Page 24 of A Touch of Heaven

My father owns one of the biggest tech companies in the world. They work with our government on many confidential projects and they pay him very well for it. And that’s without all the other companies paying him for his security network and tools. My father has some of the brightest minds working for him, and he has his fingers in many pies, although I don’t know how many to the full extent. Our family comes from old money, and he owns a lot of businesses because of this.

My brother was meant to work with him to learn the ropes and take over someday. The eldest heir to the Anderson fortune. He goes into the office and does what he has to do. But he also disappears sometimes for weeks at a time, and my father is having doubts about him taking over the business now.

So, guess where that leaves me?

I don’t want that.

I never did, and I never will.

I was in a position as the youngest son that I could do anything with my life, but now my dad wants me to go and work for him after I finish college.

Do I know what I want to do?

No, but it’s not living in the corporate world. I get my trust fund when I turn twenty-one, but I don’t want it. I don’t want to feel tied into my father’s money; to feel like I’m in his debt. I’m debating about telling him to cancel my trust, or maybe I should just donate it all.

Professional football is definitely an option for me. I had colleges fighting over me before I settled on one, and I’ve already had an offer for a team that would mean I don’t need to finish my studies. I could just walk away now.

All I know is no matter where my life leads, I want Brooke in it, standing by my side as my equal.My father thinks I’m wasting my time with football. He thinks it’s below our station. Personally, my father is an elitist SOB. His opinions are outdated and way too old school. He isn’t horrible per se, but he definitely gives me a hard time.

I’m closer to Brooke’s family than mine. They always welcomed me. Her mom always had warm cookies for me growing up, and her dad gave me advice on everything I needed. He followed his dreams, and that’s all he wants for Brooke and me.

Brooke and I both come from privilege. The difference is my family has always had money. Brooke’s family didn’t, so they know it’s worth, and Brooke was raised to know she wasn’t above others. She’s never had to want for anything, and her family would do anything for her, but she knows the value of her life and doesn’t spend for spending sake.

I used to think my brother was the same. When he bought my truck, I legit cried. He handed me the keys the morning of my birthday and said, “Use this to get your freedom, don’t be a dick about it. Use it to take you out of this town and out of the state if that’s what you want.” It’s been one of the only times in the past few years he’s actually been a brother to me.

I find myself back on the beach, walking back toward the house as the sun sets, making my mind up to tell her exactly that. I can hear shouting from a distance, though I can’t make out the words.

It barely registers until I see her crumpled on the sand. She’s tiny as it is, but right now, she’s pulled herself up into a ball in the sand. She’s never looked smaller, more vulnerable, and I can hear her softly sobbing.

I sit next to her, pulling her close as I breathe her in. She just cries in my arms as I hold her tightly. Pulling her close as I breathe in her scent. My hands run through her soft, silky hair, letting her cry whatever it is out. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Brooke, she needs to sit with her feelings before you try to find out what happened. If not, you get locked out, and she’ll never tell you.

But I’ve never seen her this way. Brooke is fiery—she would rather scream and shout than cry. I know she was with Chase today, and I wonder what the hell he did to her for her to break like this. I feel the rage burning inside of me as she calms down. Eventually, Brooke looks up at me and gives me a sad smile.

“There’s my Tink,” I say softly, pushing her hair out of her face and caressing her cheek with my thumb as I do. “What’s got you sitting on this beach so upset, beautiful?”

She shakes her head as she slows her breathing to a point where she can at least talk. “I’m sorry,” she whispers.

“For what?” She shakes her head again. “Okay, Tink, I don’t know what’s going on, but considering you were out with Chase today, and now I find you sobbing like this. I know he has something to do with it, so I suggest you tell me before I get up and kick his ass,” I say firmly.

She giggles andfuck me, I could listen to that sound all day, every day. It’s music to my ears. “What? Don’t think I could take him? I’m the one with the football scholarship, girl. I could totally take him,” I joke with her.

She smiles at me sadly. “It’s not him…it’s me… I just realized some stuff that hit home, and it hurts, but I’m okay, I promise. Just realized that maybe sometimes I’m too innocent, too naïve,” she says innocently like it’s dirty, and she scowls as she says it.

I tip her head to me, cradling her face in my palms as I look at her. “There’s nothing wrong with you, Brooke. You’re perfect the way you are. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. You’re perfection, Tink.”

I lean down, laying a soft, chaste kiss on her soft lips. I don't want to push her in this moment, but I want to clarify how I feel about her. She is perfect to me. After meeting her lips briefly, I pull back and see her face flushing. I did that, and it brings a grin to my face.

We sit there silently for a while, just looking over the water and watching the moon reflect into its depths. Her body is still cradled against mine. My fingertips softly trace over her skin. Her breathing is soft against me before I whisper in her ear.

“It’s getting late, beautiful. Want to head back?” She nods, and I stand, lifting her with me before placing her beside me. I wrap my arm over her shoulders and pull her close to me, and I feel her hand slip into the back pocket of my shorts as we walk quietly down the beach.

When we get to the door, she looks up at me. Those beautiful eyes are now clear of tears, and she smiles.

“Thank you, Nate. You’re always here for me.” I open the door, my arm still around her as I kiss her hair softly.

“No problem, beautiful. I always will be.”

She freezes suddenly, and I realize it was because of Chase calling her. I watch a flicker of pain cross her face, which tells me everything I need to know. I keep my gaze on her as she leans up, kisses me on the cheek, and heads up to her room. When I know she’s gone, I look over at the mess my brother is in. He’s clearly drunk with his so-called brothers, and I see red as I storm toward him.

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