Chapter 14
Drew couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this happy.
She and Brooke had been joined at the hip for several days.
So much so that they hardly mentioned Brooke’s floors.
Brooke had stopped asking the landlord when the floors would be fixed.
They each seemed content to continue this arrangement for the foreseeable future.
Tonight, the two of them were going on a date.
Drew was beyond excited to get Brooke out of their apartments.
They had mostly been watching television and eating dinner every night.
Drew had settled into the lazy comfort that was a routine.
Taking Brooke out was long overdue. A nice restaurant, then a walk around the Opry Hotel to look at the lights.
Drew had been worried that being forced to spend so much time together during a newly forming romance might have smothered their flames out.
On the contrary the more time she spent with Brooke the more time she wanted with her.
Things had progressed so much faster than Drew could have imagined. Not that she was complaining.
Brooke came out of the bedroom looking like a knockout.
She wore an oversized red cashmere sweater and a pair of jeans that seemed molded specifically to her curves.
The whole thing together had Drew practically drooling all over herself.
She looked down at her own outfit and hoped it wasn’t too lacking in the style department.
“I hope I’m not too underdressed,” Drew confessed.
“Don’t be ridiculous. You have the kind of effortless style that people would kill for.”
“You think so?” Drew asked.
“Babe, look at you. You’re a knockout.”
Drew looked down at her form-fitting black jeans that she’d paired with a basic white tee. The black leather jacket she wore had belonged to her grandfather in the seventies. It was the kind of vintage item that people would pay big bucks for, but to Drew it was priceless.
“You know when we met I never would have imagined you’d be so good at compliments.”
“Well, I’m full of surprises,” Brooke chuckled.
“I’m beginning to see that.”
Brooke stood on her tip toes to give Drew a kiss on the lips.
“You’re learning,” Brooke teased.
Dinner was a fantastic five-star steak restaurant.
But walking through the hotel with its thirty-nine Christmas trees was astonishing.
Most lighting was flattering on Brooke. Heck the woman even looked amazing in the moonlight.
Here, surrounded by the soft warming Christmas lights, was probably going down as Drew’s favorite look for her though.
It helped that when it came to Christmas lights Brooke seemed almost childlike.
As if all of her walls came down and she was able to just enjoy everything around her.
“We haven’t talked much about it since your breakup with Robin. But I’m not seeing anyone else, and I don’t want to,” Brooke admitted. She took a sip from a mug of hot chocolate that Drew had bought them. Drew turned to face Brooke. There was a sparkle in her blue eyes.
“I don’t want to date anyone else either,”Drew answered.
“Does that mean we’re a couple then?”
“Yeah. I guess that is what it means,” Drew laughed.
“Emily will be thrilled. She’s been begging for me to hurry it up already,” Brooke smirked.
“Well, the important thing is to keep Emily happy,” Drew teased.
Drew reached out her hand and Brooke took it. Their fingers interlocked at the knuckles. After a few more moments Drew glanced over and caught Brooke staring at her.
“What? Why are you looking at me that way?” Drew asked.
“I just realized that we’ve talked about my childhood. But I don’t really know anything about your background.”
“Ah. And you want to know more about me?”
“Of course I want to know more. I want to know everything,” Brooke offered.
Drew felt a familiar pang deep in her heart.
She’d always hated this part of dating. Sharing her deep dark secrets made her feel uncomfortable.
Most women didn’t know what to say to her after she shared what her past had been like.
She hated seeing anything like pity in someone’s eyes.
But this was Brooke. Something told Drew that Brooke would be able to handle her stories.
“Growing up both of my parents were a little out of control. They liked to drink and party. Having a kid didn’t really figure into their lives.
So they treated me more like I was their pal.
I would be out late with them and their friends.
I didn’t know anything different. When I got a little older my mom sobered up.
My dad didn’t. Mom gave him an ultimatum.
Either get clean or get out. He was gone before I got home from school. I never saw or heard from him again.”
“That sounds really rough. I’m sorry. How are things between you and your mom?”
“Things between Mom and I have been great the last few years. She’s really tried to step up for me. Hence the reason my uncle gave me the lease on the shop. My mom probably threatened him within an inch of his life.”
Brooke gave a mild laugh. Her fingers squeezed Drew’s hand a little tighter. Drew forced herself to meet Brooke’s eyes, a little fearful of what she might see in them. There was no trace of judgement or pity in Brooke’s blue eyes. Drew felt a warming in her chest.
“Have you had any contact with your dad now that you’re an adult?” Brooke’s tone was a bit more restrained as she asked.
“No. And I don’t really want to. He could have stayed and he didn’t. Those are the only things about him that I need to know.”
She knew how bitter that made her sound. Drew didn’t care. Those were her true feelings. Brooke offered no chastisement, she simply squeezed Drew’s hand again. Drew would have done anything to break the silence that settled between them.
“Tell me more about your childhood. I know your parents are divorced, but I’m sure there has to be more than that.”
“Oh, there definitely is,” Brooke sighed.
Drew was hit with a sudden wave of guilt. She hoped she hadn’t dredged up anything better left buried.
“You don’t have to talk about anything you don’t want to,” Drew insisted. She gave Brooke’s hand a gentle squeeze.
“No, it’s a fair question. I don’t mind.
The truth is I grew up thinking I had the perfect family.
In fact, everyone told me that I had the perfect family.
My parents never argued in front of me, but I could hear them yelling in their bedroom.
Then one day my mom just moved out. She packed a bag and was gone by dinner.
She stayed in town and was still in my life.
But things have never been the same since then.
I’ve had a hard time with trust. I’m sure you couldn’t notice that,” Brooke dropped off with a self-deprecating laugh.
“I’ve noticed that you don’t lean towards openness. But now that definitely makes sense. It’s hard when the people in our lives let us down.”
Drew turned Brooke so that she faced her. She used one finger to tilt Brooke’s face up, meeting her eyes. Those big blue eyes were deeper than any ocean. She could get lost in the blue waves of Brooke’s gaze.
“I can’t promise that I won’t let you down. But I can promise to always be here if we need to mend something.”
Brooke surged forward giving Drew the most perfect kiss against her lips. The trees with the Christmas decorations all faded to the background. There was nothing in that moment but Drew and Brooke and that kiss.