10. Brooke
10
***Brooke***
I woke up the next morning with a raging hangover and enough shame to sneak out before any of the guys woke up. I had nowhere to go but I knew I couldn’t stay at Logan’s house for long because it was clear that I couldn’t control myself around them. It terrified me how quickly we’d gone straight back to the way things used to be. Well, almost.
Still feeling their kisses on my lightly bruised lips, I hurried into town and went straight to Anything but Fish, the diner I’d eaten at almost three times a week from the time I was able to chew my own food until I was eighteen. I needed caffeine and something greasy to soak up all the alcohol still rattling around in my body.
It didn’t take me long to realize my mistake. The moment I opened the diner door and the bell overhead rang I made eye contact with Aunt Karlene and froze. She narrowed her eyes on me immediately and raised her index finger to her temple. Her green eyes rolled back in her head as she let out a loud groaning noise and then pointed her other hand at me.
“The prodigal daughter returns! I’m seeing a broken marriage and an apology!” Throwing her arms wide, Aunt Karlene sent her flowing top flying over the table, dragging through her food. “Brooklyn Diana Monroe returns! I see a pick-up truck and a little red dress. I see three men-”
I nearly flew across the restaurant and clamped my hand over her mouth. “I’m not so against the idea of spending my life in prison that I won’t stab you with your fork right here and now, Aunt Karlene!”
She smirked up at me, all traces of her psychic bullshit gone. “I knew I’d get you to join me for breakfast.”
“You… You’re a pain in the ass, but I love you.” I slid into the booth opposite her and rubbed my temples. “I feel like death and you’re on a roll with your crap already.”
“If you think I’m going to let you sneak back into town like a little rat and not rub it into your face that I was right all along about that Fennel boy, you’re dead wrong. I was right about him. I told you so. You should’ve listened to me. I can’t believe you were going to get married without me and your mother there!” She pursed her purple painted lips at me and sighed. “I guess I’ll forgive you, though, since you’re already on your way to making my previous fortunes come true.”
A shiver ran down my spine. I didn’t believe she was a real psychic. She was just weird enough and crazy enough to trick the tourists into believing her. That didn’t mean she didn’t freak me out at times when she predicted things with so much confidence that it seemed a little too real.
“Uh huh. I’ve been telling you your entire life that I’m the real deal and you never believe me. I know you don’t believe me, though, because I know things! Just like I know you’re already back in cahoots with your little pack of sexiness.” She studied me and didn’t notice a waitress had joined us. “I can see your future, Brooklyn, and you’re going to marry one of those hunks.”
The waitress gasped and clutched her notepad to her chest. “Oh, my gosh! Who’s she going to marry?”
I stared up at the teenager and frowned. “No one. I’m not marrying anyone.”
“I can’t say.” Aunt Karlene raised her arms over her head and let out a long, and loud, shivering sound. “It’s so. You’ll marry one of them within the year. Just like I always said. The four of you are just meant to be.”
“The four of you? Oh. Oh! Logan, Noah, and Colt! That’s amazing! There are a lot of women in this town who are going to be upset about that.” The waitress noticed I was still staring at her and blushed. “I’m sorry! My name’s Kara. I don’t mean to be nosy but people have been talking about you being back all night and morning! I feel like I’m meeting a celebrity. I’ve heard so much about you and your three best friends growing up. They’re all so dreamy. Who do you think you’ll marry?”
I glared at Aunt Karlene. “No one. I’m going to be single for a long time. It’s nice to meet you, though, Kara. Do you think you could bring me a five-gallon bucket of black coffee?”
“Oh! I’m sorry! I just got lost in Ms. Karlene’s magic. I’ll bring you a cup of coffee and I’ll refill it as often as you need.” Kara tapped her notepad to her mouth and wiggled in place. “This is just so exciting!”
I waited until she was far enough from the table to turn on Aunt Karlene. “Stop it. You’re messing with me because I didn’t listen to you about Finn. I get it. I was wrong. You were right. Okay?”
“Oh, Brooke. You have no idea what’s coming your way.” She wagged her brows at me and adjusted her leather headband when it slipped. I wasn’t sure just how many layers of lace and silk she was wearing but I’d never deny that she and Mom had a certain look that worked for them. “Now, tell me how your night was. I saw you with a lot of men last night.”
A soft gasp from the table behind me had me slapping my hand to my forehead. I looked back at the older couple I vaguely recognized. “She didn’t mean it like that. I wasn’t with a lot of men last night.”
“Were too. At least a dozen, I’d say.”
The woman behind me started gathering her purse. “Well, I never.”
I glared at Aunt Karlene until the couple were out of earshot. “This is why I moved away and didn’t come back.”
“You moved away and didn’t come back because you had several great orgasms from your besties and freaked out because I told you that you were going to marry one of them. Only because marrying three men at once is illegal.” She raised her eyebrows in a silent dare. “You forget that I know you, Brooklyn. I know you and I know the way you work. Plus, I’m a badass psychic.”
“You’re not a psychic.” I grumbled and looked away. “I’m not talking about this anymore. It’s not going to do me any favors.”
“And you only talk about things that do you favors?” She could tell she was pushing me too far and it made her throw her head back and cackle. “God, you’re easy to rile up.”
“Can I come over and borrow some clothes?” I begrudgingly acknowledged that maybe I took after the women in my family and dressed a little like Stevie Nicks. It wasn’t my fault. I’d been raised by crazy women.
“Sure. What else are you doing in town today, besides hiding from your men?”
Kara appeared with my coffee and smiled at me with wide eyes. “Henry said you used to eat a waffle with peanut butter and jelly, topped with a shitload of bacon. His words, not mine. Is this still your order?”
I glanced towards the back and saw the cook who’d been cratchety when I was a teenager staring back at me. As soon as we made eye contact, he scowled and disappeared back into the kitchen. Something about the cranky old man remembering my order made me oddly emotional. I had to clear my throat and look away.
“That’s still her order. Thanks, Kara.” Aunt Karlene put her finger to her temple and let her eyes roll back. “I see a new beau in your future. Someone with…blonde hair.”
Kara clapped her hands together excitedly. “Oh, my gosh! Is it Brian Rains? It’s totally Brian Rains, isn’t it?”
“I guess we’ll see what the future holds, won’t we?”
I narrowed my eyes at my aunt but I was grateful for the moment of emotion passing. After Kara left, Aunt Karlene looked back at me and rolled her eyes. I grunted at her. “You’re a nut.”
“Back to my earlier question. What are you doing today?” She eyed my coffee and winced. “You’re going to put hair on your chest drinking that stuff.”
“Is that an official prediction?”
“You’re a brat. Has anyone ever told you that?”
I grinned. “Oddly enough, yes.”