Chapter 8 #2
“Maybe Logan will be your happy ending.”
“Perhaps.”
If only she knew the truth, Logan had the hots for Shelby not her. As they were only friends, she didn’t dare let herself dream about anything more even if she did like how broad his shoulders were or how he raked his hair when it fell in his eyes.
Aubrey’s phone dinged, and she fished her phone out of her purse.
“Justin and Ian are a few shops down doing their tuxedo fittings.” She scrolled through the message with her pointer finger.
“Looks like they’re going to stop by since it’s around the corner.
Then we’re headed to dinner. Do you want to join us? ”
“Is Justin going?” Brooke fidgeted with her watch, twisting it unnecessarily.
“Yes.” Aubrey nodded as she typed something into her phone, partly distracted. “But come, it could be fun—”
“No, I’m good.” Brooke forced her hand away from her watch. “That’s the complete opposite of what I consider fun.”
Aubrey slid her phone back into her purse. “Okay. I understand.” She propped her elbow on the armrest of her chair. They sat for a minute in uncomfortable silence, because bringing up Justin always made things weird between them. She picked at a piece of lint on the front of her blouse.
“I sat Justin and you at entirely different parts of the room for the wedding reception dinner,” Aubrey said. “You only have to get through the ceremony.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll behave.” Brooke folded her arms. “Besides, Logan will be there.”
“That’s right.” The tense lines on Aubrey’s forehead loosened. “You’ll have Logan.”
Brooke patted her friend’s arm. “I won’t ruin your big day. I promise.”
“I wasn’t implying—”
A door chimed, interrupting her. Justin and Ian entered.
The door swung closed behind them. Justin caught her gaze.
She rolled her eyes and darted her glance back to the center of the room.
She could behave, but it didn’t mean she needed to look excited about seeing Justin. They walked over to where they sat.
“We finished the fitting.” Ian leaned down and kissed Aubrey. “Did everything go okay with the dress?” He brushed some loosened strands of Aubrey’s hair behind her ear.
They did appear to be in love. It made Brooke’s heart happy and sad at the same time.
A twinge of something stung her, and she forced the feelings of inadequacy and loneliness away.
Her friend found happiness. Maybe someday she’d find her person too.
Isn’t that how we continued to hope or believe in love?
Brooke had to lean into the hope of someone, because she didn’t want to waste her life away with bitterness.
The wedding dress attendant appeared with the long dress bag. “I have your dress right here, freshly steamed and ready to go.” She held it out to Aubrey.
Aubrey and Brooke rose to their feet.
“Thanks.” Aubrey accepted the hand off of the dress and draped it over one arm. Then she looked at Ian. “You have your car, right?”
Aubrey and Brooke had taken the L train across town to the wedding dress shop. Clearly, Aubrey had failed to mention they wouldn’t be returning together.
“Yes.” He peered over his shoulder to the exit. “The tuxedo place had a parking lot behind their shop.”
“Great.” Aubrey readjusted the dress in her arms. “Then we can drop Brooke off on the way to dinner.”
“Oh.” Brooke waved the suggestion away. “I’m fine to take the train home.”
She had zero desire to share a back seat with Justin for the duration of the ride. Even if the car ride would cut her travel time in half.
“Just take the ride home,” Justin muttered with no attempt to hold back his annoyance. “I promise not to talk to you. We can ignore each other the whole time, you’re good at that.” His words had an edge to them.
Apparently, he forgot he left her. But he was good at forgetting, because he had already forgotten their time together. She needed to do the same.
You can’t let him win. You can’t let him know he hurt you.
“Okay, then I accept.” Brooke adjusted her purse strap. “Thanks for dropping me off on your way.”
Ian blew out a rattly breath. “Then follow me.” He took the white dress bag from Aubrey and waved everyone to follow him.
They left the warmth of the dress shop and weaved around a few shops and down a back alley until they arrived at his car.
Gingerly, Ian loaded the dress into the trunk of the car.
Then they climbed in. Ian and Aubrey sat up front.
Justin and Brooke settled into the back seat.
Luckily, when Ian started the engine, the radio blared and filled the car with its obnoxious noise.
Brooke appreciated Ian didn’t turn the volume down.
Even he seemed to know this car ride would be awkward for everyone.
Brooke gazed out her passenger window and stared at the tall skyscrapers as they weaved through the city. She didn’t glance at Justin once.
But then Justin interrupted the silence, he whispered, “Do you have a date for their wedding?” He leaned across the empty seat between them, making himself far too close.
Brooke flashed him a pointed glance. Then she shifted and scooted her body as close to the window as possible. “Why do you care?” She hissed as she peered back out the window. “You don’t get to worry about me anymore.”
Her blood simmered a touch below the boiling point.
“I feel bad— I don’t want you to have to go alone.”
“I see,” she muttered low enough so Aubrey and Ian couldn’t hear. “By some miracle you’ve seemed to find your conscience again. If you, for some unknown reason, need me to set you free from guilt, just know I’m fine.”
“Great to hear,” he muttered. Justin adjusted the sleeves of his jacket. Then whispered under his breath, “Will you ever not hate me?”
“I don’t hate you.” Brooke shifted and faced him. “Dislike you, yes, but I decided a long time again not to waste my time hating anyone. But why do you care?”
“I just do.” His voice sounded small.
She found his response unrecognizable from his normal overly confident demeanor.
“If you must know,” Brooke sat up straighter, “I’m going with Logan to the wedding.”
Justin lifted an eyebrow. “Dr. Schofield?” His lips pinched a bit. “The new general surgeon?”
“Yep.” Smugly, Brooke smirked. “The very one.”
“Are you two dating?” Justin wiggled around in his seat. “Since when?”
“You promised me no small talk.” Brooke saw her street coming into view. She spoke over the radio and leaned between the two front seats. “You can pull up to the curb after this light.”
“You’ve got it.” Ian eased through the intersection then stopped at the curb.
Brooke unbuckled her seatbelt and climbed out of the car. “Have a great night everyone. Aubrey, I’ll see you tomorrow at work.” Then to her great satisfaction, she shut the door and walked to her building. This time Justin got to be the one with all the questions and none of the answers.