Chapter Six
Brooke’s eyeswiden like saucers. Yeah, it was bold of me to ask her that question. But I own the flipping hotel she’s staying in, and obviously I know she was supposed to be on her honeymoon. She is the one who made the comment about her wedding dress. Considering our history, I have a right to ask.
She takes another lick of her ice cream, and I can tell she’s contemplating how much she wants to say. I’m sure there’s a short version and a long version, but which one she shares is going to be up to her.
“He cheated on me,” she says quickly. And then nothing else. Just takes a lick of her ice cream and keeps watching the waves.
I guess I’m getting the short version.
“I’m so sorry,” I say. “That’s…I can’t…”
She turns her head sharply to look at me. “What?”
I take a deep breath. “I can’t believe someone would cheat on you.”
Her eyes soften a moment, then she smirks. “Well, you never met Landon.”
Huh. Her reaction isn’t exactly what I’d expect from a woman in love who found out that her fiancé was cheating. I can tell she’s hurt, to be sure, but it doesn’t seem like she’s heartbroken. More like bitter.
And almost…relieved?
“So you weren’t surprised?” I ask, taking a chance that I’m pushing too far.
“No.” She says it automatically, like she was expecting the question. “He cheated on me once before, two years ago.”
“Oh.” What in the world am I supposed to say to that?
Thankfully, she keeps talking. “I thought he could change. My mom convinced me he could change. There were so many reasons it was a good match for both of us. Our families were close, running in the same circles for years. And he offered to ‘take care of me.’” She makes air quotes with her fingers, even with the ice cream cone still in her hand. “But you know the saying. ‘Once a cheater, always a cheater.’ I should’ve known better. This time, I wasn’t willing to put up with being an afterthought, just for the sake of comfort.”
I wish I could say this line of reasoning, justifying why she stayed with him the first time he cheated, was surprising. But I can’t. She refused to pursue anything lasting between us five years ago, mostly because of her parents’ expectations and her desire to make some kind of stable future for herself. I understand the need for stability, and I couldn’t exactly offer her that when I was unemployed and surfing constantly.
But that didn’t mean she needed to be stuck in a relationship with a cheater, just for the sake of status and stability. At least she realized that before she got married.
“I’m proud of you,” I finally say.
She furrows her brow at me.
“You didn’t have to call off the wedding. And I’m sure it was a lot of money and hassle for everyone. Maybe it would’ve been easier to keep going with the charade. But I’m proud of you for taking a stand.”
Her eyes soften. “Thank you.”
At some point in the conversation, we shifted closer together, and now our arms are touching. I feel her warmth down my side, and all I want is to inch closer to her.
She was supposed to be here on her honeymoon.
So I do nothing. If she wants to make a move, it’s up to her.
“What are your plans for the week?” I ask.
She shrugs. “Seeing as it was supposed to be my honeymoon, we didn’t have a ton of plans. Just hanging out at the pool and walking on the beach. So I guess I’ll be doing a lot of that. But…alone.”
My chest tightens. I feel for her. Not that Canyon Cove is a terrible place to be alone, but if I remember anything about Brooke, it’s that she wants to go and do, not just lounge around and watch the world from a distance.
I wish there was a way to do something with her, but I don’t want to be too forward.
My watch buzzes with a text. I read it—it’s from my sister.
Leila
I completely forgot that we had reservations for Disneyland on Saturday. Do you want to go instead?
“Sorry, it’s my sister,” I say to Brooke. “Is it okay if I text her back?”
Her eyes widen at me, and she doesn’t say anything for a moment. “Of course. Thank you for asking.”
With a quick nod, I pull my phone out of my pocket and type a reply to Leila.
Can’t you just reschedule for later in the summer? I know Oliver was so excited to go.
We’re literally booked all summer. We’re visiting Carson’s family next week and will only be back for the last week before school starts, but Oliver has gymnastics camp. Please, you’ll actually be helping me.
I hesitate, my fingers hovering over the screen, but she writes back first.
It’s two tickets! You wouldn’t even have to go alone!
Instinctively, I turn my head to Brooke. She’s blissfully unaware of my conflict, her eyes still on the ocean.
This could be a way to spend more time with her, though.
And I remember clearly that when we were together, five years ago, she told me how much she had begged her parents to take her to Disneyland. It’s only thirty minutes from here, one of the most popular day trips for tourists. But her parents thought it was too childish and wanted to spend their vacation here having “luxury” experiences.
Would she still want to go?
I clear my throat, drawing Brooke’s attention back to me. “So my sister just said they had reservations at Disneyland for Saturday, and now that my nephew has the stomach flu, they can’t go. She asked if I want the tickets. Would you…want to go?”
She presses her lips together. It’s not a no, but she’s hesitating.
I tilt the phone in her direction. “You can read the messages for yourself. I promise I’m not pulling anything on you.”
She quickly scans the messages from my sister, then twists her lips to the side. With her focus on the phone, I take advantage of the opportunity to really look at her. She’s so beautiful, the moonlight shining on her, her blue eyes glowing as she contemplates her next move.
“I…” She stops herself, straightening herself higher. “I shouldn’t.”
“Shouldn’t?” I repeat. “According to whom?”
Her eyes flash over to mine, then back at the ocean. “According to me.”
I wish she’d explain more. Is it because she thinks it’s too childish now, just like her parents? Or is it because she needs a relaxing trip?
Or does she think she shouldn’t spend more time with me?
Because maybe…maybe she’s feeling the same magnetic pull to me that I’m feeling to her.
“Okay.” I lock my phone and slip it back into my pocket. I’ll respond to Leila later. Maybe Brittany and her boyfriend, Brandon, will take the tickets instead.
“It’s not that I don’t want to,” Brooke says quickly. “I’ve always wanted to go.”
“I remember.” Now it’s my turn to keep my eyes on the ocean. I’m disappointed, but I also don’t want to make her feel bad. This has to be a difficult time for her, and I don’t need to complicate things.
“But…I shouldn’t.”
“Okay.” I scoot a bit away from her on the bench. I’m not being petty, I swear. But I feel like she needs a little bit of breathing room. She shoots a glance at me, but I don’t make a big deal of it.
She stands abruptly and brushes off her dress. “I think I should get to bed. Jet lag and all that. Thanks for the gelato.”
“Of course.” I stand and toss my trash in the nearby bin. “I’ll walk you back.”
We take our first few steps in silence, her heels clicking on the sidewalk of Main Street. “You don’t live at the inn, do you?”
“No,” I laugh. “I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I lived there. You need a separation of work and home. But I don’t live far from here.” I point a few streets over. “I have an apartment over there with a guy named Nate. He’s a little quirky, but we get along great.”
She nods but says nothing else. When we get to the front door of the inn, we stand awkwardly. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do here. Hug her? Shake her hand? Definitely not a kiss, not even on the cheek.
“Thank you for a fun night,” she says, breaking the silence. “I haven’t laughed that much in a while.”
I lift the side of my mouth with a grin. “I’m glad. I had a great time with you, too.”
She nods and lifts her hand in a wave. “Good night. I’ll probably see you around?”
“Yep. I’ll be here.”
And she opens the door, heading inside and disappearing from view.
I turn and walk to my apartment, my hands in my pockets, wishing I hadn’t pushed her so hard. We were having so much fun. I should’ve just kept things light and easy.
I vow to myself that I’ll give her space. She deserves that. I can’t avoid running into her again tomorrow, but I won’t pressure her to spend time with me or talk to me if she doesn’t want to.