Chapter 3 #3
She shrugged and finished her bite. “Why not?” She picked up her water and drank. Then she set the glass back down while acutely aware that Logan seemed to be tracking her every movement. “I figured it was as good a place as any.”
The messy town of her youth in middle-of-nowhere Virginia was a place she wanted to forget.
A dead alcoholic mother and dead deadbeat dad she hadn’t seen since her childhood anyway, meant she didn’t care where she landed as long as it wasn’t where she came from.
A big city meant lots of people and great ability to start over.
Plus, her highest job offer was in Chicago.
Brooke didn’t even hesitate when she was offered the job, she simply said yes.
“What about your parents?” Logan prodded. “Where do they live?”
“They’re dead.” Brooke speared another piece of lettuce then shoveled it into her mouth.
She hated talking about her parents. If anything, she avoided all personal conversations about her past. Her childhood was riddled with abuse and horrible memories.
People didn’t want you to unload that on them.
Instead, she learned to say the bare minimum about her less-than-ideal childhood and turn the conversation back onto the other person. It always worked like a charm.
“Ahh.” He placed his hand lightly on her forearm. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
Brooke shrugged. “I’m not.” She moved onto her pasta, taking a bite.
A look of confusion skated across his face. “You’re not sorry they’re dead?” Logan dropped his raised foot back onto the ground and leaned in closer.
“Nope.” She ate more of the pasta.
Her hunger made her mind muddled. She stretched to think of a way to change the conversation, but she came up blank. Instead, she remained quiet and ate pasta while Logan studied her.
“Umm—” Logan ran a hand through his hair. “I’m assuming they weren’t the greatest people.”
Brooke smiled. “Ahh,” she patted his shoulder, “you’re sharp.”
The tips of his ears-tinged pink. “Touché.” Logan leaned his back against his chair. “I’ll shut up now.”
“My family history is definitely not first date material—” Brooke’s eyes dilated at her misstep.
“I mean not that this is a first date. I know it’s not.
” She rambled on and on. “I’m not some girl who makes things into more than they are.
We are only enjoying a meal together. You were being nice by staying behind—”
Logan placed a steady hand on her forearm settling the tightening of her chest. “Hey, I’m having a nice time, whatever this might be.
And for what it’s worth, I think you’re pretty amazing.
And the fact that you came from I don’t know—less than ideal family circumstances only makes me admire you more. ”
“Really?” Brooke hated how hopeful and desperate her voice sounded. She straightened her back and found her confidence again. “But you barely know me.” Brooke dabbed her napkin at the corners of her mouth.
“I know enough.”
She tossed the napkin down on the table. “Yeah, what do you know?” Brooke raised a skeptical eyebrow.
“That I’d like to become your friend.”
Friend?
Her stomach dropped.
Why did she hate the sound of friends?
Then she quickly reminded herself she was fresh off of a breakup. Friends, she could do friends.
Brooke ran a finger around the rim of her glass. “Why do you want to be friends with me?”
Logan chuckled. “Because I told you I like hanging out with women who snack.”
She rolled her eyes while she fought the urge to smile. “That’s ridiculous.”
“No, it’s not. I like snacks too.” His gaze danced across her face.
“And I promise as a friend to always bring the snacks.” He fiddled around for a moment then shoved his hand into his jacket which hung off the back of his chair.
Finally, he pulled out a personal size pack of Oreos.
“Here.” He held them out to her. “I figured you might need these, now you don’t have to stop by the store if you polished off the rest of your pack at home. ”
The guy bought her Oreos. She couldn’t remember the last thing Justin had bought her, but she knew for sure it wasn’t anything he put that much thought into.
“Fine.” She grinned as she took the package and tossed it into her purse. “We can be friends.”
Logan beamed. “Awesome.”
She finished up her meal then said, “Okay friend, let’s start by you telling me how much I owe for the check.” Brooke tried to reach for the bill folder.
He blocked her hand with his own. “It’s on me. I already put in enough for both of our meals.”
“Oh.” She sat back. “That seems very nonfriend like to me and more into the date material while we both established this is not a date.”
“I know it’s not a date, but I hate to admit this out loud,” Logan smirked, “I have to buy my friends.”
Brooke laughed. “I highly doubt that.”
“It’s true.” He pushed the bill folder far away from them.
“I should’ve known with the Oreos,” Brooke teased.
“See? I came prepared. I knew I wanted to be your friend, and I needed something to butter you up.”
“It started in high school didn’t it,” Brooke offered as she gathered up her purse and jacket.
He shoved his arms into the coat he’d left on the back of the chair. Once he had his jacket back on, he replied, “Clearly.” Logan pushed back his chair and stood.
She stumbled to her feet and put on her jacket. “Did you have to pay people to sit with you at lunch?” Brooke jested.
“Still do.” Logan motioned for her to go first. “So, nothing has changed.”
She snatched up her purse and pushed through the throngs of people who squeezed in every nook and cranny of the tight space. Logan followed behind her, close enough she caught the scent of his woodsy cologne. Gosh, the man smelled good. Friends, friends, friends. They finally made it outside.
“Which way?” Logan shoved his hands into the pockets of his peacoat.
Brooke nudged her head in the direction of her apartment. “I’m this way.” It wasn’t far, only a few blocks past the hospital. “I can manage to get home on my own if you live in the opposite direction.”
“I’d like to walk you home,” he stated, without revealing if it was an inconvenience or not.
“Okay.” She twisted on the sidewalk toward her apartment. They meandered at a comfortable pace side by side. “Is that how you win over your friends?” Her lips twitched again. “You buy them off and do nice things for them.”
“It’s usually a good place to start.” The light ahead changed and forced them to stop on one side of the crosswalk. The familiar sound of the L train passing over their heads made him speak louder. “And my mom would never forgive me if I promised to walk a woman home, and I didn’t.”
The idea warmed her heart. She didn’t have any clue what it would feel like to have someone teach you things like that.
For a second, she tried to imagine having a parent who cared about her well-being rather than treating her like the worst thing that happened to them.
If her parents taught her anything, it was what not to do.
She hoped someday she wouldn’t repeat their mistakes.
“Are you close to your mom?” Brooke inquired as she hit the crossing walk button.
“Yes.” Logan popped the collar of his peacoat.
“I’m close with my dad too. And my sister loves to be in my business as well.
I try to remind her I’m a grown man only two years younger than her, but she conveniently forgets that part.
But I don’t mind, she’s given me the cutest twin nieces a guy could ask for.
” His eyes shimmered at the mention of them.
It made her like him even more.
“How old are the twins?” she asked.
“Nine months.” The crosswalk changed. They stepped off the curb and walked to the other side. He continued, “They’re still snuggly and warm when you hold them. The best is if they fall asleep in your arms. I have to soak it all up now, because I know once they start walking it’ll be all over.”
“True.” They turned the corner. Brooke spotted her apartment coming into view. “I’m only a half a block away.” She pointed out her building.
“Oh, do you live at the old boiler factory?”
“I do. It was converted to apartments a while back before I moved here.”
“I looked at an apartment there too, but they didn’t have anything available.
” He scratched his chin then shoved his hand back into his pocket.
“I love how the old factories and buildings in the city have been converted into apartments. The city managed to keep the beauty of the architecture. It’s what makes Chicago special. ”
“I agree.” Brooke spotted George at his usual guarding spot outside the front door and waved.
“I love my apartment, and my doorman, George.” She pointed him out.
Logan glanced in his direction then she added, “He’s like the dad I never had.
He listens to me then imparts his wisdom when I ask for help with my problems.”
He studied her for a moment then commented, “Then I’m glad he’s in your life.”
She appreciated he didn’t press her further about her dad.
They made it to the front of her building and halted.
George greeted them. “Good evening.” He opened the door to the inside. “Who’s your friend?” He raised an eyebrow and exchanged a quick look with her.
“George, this is Logan.” Brooke motioned toward him. “He’s a surgeon at the hospital.”
Logan held out a hand. “It’s nice to meet you.” George shook his hand in return.
“Likewise.” George smirked. His eyes shone with delight. “I see you didn’t waste any time taking my advice.”
Heat splashed her cheeks. “Umm— that’s not—”
“What advice?” Logan’s gaze skidded between George and Brooke.
“That I’d quit walking around alone at night,” Brooke blurted out before George further explained.
“Oh.” Logan nodded in agreement. “Good advice.”
They stood in a beat of awkward silence.
George gripped the door. “Are you coming in or what?”
“I’m going in.” Brooke shifted to face Logan. “Thanks for walking me. I’m sure I’ll run into you again at the hospital.”
Logan slid his hand into his pocket and removed his phone. “Can I get your number?” He rubbed the back of his neck with his opposite hand. “I need friends, remember? And I’d like to hang out with you again.”
Amused, Brooke smiled. “Friends, right—” Her voice trailed off with her eye roll.
“I need someone to show me around the city,” he quickly added.
Brooke was all too aware that George stood only a few feet away, listening to their entire exchange. She wondered what he thought about it.
She ignored George for a second and replied, “I thought you grew up in Chicago.”
“Outside of the city, in the suburbs, it’s completely different.
” If she knew him better, she’d daresay he was nervous.
The thought that she made a guy nervous made her heart soar a tad.
He continued his rambling, “I need a friend to teach me the best places to eat, shop, that type of thing. Are you up for it?”
For a second, she stared back at him. He flashed her a cheesy smile.
She wondered if she wanted to be friends with Logan or if she cared for something more.
Either way, her calendar was suddenly bleak and free.
There wasn’t a need for her to skip a thousand steps ahead to whatever the future held for her.
Brooke made a give me motion. “I’ve taken mercy on you.” He handed over his cell phone. Without looking up, she said, “We can be friends,” as she typed in her contact information. Once done, she handed it back to him.
Logan glanced down at his phone for a moment before he shoved it into his pocket. “Ok, then.” He pedalled backward two feet. “Brooke, I’ll be in touch when I need you to educate me on the inner workings of Chicago.” Then he motioned toward George, “It was nice meeting you.”
George nodded.
“You both have a nice evening.” Then he pivoted and walked in the opposite direction.
Brooke watched him walk away and wondered how far out of the way her apartment was from his.
George’s voice startled her when he said, “Not bad.” He whistled to himself. “I’m impressed. I gave you the suggestion to find a guy at work, and you had a surgeon walk you home in a snap. You work fast. Is he already on board to go with you to the wedding?”
“What?” She stared at him while her brain played catch up. “Wedding—” Ding, she still needed a date to Aubrey and Ian’s wedding. “It didn’t come up.”
“Ahh,” he waved the idea off, “you still have time to ask him.” George shuffled her through the door into the lobby.
The warmth of the lobby enveloped her.
“He did say he wants to be my friend.” Brooke unbuttoned her jacket as she moved further into the lobby. “Maybe he’d be willing to go with me.”
It wasn’t a horrible idea. Logan was easy on the eyes, and she enjoyed his company. Maybe the wedding wouldn’t be a total bust if he came. She let the idea simmer.
“I have a feeling Mr. Surgeon wants to be more than friends.” He stalled in front of the lobby desk. “I think if you ask him to go with you, he’ll go.”
“Really?” The thought pleased her more than it should. “I think you’re reading it wrong.”
“I don’t think I am.” George continued, “That’s how it always starts—the classic friend to lover trope.”
“Trope?” Brooke raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Since when did you read romance novels?”
“I don’t, but my wife does.” George adjusted the sleeves of his jacket. “Then she drags me to those romcom movies when the books she reads are made into movies.”
“You’re a good man, George. Other men could take notes from you.” Brooke continued to the elevator bay. She pressed the button and turned to face him. “But nothing is going to happen between me and Logan.” Her voice made the space vibrate with her declaration.
George cackled. “Those are fighting words.”
The elevator opened. “Bye.” Brooke rolled her eyes and waved him off, entering the elevator and riding it up to her apartment.
Friends, she could be friends with Logan. George had it wrong, and she planned on proving it to him. Because they would only ever be friends.