Page 43 of Take Me Slowly: part 2
There didn't seem to be much doubt now. I really was Coral Clarke.
Wasn't I?
18
LEAH
"Is that you all you have?"I looked down at the suitcase Brooks was rolling behind him.
"That's all I brought to town with me." He shrugged and let the wheels rattle over the hardwood floor. "I might go home and get more stuff when I get a chance." He didn't look like he was in a hurry to get back there.
"Yeah, me too," I said quietly. "Unless Mom threw it all out already."
"Neither of us is her biggest fan, but I don't see Felicity doing that," he said. "It would require effort on her part."
"She'd also have to notice I wasn't there," I said on a sigh. "You can put your things in the spare room. There's a bed in there already for you."
"Fuck that." He wheeled his suitcase into my room and hefted it onto the bed before opening it and starting to pull out his clothes. "I'll sleep in here with you."
"He's a presumptuous prick," Connor said from where he stood in the kitchen, cooking burgers with Riley.
Brooks rolled his eyes, but didn't stop unpacking.
"I think Brooks would like to say it takes one to know one," I teased, without taking my eyes off my stepbrother.
That was met with the sound of Riley's laughter.
"She's got you there."
"Fuck off," Connor said, maybe to him and maybe to all of us.
"When's Josiah coming?" Brooks asked, without glancing my way.
"He should be here soon." Unless he decided not to come. He'd spent so long avoiding coming into town unless he had to, an invitation to eat dinner here might be too much, too fast. If that was the case, I'd be disappointed, but I'd understand.
I didn't think it would stop the other three from heading up to his place to drag him down here. Just for my sake, that was. Because they knew I wanted all of them here.
"You like him, don't you?" I asked, giving Brooks a cagey look.
He went on unpacking without missing a beat. "He's okay."
“Mmm-hmm." I leaned against the door frame and watched him. "It's okay to like someone, you know? You can even like me if you want to."
He grunted softly. "Why would I do that? You're a pain in my ass. You have been since my dad married your mother."
"The feeling is mutual," I said. "Bad enough that she got married without bringing an asshole along."
"So fucking inconsiderate." He tossed a couple of pairs of shoes on the bottom of the wardrobe and closed it. "You know why my father chose your mother though, right?" He swung his suitcase up to the top of the wardrobe and turned to face me.
"Because she's got an amazing daughter?" I asked, jokingly.
He stalked towards me. "Because he wanted me to have you." He placed his hands on my hips and pulled me flush against him. "You were my wedding present from him, you just didn't know it until now."
"Is that right?" I looked up into his eyes. They were dark and full of fire, heavily laced with arrogance.
"Yes," he said simply.
“So, if I didn't exist, he wouldn't have married her?" I cocked my head at him.
