Chapter 16
“Have you seen my tinsel?” Drew yelled down the hall.
“Babe, why do you need tinsel?” Brooke shouted back.
“For my ugly Christmas sweater,” Drew answered.
Her answer offered very little explanation as far as Brooke was concerned.
She’d come to the realization that it was usually best to leave Drew to her own devices.
Most of the time Drew seemed to know what she was doing, even if it took Brooke a while to catch on.
Drew came back to the living room absolutely covered in tinsel.
The bright cord of silver tinsel was wrapped around her Christmas sweater.
“How do I look?” Drew asked so excitedly that Brooke couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Stunning as always.” Brooke smiled. Drew’s smile beamed even brighter.
“You look amazing,” Drew said, her eyes roamed up Brooke’s form.
Brooke had never been one for Christmas parties.
But her friend Emily had been invited to attend one with Scarlett, her partner.
The party was apparently set to be one for the books filled with Scarlett’s friends and family.
Emily loved Scarlett and her family, but she’d still been nervous.
It was hard to go to a party filled with strangers.
This had resulted in Brooke and Drew being invited.
Drew had been overjoyed to get the invitation. She loved holiday parties, which wasn’t really a big surprise. Brooke had rolled her eyes at Drew’s enthusiasm. Secretly though she’d enjoyed experiencing the holidays through Drew’s eyes.
Brooke glanced down at her own silvery sweater and black leggings.
She smiled back at Drew. Their eyes met and Brooke felt her heart skip in that familiar way that it did with Drew.
Only with Drew. No one else made Brooke’s heart race and skip.
No one else gave Brooke goosebumps with the slightest touch.
Only Drew. Their chemistry was the kind of thing she’d read about in romance novels, though it wasn’t something Brooke had ever expected to find.
This was the kind of chemistry in fairy tales not something you stumbled across in real life. Yet Drew was real enough right in front of her. Brooke’s head still had questions, but her heart continued to tug her in the direction of Drew.
“You ready to go?” Drew asked. There was always such warmth in her brown eyes. Drew took two steps, closing the distance between them. Brooke stood still as Drew rested her hand on her face. Drew leaned down kissing her lips.
“I am. But I won’t be if we keep that up,” Brooke teased.
Brooke held Drew’s hand as she drove. Drew’s thumb made a sweeping motion across her hand. The gesture was done absent mindedly, but Brooke still smiled at the sweetness behind it.
“Remind me where we’re going again?” Drew asked.
“I think we’re going to Scarlett’s mom’s house,” Brooke answered. Drew cocked her head to the side and smiled. She didn’t know Emily well, let alone Scarlett and her family.
“I’m sure it’s going to be a blast. I’m excited to get to know your friend a little better.”
“Oh, I have been told that Skylar West will probably be there,” Brooke shrugged.
She’d never been one to gawk at celebrity.
She’d run into Skylar a few times since Emily and Scarlett had gotten engaged.
Skylar was beautiful, and probably the nicest person alive, but her celebrity had long since rubbed off for Brooke.
“The Skylar West?” Drew asked.
“Yep, the Skylar West.”
“Your friend rides in some posh circles,” Drew laughed.
“Trust me when I say that Emily is anything but posh,”
“Yeah, she’s always seemed down to Earth when I’ve talked to her. What’s Scarlett like?”
“Scarlett is very nice once you get to know her. There’s a little bit of a shell you have to break through first.”
“Say no more. I’m excellent at breaking shells.” Drew looked over at Brooke and smiled. Brooke got the strange inclination that Drew was referring to her.
“Wait a minute. Are you talking about me?” Brooke asked.
“Maybe not specifically. But I’m not not talking about you,” Drew teased.
“I don’t have walls,” Brooke argued. Indignation stung her to the very core of her being.
“Of course not, Tomes. You’re an open book,” Drew smirked. Brooke couldn’t help smiling at the long put down nickname.
“I was just angry because I wasn’t going to be able to expand my store. And you were so frustratingly nice that I wasn’t even able to dislike you.” Brooke grimaced. It sounded worse when she said it out loud.
Drew took her hand and kissed her knuckles. Brooke felt herself melt into a puddle of goo. She didn’t know how she managed to keep driving with her heart pounding and her body melting. They pulled into a large driveway and Brooke couldn’t help but stare.
Vera Lossett was the kind of woman you found on television or in movies. Somehow, she managed to make her ugly Christmas sweater look stunning. She met them at the door before Brooke even had a chance to ring the doorbell. Her eyes were the kind of hazel that looked golden.
“Welcome. You must be Brooke and Drew,” Vera said with a disarming smile.
“I’m Vera Lossett. I’m Scarlett’s mother,” Vera ushered them inside.
Brooke could see why the woman had been the premiere Nashville wife when she’d been married.
The Lossett name still held power in Nashville.
The family had been as close to tycoons as Nashville had ever seen.
Until Vera and David Lossett had divorced.
Then David had been arrested for fraud and embezzlement.
That had been years before Brooke had met Scarlett.
Brooke had always known Scarlett for her relationship to her friend, Emily. As well as Scarlett opening one of the most successful new breweries in Nashville. Brooke took a second look at Vera and wondered what Scarlett had been like in her past life as a business tycoon’s daughter.
“Your home is lovely,” Drew said to Vera.
Brooke pulled herself back into the conversation.
“Thank you so much. I do love it here. I’m far enough away from the city to be at peace, and close enough not to go stir crazy.”
Vera led them down a hallway and into the main living area.
“Brooke and Drew are here,” Vera announced. Every head turned for a moment, and Brooke wished she could physically melt into the carpet. Drew squeezed her hand a bit tighter, anchoring Brooke.
Brooke saw Emily and arched an eyebrow. Her friend had told her this would be a small gathering, but there were at least twenty people here. Emily blushed but flashed her an apologetic smile. Emily walked over to them, wrapping Brooke into a tight hug.
“Scarlett tells me that you’re a tattoo artist,” Vera smiled at Drew.
“I am. I just opened a shop in Nashville.”
“I’ve been thinking about getting a tattoo for the longest time,” Vera grinned.
“Do you know what you want?” Drew asked.
Brooke watched as Drew seamlessly transitioned into artist mode.
“I do. I’m just not sure about size or placement,” Vera
As Vera pulled Drew away Brooke focused her attention on Emily.
“I thought you said this was going to be a small get-together?” Brooke hissed.
“For the Lossetts this is a small get-together,” Emily smirked.
“This is a houseful of people,” Brooke argued.
Scarlett approached and gave Brooke a gentle hug.
“Thanks for coming. I’m glad Emily will have someone she knows here. Where’s Drew?” Scarlett asked.
“Your mom commandeered my girlfriend so that she could ask Drew about tattoos,” Brooke answered.
“My mom will do that. I promise she treats her captives well,” Scarlett chuckled.
“Let me get you a drink,” Scarlett smiled. She ran to the kitchen and grabbed a couple of glasses. Brooke watched as she poured two glasses and brought them back.
“This is a new cider that I came up with,” Scarlett announced excitedly.
“She’s very proud of it,” Emily teased. Scarlett gave Emily a poke in the side.
“You just wish that you’d come out with a cider,” Scarlett laughed. She handed one glass to Brooke and one to Emily. They each took a sip. The crispness of the drink took Brooke by surprise.
“I have to give it to you, Scarlett. This is really good,” Brooke announced.
“Thank you, Brooke. And what are your thoughts, babe?” Scarlett plastered a look of innocence on her face.
“Ugh, it’s actually really good,” Em grumbled.
“You two are so strange,” Brooke laughed.
Brooke had always liked the way Scarlett and Emily could balance being together as a couple, while also being in competition business-wise.
“A little competition keeps the romance alive,” Emily teased.
Brooke shook her head and laughed.
“How are things going with you and Drew?” Emily asked with a smile.
“Things are going well. I think especially considering that we went straight into living together while my place gets fixed. It could have been hard, but everything with Drew is just so effortless.”
“Oh, wow. Who are you? What did you do with Brooke?” Emily teased.
“Oh, stop it. What are you talking about? It’s still me,” Brooke laughed.
“Sure it is. But I’ve never seen you smile like that before. I can just tell you’re really happy,” Emily smiled.
“I am really happy,” Brooke answered.
Her eyes lifted, searching the room until they fell on Drew.
Brooke smiled. Drew was sitting in a circle with Vera and another woman that could only be Scarlett’s sister and Vera’s daughter.
A blonde woman with wild curls sat beside them laughing.
The picture just felt right. That was the Drew she’d fallen for.
She could be placed with just about any group of people and fit into the dynamic.
Drew lifted her eyes and met Brooke’s gaze, as if she’d felt the weight of Brooke’s eyes.
Brooke smiled and Drew returned the gesture.
Brooke felt a tiny dose of calming settle over her. Everything felt exactly right.