"Because she tests mycontrol."
"But she's notyoursub."
I opened mymouth.
He held up his hand before I couldspeak.
"She’s not your girlfriend." Justin ran a hand through his platinum blond hair and looked out the window. "She's notyourwife."
I growled again and squeezed myeyesshut.
"She didn't just ask me to keep an eye on herhouse."
I openedmyeyes.
“She asked me to keep an eye on you, too,”Justinsaid.
"I'm asking you.” I ignored the pleading in my voice. “As my best friend and the person who knows me the best, what shouldIdo?"
"You in lovewithher?"
"Yes."
"Dude, why don't you take a minute to think about it?" Helaughed.
I joined him. It was ridiculous. I was all messed up. But I did. No point in denying it now. If I wasn't in love with her, why bother to put myself through all this shit. "I'mfucked."
"Yeah, but"—he pauses—"maybe she feels the same. You shouldtellher."
"What?"
"Tell her how you feel. What's the worst that canhappen?"
"She. . ."
I thought for a minute. She could tell me to fuck off. Well, she's married. I have to do thatanyway.
"Even if she feels the same way, she won't leave her husband,"Isaid.
"Whynot?"
"Because hesavedher."
"Well, maybe she needs you to remind her she doesn't need savinganymore."
IleftJustin's office out the back. I didn't want to run into Seth. I wasn't ready to apologize. We behaved liked children sometimes, but I didn't care at this point. I had more important matters todealwith.
I either needed to tell Brooklyn I was in love with her or I needed to let her go. I needed to get her to answer my calls and text messagesfirst.
* * *
Brooklyn
I landed in New York around noon and headed straight for my favorite hotel in Manhattan. The lobby in this historical place had the most amazing ambiance. It made me feel warm and cozy every time I walked into it. I wanted to create rooms that evoked this type ofemotion.
I was all over the place emotionally. I would never be able to create until I could figure out my feelings, but one thing was clear. I shouldn't be married to Paul McIntyre anylonger.
When I settled in my room, Icalledhim.