’t enough if the other person isn’t willing to accept it.”
“So, you’re just giving up? What about what we all agreed on?”
“I’m not giving up. I’m just letting her think that I am.”
“She told us you all were married.”
Were. He regrets every morning that he wakes up alone in bed that he signed those papers, but it is the right thing for her.
“I’m glad she finally told someone. I’m sure it was hard for her to keep it away from her family.”
“Look, I just wanted to check in and make sure we could still expect you at the wedding. I think she’s finally ready to come around.”
“I’ll be there, but I may not be there with her, Avery. A man can only take so much rejection.”
“I understand. Oh, and I wanted to tell you, Dr. Long has been doing great filling in while you’re gone. You did a really good job making sure the clinic runs smoothly if you’re absent. “
“I’m glad she’s been able to step in.”
“OK, well just think about everything and I’ll be seeing you soon.”
“Bye, Avery.”
Ending the call, he chucks his phone on top of the bed and leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
He has decided to take a different approach with Everleigh. Apparently, trying to make sure he was constantly in her life isn’t working so he planned on using a different tactic, and from the call, he just received, it seems to be working.
Brooks has taken every opportunity presented to him while in New York City, anything that will keep him away from Carson just a bit longer. It seems to help his plan, but his chest aches at how much he misses her. He misses her rare smile when she finally let her tough exterior fall by the wayside. He especially misses her explosive laughter when she finds something funny, usually at his expense. And of course, he misses the taste of her lips and the feel of her body against his, their coming together always making him feel whole, complete.
