Exposed - Chapter 32 #2
“Do you know what we used to do back in high school that was fun?” Mason said, trying to distract us. “When Brooklyn lived with us, sometimes we’d make her play video games. She’s actually pretty good. Much better than you, baby.”
Bee shoved his arm.
“That sounds great,” Matt said. “Let’s do that.”
“I feel like we kind of need to talk about this sabotaging James thing,” I said.
Matt grabbed me and pulled me onto his lap. His lips traced my ear. “I’m sorry. I was fucked up. I was barely breathing without you.”
I knew that. I did. I knew how much he’d been hurting. I melted into him.
“I wasn’t myself. I’m not me without you.”
Oh, Matt.
“I apologized to James too. We’re good. I promise you. Everything is good now. You’re back.” He exhaled like he hadn’t breathed so deeply in ages.
“I love you,” I whispered.
He kissed me behind my ear.
“Get a room,” Mason said.
Matt laughed. “We should be saying that to you two. We walked in on Bee tied up in the kitchen.”
“Well every inch of this apartment is technically our room,” Mason said.
“Gross.”
I laughed as Matt leaned forward to grab us each a controller.
“Wait, so you’re good at this?” Bee asked me. “Because I’m terrible.”
“No, I definitely wouldn’t say I’m good at this. Matt and Mason had a bad habit of teaming up against me in any game I’d played with the two of them.”
“Psh. Well now we can team up against them.”
I smiled. I had a feeling Bee was going to be a great teammate, because she was the only one capable of distracting Mason.
***
There was a knock on the door.
“Someone else is early too,” I said as my character hid behind a bush.
Mason laughed. “Why are you hiding? I’m right there. I can see you.”
Damn it. Bee was a fun teammate. But we were terrible at this game.
“I’ll get the door,” Matt said. He hit the pause button on the game.
Why was he answering their door?
But my train of thought ended as soon as he left the room because Bee grabbed Matt’s controller and un-paused the game.
“Now’s our chance!” she said. She hopped out of the bush beside mine and started firing.
“Cheaters!” Mason tried to pause the game again but Bee tossed Matt’s controller across the room.
Mason got up to go retrieve it, but Bee tackled him on the couch.
“Get it!” Bee yelled to me.
I jumped off the couch and grabbed the controller just in time to prevent Mason from getting it.
“Put it down,” Mason warned as he unwound himself from Bee’s tackle.
I went to throw it over Mason’s shoulder to Bee, but he grabbed me and threw me over his shoulder instead. “Drop the contraband, sis.”
“Never!”
“What the hell?” Matt said as he walked back into the room.
“Now you know how James probably felt.” He slapped my butt. “You have a great ass, Brooklyn.”
I hit Mason’s arm. “Put me down.”
Bee laughed.
“Wait…” someone said. “Brooklyn?!”
No, not someone. I recognized that voice.
Mason turned slightly so I could see upside down who was standing next to Matt.
“Justin?” My voice cracked.
Mason set me down and I ran over to Justin. I threw myself into his arms. I thought he was so shocked that he wouldn’t catch me. But as soon as I launched myself at him, he held on to me so tightly it almost hurt. Like he was scared I would slip away again. I hugged him back.
“Why wouldn’t you prepare me?!” he shrieked and slapped Matt’s arm while he was still holding me tight. “How? How is this possible?”
“Justin, I can’t breathe.”
He laughed and released me. But then he grabbed both sides of my face. “You’re alive.”
I nodded.
“I’m so happy I could…I might…oh, what the hell?!” He slammed his lips against mine.
“What the fuck?” Matt said.
Justin laughed and pulled back. “Nope, still gay. But if I had to marry a woman it would definitely be you.” He patted my cheeks. “God, why do I want to kiss you again? I can’t keep my lips to myself!”
“Okay, that’s enough,” Matt said and put his arm around my shoulders.
“Oh.” Justin’s eyes grew round. “Please tell me it’s finally happening! You promised me 16 years ago that I could plan your wedding. Promise me again right this instant!”
“I mean…we’re not engaged…” I started.
“Of course, Justin,” Matt said. “Just don’t kiss her again.”
“I’ll leave the bride kissing to you, big boy.
” He squealed. “What is my life right now?! Brooklyn I have so much to tell you.” He grabbed both my hands.
“I did it. I did what you knew I could. I’ve planned so many weddings.
” He pointed to Mason and Bee. “I planned their wedding! I have the most successful wedding planning company in the city. Because you believed in me. I owe everything to you.”
I wasn’t sure that was true. But I still jumped up and down with him when he grabbed my hands and started leaping around the room.
“You did that all on your own, Justin. Because you’re amazing.”
“No, you’re the only one who believed in me. The only one. You’re the only one that even asked me what I wanted to do. You don’t understand how much that meant. You actually talking to me instead of pretending I didn’t exist. Meeting you changed my life, Brooklyn.”
I started crying. I couldn’t help it. I thought I’d ruined everyone’s lives. That’s why I’d stayed away. But standing in this room surrounded by family and friends? God, I was such a fool.
Justin grabbed both sides of my face and kissed me again.
I laughed.
“Seriously, everyone stop inappropriately touching my girl,” Matt said.
“Oh, honey, jealously doesn’t suit you. And you have it all wrong. This is my girl. And she’s fucking back, New York City!” he screamed at the top of his lungs.