Page 37 of Choose Us
“Of course.”
She toyed with the zipper on the edge of the sleeping bag, her gaze meeting mine then dropping again.
“If our circumstances had been different, do you think we would’ve made it?”
“Why are you asking that?” I leant upon my elbow.
“It’s been two years; a lot changes. I guess I’m just curious.” She smiled softly.
“Well,it depends.”
“On what?” Brooke asked.
“When you saw my name light up on your phone last night, did it still give you butterflies?” The comment took a moment to register. I saw the change in her eyes when it did, when she recalled the words she’d written inher letter.
“Yes.” Her response was barely above a whisper and preludeda soft sigh.
“Well, there you go. There is no doubtin my mind.”
“None at all?” Brooke raisedher eyebrow.
I reached forwards and tucked a curl of hair behind her ear. She leaned into my hand. The feel of her skin was warm and soft. It was so quiet I could hear her breathingaccelerate.
“There are only two things in life I am certain of; one is death... and the other is my love foryou,”I whispered.
Brooke reached for the tassels dangling from my new mountain hoodie. She pulled at them softly, twirling them between her fingers. She was distracting herself from the tension. I knew because I could feel it building, with each second in silence the air grew thicker. I could feel the lump in my throat when I swallowed. The beat of my heart was banging so hard against my chest it was visible. The slightest touch of her fingertips as they brushed against my neck made me shiver.
I reached forwards and trailed my fingers down the side of her cheek to her lips. She pulled lightly on the strings of my hooded sweater, bringing my lips closer to hers. We were so close I could feel the warmth of her breath. She brushed her lips against mine. The anticipation of the kiss was too much to handle. Our lips moulded gently. It was tender and slow. Her hand caressed the back of my neck, edging my body closer to her.
The warmth of her body radiated through her clothes. I heaved the cover back as her hand slipped down to cradle the side of my neck. My hands had never been so unsteady as I gripped her waist. The soft touch of her skin was like velvetin my hand.
“We can’t.” Brooke pressed her forehead to mine, rolling to the right slightly, so her lips weren’t directly in line with mine.
“Why?” I asked.
“It’ll only make things harder when...” I kissed the side of her temple, moving slowly down her cheek, kissing the line of her neck from her ear to her collarbone. “...you leave.” She sighed, half pleasure, half disappointment. I could sense her eagerness to continue, but maybe she was right. Was she trying to save me the heartache, or herself?Maybe both?
She stared into my eyes with a dreamlike intensity I will never forget, but the reality of the situation was apparent. As much as I wanted one night with her, I knew in my heart it wouldn’t change anything.
Brooke lived in Japan.
I livedin England.
She still chose her family over me.
Those were the facts.
I yearned for a life that would never be mine.
CHAPTER NINE
The next morning the lake’s shores and surrounding mountains were so clearly exposed I could see for miles. There was something soothing about waking up in the wilderness surrounded by the rattling of leaves and birds tweeting above. The sounds reminded me of a Spotify playlist.
I freshened up at the bathing area and enjoyed a morning coffee coupled with some French toast courtesy of our new camping friends.
“How did you sleep?” I asked Brooke.
“Good. You?”
