Chapter Twenty-Two
“YOU HAVE A VISITOR IN the break room,” Evie grumbled when I walked out of patient room one. Evie was the charge nurse, and, as far as I could tell, she loved to strike fear in the ER staff. I did my best to avoid her, though I wasn’t intimidated by her and part of me even empathized with her.
I had a feeling my colleagues thought of me as standoffish. And admittedly, I had been. I promised myself I would be better. Not smarmy like Dr. Everett, but more cordial than I was previously.
“Thank you.”
Evie rolled her eyes. “I don’t remember announcing that today was bring-your-friend-or-partner-to-work day.” She marched off.
I smiled, hoping that meant Brooke was in the break room. She’d mentioned she would try to drop by after she and Lola volunteered at the animal shelter in Carson City. Brooke was trying her best to help someone every day. Little did she know how much she’d been helping me.
On my way to the break room, I crossed paths with Dr. Everett. He avoided making eye contact, likely aware of Brooke’s presence and who she was there to see. I took a bit too much pleasure knowing it was me, not him, she’d come to visit.
“Dr. Everett,” I murmured in passing.
“Dr. Summers,” he mumbled back.
Smirking at how bothered Dr. Everett appeared, I walked into the break room to find Brooke chatting with Calista Granger and her friend Jules and Lucy Shackwell, who was one of the ER nurses. I paused to admire Brooke’s bright smile and how effortlessly she fit in, like she was talking to lifelong friends.
It didn’t take long for Brooke to notice me. She popped off her seat at the table, dashed toward me, wrapped her arms around me, and snuggled in as if she belonged there. I’d never been with anyone as naturally or as publicly affectionate as her. Not that I minded—it just caught me off guard, and I had to remind myself to reciprocate. As soon as my brain kicked in, I put my arms around her.
“Hi.” I kissed the top of her head, recalling every kiss we’d shared the night before and longing for more.
She tilted her head and rewarded me with a smile. “Hey, there.”
“Logan, we were just getting to know your friend ,” Calista said.
Friend? I’d never had a friend like Brooke before, but I wasn’t sure what else to call her. Girlfriend didn’t seem right, seeing as we’d already settled on a breakup date. But telling people she was my summer fling would make me sound like a pig, especially since I was doing it to abate my own guilt. I’d decided the previous night to avoid overthinking the semantics and focus on savoring every moment with Brooke, and just hoped Erica wouldn’t hate me.
Brooke gave me a knowing look. “Yep, we’re good friends, aren’t we?”
The women at the table laughed.
“Yes,” I replied, feeling some heat creep up my neck.
Brooke took my hand and led me toward the table. “Calista was telling me they’re having a diaper and formula drive at her clinic next week. I said we would be happy to volunteer.”
“Yeah, I’d love to. I just need to check my hospital schedule.” Apparently, we were wasting no time announcing to Aspen Lake that we were together. At least temporarily.
“Tristan and I would really appreciate it. Thank you.” She stood. “I need to get back to my kiddos.”
“Me too.” Jules slowly stood up, holding her pregnant belly.
Lucy mirrored Jules. “Two months until I evict this kid. ”
Jules groaned, a mix of exhaustion and love in her voice. “I have three months. I love my children, but pregnancy is no joke.”
Brooke beamed at the women. “I can’t wait to have a baby someday.”
Her innocent comment felt like a punch to the gut, a stabbing reminder of the deep regret I harbored for the last words I spoke to Erica. It didn’t help that each woman’s gaze, except Brooke’s, seemed to silently ask if I planned to be the father of Brooke’s babies. It led to thoughts I shouldn’t have, picturing Brooke carrying a baby—our baby.
I had zero business thinking like that, no matter how much I wished to be a father. We had one summer together, and that was it. We’d set the boundaries for both of our sakes, and I had no plans to cross those lines.
“Be sure to come to the book launch,” Jules said to Brooke, helping to shake me out of my thoughts. “Of course, you’re invited too,” Jules acknowledged me.
“Thanks,” I said, not knowing what she was referencing.
“I can’t believe I get to meet Josie Cavanaugh,” Brooke squealed.
“She’s great,” Lucy commented.
“We’ll let you get to your dinner.” Calista winked as they all filed out, leaving me alone with Brooke, who immediately tugged on my hand.
“Come sit down. Lola and I stopped at the best burger joint ever. You’re going to love the food, Mr. I Don’t Eat Dessert. It’s all natural, nothing processed. And their baked sweet potatoes fries are to die for.”
“Sounds good.” I pulled out a chair for Brooke.
Before she took her seat, she pursed her lips together, and those knowing eyes of hers studied me. “Are you okay? You sound kind of down.”
I pecked her lips and reminded myself to snap out of it. I didn’t feel it was right to talk to Brooke about the issues Erica and I had been experiencing before she died. It almost felt like a betrayal. And I didn’t want to dampen Brooke’s mood.
“It’s just been a long day, but I’m glad you’re here.” And I was.
“All right.” She kissed my cheek, seemingly satisfied with my answer, before she took her seat. “You know, I’m here for you, friend .” She laughed at the unromantic title.
I smiled and took a seat next to her, knowing she would probably have some wise advice for me, but this was one I had to work out on my own. “I appreciate that. But maybe we can think of a different word than friend or fling ,” I added.
“Hmm. I’ll have to think about it.” She grabbed the brown paper bag and started unpacking its contents. It smelled promising, like well-seasoned beef off the grill. She opened the container of fries, pulled one out, and fed it to me.
I chewed slowly, admiring Brooke as she waited impatiently to see what I thought of the fry. It was delicious, but it had nothing on her.
“Well?” She could no longer stand the suspense.
“It’s almost to die for,” I teased.
“Ha ha.” She shoved another fry in my mouth. “On a more serious note, do you want to shop for clothes with me?”
I swallowed before saying, “Sure. Except, I enjoy your wardrobe.” I couldn’t help but let my eyes rove over her normal attire of cutoffs and a T-shirt exposing her shoulder.
“Do you, now?” she asked while leaning closer.
I couldn’t resist the invitation to brush her lips with my own, barely taking a taste of her, even though I wanted more. I doubted Evie would appreciate it if she caught me pulling Brooke onto my lap and thoroughly ravaging her lips.
Brooke backed away as if she could read my mind and it was tempting her too. “You know, we should add making out in a supply closet or a patient room to the bucket list,” she whispered seductively.
Hell, she was going to be my undoing. I cleared my throat, trying not to think about the possibility of an available patient room. It was against several rules.
“Are you okay there?” She laughed. “Sorry, I don’t want to get you in trouble.”
“You would be worth it.” What was I even saying? I’d never treated my job like General Hospital before. That I wanted to now was both freeing and disconcerting. What was Brooke doing to me?
The blush in her cheeks said my response pleased her. “Anyway,” she said breathlessly. “I really feel like I need to class up my wardrobe.”
“Why?” I unwrapped the burger .
She bit her lip and sighed. “I really want to go to that book launch, but sometimes I feel like a fish out of water here. Everywhere I go, I feel like I meet someone famous or I’m rubbing shoulders with people who know famous people. Even your sister is famous. And I’m just a simple girl from Nebraska. The only famous people I’ve ever rubbed shoulders with were backstage at oldies concerts in Omaha on the rare occasion the radio station I worked for got me a pass. And even then, it was always for the lesser-known bands. Apparently I wasn’t cool enough to hang out with the likes of Kansas or Boston. I mean, I was lucky if I got to chat with the guy who played the triangle in a cover band.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle, even though I hated that she felt out of place in Aspen Lake. “I’m sure the guy who played the triangle counted himself lucky.”
Brooke grinned. “His name was Dave, by the way. But seriously, Logan, you have to help me up my game here.”
“Brooke, I’m happy to go shopping with you, but don’t feel like you need to change to fit in here. You seem to do just fine being yourself.”
“You just want me to keep wearing cutoffs,” she teased.
“True. But I meant what I said.” I took a bite of the burger, and Brooke was right. It was amazing. As were her cutoffs.
“I keep wondering why, out of all the places my mom could have chosen for me to spend the summer, she chose Aspen Lake. Sure, she said it was magical, and it has been.” Brooke gave me a knowing look. “But this place isn’t her. I feel like I’m missing something.”
I set the burger down and took Brooke’s hand. “Whatever the reason, I’m glad she chose Aspen Lake. Maybe this place wasn’t her, but maybe she knew it would be you.”
She squeezed my hand. “You really think I fit in here?”
“Look at all the friends you’ve made already. Being friends with the Harringtons alone is a feat.”
“That’s mostly Lola, although Mr. Harrington says he wants to help me monetize my podcast.”
That information surprised me and, honestly, made me feel unsettled. It was probably nothing, except for the fact that Brooke seemed to have a propensity to attract men. Was Maxwell trying to prey on her by offering his help? Why would he take an interest in her podcast? Not that his offer wasn’t good, but something about how easily the Harringtons had accepted Brooke felt off. My understanding was they were unlikely to readily accept outsiders.
“He does?” I asked.
“I think it’s because he doesn’t want some unemployed lowlife hanging out with his daughter.”
“You are not a lowlife,” I said firmly. “If Maxwell Harrington thinks that, he can come talk to me.”
Brooke’s pressed-lipped smile seemed to hold some deeper meaning.
“What?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I like this side of you.”
“The last thing I want is for you to feel out of place here. I detest people who think they’re better than anyone else.” I especially abhorred men who didn’t live up to their wedding vows.
I wasn’t saying that was the case with Maxwell Harrington, but I wanted Brooke to be careful around him. Sometimes men with money and power thought they had a license to do whatever they wanted.
“Thank you, Logan,” she whispered. “Now, eat. I know you don’t have much time.”
Unfortunately, she was right. I started shoveling in the food as fast as I could, wishing I could spend more time savoring it—and Brooke.
While I ate, she talked about some upcoming ideas for podcast episodes, but then she said, “I’m not exactly sure how flings work, but the Fourth of July is in a few days, and I don’t have plans, and I don’t know if you have plans, but maybe we could make some plans together.” She pretended to act shy, but I knew she was anything but.
I wiped my mouth with a napkin after demolishing almost every bite of food. I loved the Fourth of July. It was one of my favorite holidays as a kid. Dad had always taken us camping. That was a thought.
“Camping is on your bucket list, right?”
She nodded.
“What do you think about paddle boarding over to the island to camp and watching the fireworks out over the lake? I’ll see if Eden and Sophie want to come too.” I didn’t want Brooke to think I was trying to spend the night with her at this point.
“I love that idea.” Her lovely face looked like it might burst with happiness.
And her happiness made me happy. “We’ll make plans when my shift is over. I really need to go.” I grabbed the last fry and handed it to her. “You should have this.”
Brooke stared at the fry, and I swore her eyes misted over like I’d offered her an expensive gift. “You are a dangerous man, Logan Summers.”
“What? Why?”
She took the fry and shook her head. “Nothing,” she said, flustered. “Have a good rest of your night.”
I knew I would, because I would be thinking about her.