10. Brooke
You are cordially invited to a Fundraiser
Hosted by Women’s Leadership Society of Colorado
November 12, 12:00PM
Denver Library
Lunch will be served
* * *
With my mom going on the campaign trail next year, she’s in what Jay and I like to call her warm-up phase.
I can hear her voice saying, “It’s never too early to form a good impression.”
I hear it almost as clearly as her saying that bad impressions last longer than good ones.
“I thought you were going to straighten your hair?” Mom adjusts the sleeves on her navy crepe suit. She has a way of fussing while looking perfectly relaxed. Just in case anyone’s taking pictures.
I clasp my hands lightly behind my back. I know the tricks too. “I thought this looked better.”
Her gaze runs down my body. “Is that new?”
“Mhmm.”
The navy Michael Kors polo dress skims my curves and stops just past the knee. It’s not the most revealing thing in my closet, but the moment my eye lingered a beat on the garment, Miles was pointing for the sales associate to wrap it up, along with two other dresses.
I didn’t need him to buy me clothes, but he made me promise in exchange for keeping my secret from Jay. Maybe a small part of me wanted to enjoy it, since it’s probably the last time I’ll be shopping for a while.
Mom’s perfectly threaded brows draw together. “Honey. I know you think my ending our financial arrangement is unfounded, but I promise it will only help you build character.”
I paste on a smile, spared having to respond to her comment when my brother arrives wearing a sweater and chinos.
His presence relieves her, too. “Jayden, thank you for coming. I know how busy you are.”
Jay’s gaze connects with mine and we exchange a sibling look. Mom being mom.
“Good game the other night,” she continues without noticing. “You sit at table four. Brooke, you’re at six. I have prospective donors you should speak with. I don’t need to tell you to be on your best behavior.”
We knew coming here meant Mom would pimp us out. Families of politicians are some of the hardest working unpaid interns.
But I do my duty, sit next to the wife of a finance guy during a lecture about education.
“Did you love being in a sorority? Our Adele is making decisions for college next year,” she says, declining her dessert with an easy smile at the waiter.
“Absolutely. It was a big commitment, but I made lifelong friendships.”
That part was true. It brought me to Ruby, Hannah, and a few other women I keep in touch with because I genuinely enjoy them, not because we or our parents are in the same circles.
My brother meets me at the bar. “God, I figured once we were adults we wouldn’t get roped into the circus.”
“Are you a clown or one of those seals with a ball on its nose?” I ask.
“I think I’m the trapeze artist, trying to remember which way is up while he flips in every direction.” His grin fades. “Everything okay with you and Mom?”
“Of course. Why?”
A shrug. “Just a vibe.”
I don’t want to tell him what’s happening because, as much as the reason for Mom cutting me off is bullshit, I can see my brother swooping in and fixing things.
They each have their own world that revolves around them. The political world exists for my mom. Jay pretends to get it, but he doesn’t really because he lives in his own world too. The basketball world, where he’s the star and he’s worshipped.
Yesterday, I read an editorial by a college grad who had been expecting a huge trust fund. Because of some family issues, it never came through. It completely derailed her life.
That’s not happening to me. I refuse to be the butt of a joke.
A roaming photographer’s presence reminds me to document. Pics or it didn’t happen.
“Bring it in, fam.” I motion Jay closer, and he gets the assignment, leaning in and lifting the phone from my fingers to snap the selfie while we display matching smiles.
We take the picture, and I post it along with one I took of my mom speaking with a little caption.
“So, Garrett helped you out.”
Jay’s comment makes me jump. “Miles? How did you…”
“I’m surprised he let you use Waffles for your costume at the party.”
“Oh.” Relief washes over me. “It was too perfect to pass up.”
My brother frowns. “He’s protective of that little dude. Belonged to his grandma or something.” Someone catches Jay’s eye and he heads out across the room, leaving me to think alone.
Spending time with Miles was even more fun than I expected.
Sure, he’s gorgeous in everything from sweatpants to sorority-reunion best. I’ve caught myself remembering half a dozen times how his hard abs felt under my fingers, wondering if his mouth would be as cocky and confident on mine.
“If you need anything, you come to me.”
I vowed after Kevin that I’d never trust another guy to have my back.
Still, how Miles acted makes me wonder if maybe there are trustworthy guys in the world.
It’s probably bullshit. Like unicorns and the tooth fairy and nonfat ice cream that actually tastes good.
Mom makes a reappearance. “Did you see Kevin’s parents over there?”
I force myself to straighten. “We don’t talk.”
It’s one thing to schmooze for the family business, but I draw the line at voluntarily engaging with the people who spawned my ex.
“Well, you’re about to start. Kevin’s with them.”
My head snaps around to find familiar dark eyes, perfectly cut and styled dirty-blond hair.
The sight of him hits me like a dark, twisted cocktail with the aftertaste of a long, bad night.
I turn away, hoping he gets the message. He was always more subtle than me.
“Kevin was the best thing that could have happened to you,” she sighs. “I wish you’d seen it sooner.”
A headache twinges at my temple.
Mom’s swept off to glad-hand more donors, and I make the rounds until I lose sight of Kevin. I’ve managed to avoid him completely when I duck into the bathroom for a moment to breathe.
The woman in the mirror looks composed. I touch up my makeup anyway.
My ex fit with my mother’s plans. I’d thought he fit with mine. Every sorority sister envied us.
He ripped it all away.
Seeing his face for the first time in so long, I’m not sure my heart healed so much as formed scar tissue.
I’m going to charm Elise and score a brand ambassadorship right out from under Caroline, I vow.
As I’m returning from the bathroom, I feel a hand on my shoulder.
“Hey, Brooke.”
I spin to find Kevin behind me in the hall.
He’s familiar, every inch of him, in a polished shirt and tie with dress pants. The casual lunch-break version of his uniform at his father’s law firm.
“What are you doing here?”
“It’s your mom’s event. My parents were the first to get an invite.”
“You’re not your parents.”
“Maybe I came for you.”
Emotions rise up that I swore I’d buried. He always had a way of making me feel special, even if his actions later proved otherwise.
“Kevin!” A voice calls from behind me, and we both look up.
The next moment, my brother’s stepping between us, a glass of champagne in each hand. “I’d say it’s great to see you, but we know that’s not true.”
Jay’s smile widens and Kevin’s falters.
“Nice to see you. Both of you.” He heads back toward the main room, and I exhale.
“Tell me that’s for me.” I reach for the champagne before waiting for a response.
“Good work, acrobat,” my brother says under his breath.
I have to win this contract, but if I’d thought it would be easy to ignore Kevin, I was wrong.