5. Chapter Five
Chapter Five
I ’m such a fool!
Cody wasn’t interested in Brooke like that. She should know better after all the times she’d pushed and he’d stepped back. She forced this unfair dance on him. Again.
He had a girlfriend. He wasn’t a cheater.
Yet she’d put him in that position.
It wasn’t the first time either.
Her hand went to her roiling stomach.
I sure know how to mess things up.
What he must think of her.
She wondered if he ever teased her behind her back with his friends. Or worse, if they’d teased him about being pursued by a kid. Because that’s what she’d been compared to him, just a few short years ago. Seven years older than her, his twenty-seven to her twenty didn’t seem so great now. But she imagined Cody at twenty might have been embarrassed on several occasions to have a thirteen-year-old girl hot on his heels when he came home and hung out with his college buddies on the ranch.
Oh God!
Her face flamed with embarrassment.
She needed to start acting like the adult she was and think about others. Cody would hate himself for cheating on a girlfriend. Kristi would be hurt and angry, too. And while Brooke didn’t think Kristi was Cody’s forever, she was who he’d chosen to be with right now.
Every time Brooke presented him with the choice to be with her, he didn’t take it.
Apparently, she couldn’t take a hint. Or an outright dismissal.
It ends now.
She needed to stop this merry-go-round before she hurt Cody and lost him.
She loved him. And if that was really true, then she needed to accept him as he was. Her friend.
The weight of that settled on her, heavy and sorrowful.
Things needed to change.
She needed to change.
Time to be the grown-up, not just pretend she was.
Mindy Sue met her on the grass as Brooke approached their group of friends. “What’s wrong?” Mindy Sue studied her, concern in her eyes.
Brooke frowned and confessed. “I nearly screwed everything up with Cody.”
Mindy Sue shook her head. “It can’t be that bad. You two are so close.”
“I tried to kiss him, thinking we were having this amazing moment. But like always, it was all in my head, and he stepped away.”
Stormed away, you mean.
He kept the line between them firmly in place. He never scolded her. He acted like an adult. She was the child, always trying to take what she wanted without thinking of the consequences.
Mindy Sue wrapped her in a hug. “I’m sorry.” Mindy Sue knew all her secrets, including the one about how much she loved Cody and dreamed of a life with him here on the ranch.
You mean a fantasy.
One that would never come true.
“I made a fool of myself. Again. And it stops now.”
Mindy Sue hugged her and whispered, “Maybe it’s for the best. There are so many guys at school who would love to take you out. Guys who are…less complicated than dating Cody.”
Less complicated than her stepbrother, Mindy Sue meant.
Mindy Sue held her by the shoulders. “So many you’ve already turned down because you’re waiting for him.”
“Not anymore.” Because she was waiting for something that would never happen. Cody cared about her, but not that way. Never that way.
Oh how it hurt.
A tear slid down her cheek.
Mindy Sue saw it and wiped it away with her thumb. “You deserve someone who will love you back.”
She pressed her lips tight and blinked back the tears. She wouldn’t cry over him anymore. “You’re right. It’s time for a change. I think I need a back-to-school shopping spree. A new look to go with the new me. You in?”
Mindy Sue beamed and jumped up and down, excited. She excelled at shopping. “Yes. Definitely.”
“And I’ll take you up on the salon day you always offer and I decline. Hair. Nails. The works. But when we get back to school.” She didn’t want Cody to think she was doing it to catch his attention. She wanted to settle into the new her away from everyone here. She didn’t need anyone teasing her about trying to be different when all they saw was the same old her.
The next time she came home, she’d be who she wanted to be.
Mindy Sue bounced on her toes. “It’s going to be so much fun.”
Marco walked up and hooked his arm around Mindy Sue’s shoulders. “Are you two going to join us or what?”
Mindy Sue leaned into him. “Yes. We were just making plans for when we get back to school.”
“Ugh,” Jeramiah groaned. “Let’s not go there. It’s summer. No school talk. We’re here to have fun.”
Brooke settled on the grass and took the plate of food Mindy Sue handed her. “Thank you.”
“I wanted to be sure you actually ate at your own party.” They bumped shoulders.
Brooke glanced at Simon beside her. “Who won the cornhole match?”
“Believe it or not, Adam.” Simon glared at the guy next to him, who had that kind of cute geek vibe. “Dude smoked us.”
Adam pushed his empty plate away. “Do you know how many county fairs and summer picnics I’ve been dragged to over the years by my old man?”
“Sorry you had to be at this one, too.” Brooke didn’t know Marco’s friends well, but Adam she’d seen several times at various get-togethers, usually lurking in a corner or out of the way of everything as his father, the governor, took center stage. He’d been to the ranch a few times in the past, though they’d never really spoken.
Simon, on the other hand, spent a lot of time with Marco, and with Brooke by extension of Mindy Sue dating Marco. She liked Simon. He was laid-back and addicted to coffee and his phone. The biology student was obsessed with plants and their medicinal uses. He loved researching other cultures and the plants they used for healing.
Brooke found it interesting, but also a little creepy that he could name ten plant toxins that could kill you off the top of his head.
Adam draped his arms over his knees and clasped his hands. “At least I’ve got you guys here to give me an excuse to ditch the parentals and their bullshit. Fake smiling and feigning interest in everyone is exhausting.”
Marco rolled his eyes. “Everyone fucking kisses your ass because you’re the governor’s son.”
Adam rolled his eyes, too. “Exactly. They don’t know me. They don’t give a shit about me. It’s all about him.”
“So what are you into?” Brooke asked. “Are you a poli-sci major?”
His gaze dropped. “Yes.”
He didn’t seem happy with his choice. “I guess you’d have to be with a governor as your father. So, is it an expectation or a calling?” She’d bet expectation based on his tense shoulders.
“Mostly it’s an expectation. I like it though. My background makes it easier to relate to the material in my classes.”
“Are you thinking of following your father’s footsteps into public office someday?”
Simon and Marco scoffed.
Marco explained why the idea seemed ludicrous to them. “You might be the first girl our boy Adam has ever spoken to without some liquid courage.”
Adam’s cheeks flamed red and Marco laughed.
“You’re so fucking awkward, dude.” Marco flinched when Mindy Sue tapped him in the gut. “What was that for?”
Mindy Sue stared daggers at him. “Be nice. Adam’s shy.”
“Yeah, he and Simon are going to be virgins for life at the rate they actually interact with the opposite sex.”
“Fuck you,” Simon barked.
Mindy Sue scooted far away from Marco. “What is wrong with you? That’s not just rude. It’s mean.”
“Babe.” Marco reached for Mindy Sue but she swatted him away.
Mindy Sue’s frown sank deep. “No. Apologize.”
Marco fumed, but turned to Adam and Simon. “Sorry.” Under his breath, he added, “Even if it’s true.”
Brooke heard him, but Mindy Sue and their friend Julie sat behind him and missed it.
Adam and Simon both looked at Brooke and flushed with embarrassment.
Mindy Sue stood and stared down at Marco. “Let’s go get something to drink.”
He held up his half glass of lemonade. “I’m good.”
Mindy Sue huffed out a frustrated breath. “Come with me.” She started walking away.
Marco reluctantly stood and went with her.
Julie gathered up the empty plates. “I’ll take care of these. Back in a sec.”
Jeremiah followed her with the empty cups.
Brooke found herself with the two uncomfortable guys. She tried to make them more relaxed and went back to her original conversation with Adam. “So if you’re not interested in being the candidate, what do you want to do?”
Adam stared at the grass but answered her. “I prefer the behind-the-scenes aspect of politics. Campaigns, fact-finding on causes and legislation, analysis of the viability of being for or against something, finding the best way to give the masses what they want in the most economical and fair way. Those kinds of things.”
Brooke gave Adam a smile as he glanced her way finally. “You’re a numbers guy. I envy you that. I’ll bet you aced your calculus and statistics classes.”
He tried to hide his grin. “That’s where I excel.”
“It’s where I fail,” she confessed.
Simon’s gaze shot to her. “You failed your math class?”
“Well, not literally. I think the highest grade I got in any math course was a B plus, and that took many sleepless nights studying until my eyes were more red than green.”
Simon set his phone down for once. “Me, too. I prefer facts to figures.”
Adam offered, “If you need a tutor, I’d be happy to help.”
“Thanks,” she said sincerely. “But I’ve actually completed all my math prerequisites. I got them out of the way early. I figured if I pulled my hair out all in the first three years, then nobody would remember me as the bald graduate next year.”
“Your hair looks good to me.” Simon’s shyness flared as his gaze dipped away, then came back to her.
“Thanks. I didn’t have to take a math class this past semester. It gave me time to grow it back,” she teased. She glanced past Simon to Adam, who’d gone quiet. “It must be hard to excel at anything and be recognized for your accomplishments when your father is such a high-profile figure.”
Adam’s head snapped up. His gaze met hers. “It’s like living in the shadow of a huge cloud. He starts rumbling and everyone turns to stare at him to see what he has to say and what he’s going to do. It’s like I don’t exist.”
Simon bumped his shoulder to Adam’s. “Tell me about it. Everyone kisses my dad’s ass.”
“What does your dad do?” Brooke was happy she had this chance to get to know them better.
“He and his family own Opal Oil.”
Damn. They were billionaires. She didn’t know what to say, except, “Wow. How does he feel about you studying biology instead of business or something?”
“He’s more interested in my older brother, who’s happy to join the family business.”
“That must be hard.”
Simon shook his head and wrapped his arms around his knees. “Trust me. I prefer it that way.”
“At least you’ve got someone to take the focus off you,” Adam said, reminding them he was an only child.
“I guess I’m lucky,” Brooke said. “My mom supports everything I do.”
“What about your dad?” Adam asked. “Not Harland Jansen. I know he passed a couple years ago. But your real dad?”
How does he know that?
She didn’t like thinking about how her real dad left and never looked back. “I don’t know anything about what he’s doing now. He left us a long time ago. It’s just me, my mom, and Cody now.”
Simon scrunched his mouth. “Do you get along with him? Everything between me and my brother is a competition. And he wins all the time.”
“I’m sure that’s not true. And Cody isn’t my brother. We’re friends. And he’s older, and a guy, so I never felt like I had to compete with him. He always felt like someone I could count on to help me.”
“Must be nice,” Adam commented, and Simon nodded his agreement. “What are your plans after graduation?”
Brooke had put a lot of thought into what came next but didn’t have an actual plan. “I own part of the ranch, so I’ll help Cody run it.”
“Really?” Adam looked skeptical. “Is that an expectation or what you really want to do?” She smirked at him. “I see what you did there, throwing my question to you back at me.”
“Answer it,” he cajoled with a knowing grin.
“I love the ranch. Especially the horses. But there is something else I’ve thought about doing. But…it’s a silly idea.”
“I bet it’s not.” Adam stared at her, waiting.
“Putting together this party brought up a lot of memories of my stepdad and made me think.” She paused, unsure if she should say it out loud.
Adam and Simon stared, their gazes open and earnest for her to go on.
“I want to continue what my stepfather taught me. Community is everything. He supported local businesses. I want to do that, too, to keep our small businesses alive and thriving. I have some money. I thought I’d maybe open my own business or something.” Her heart pounded. She couldn’t believe she’d spoken that tiny little seed of a dream out loud.
Adam perked up. “My dad was talking to someone when we arrived. She was telling him that her local bookstore was probably going to close because she wants to retire next year and she can’t find anyone interested in buying or running it. You could do it.”
She had her inheritance. Cody managed it until she turned twenty-one next year. Investing in a small business sounded like a great idea. She loved reading romance and all its subgenres, fantasy, and thrillers. She could turn her love of books into a job she loved.
Adam shrugged. “I’d like to ditch my parents’ expectation and spend my days being a bookworm in a quiet shop.”
Brooke grinned. “It does sound lovely.” She imagined it in her head. “There’s a vacant space next to the bookstore. I could turn it into a café.”
Simon sat up straighter. “Now you’re talking. Coffee, tea, cupcakes and other treats.”
Brooke cocked her head toward the buffet. “They’re setting out dessert right now. Let’s head over and get some before all the double chocolate cupcakes are gone.”
They all stood and Brooke met Adam’s gaze. “Thanks for the suggestion. I’m going to look into the bookstore idea.”
Adam smirked. “Okay. Good. I think you’d be really good at it.”
Brooke looked from Adam to Simon. “You guys are really cool. I’m glad I got to know you better today.”
“Maybe we can meet up at school for coffee or something,” Simon suggested.
“I’d love to. With both of you.”
Adam’s anxious gaze dipped away with shyness but he nodded.
Simon’s cheeks pinked.
“And the next time we’re all together with Mindy Sue, Julie, Jeremiah, and Marco, I’ll be sure to pay more attention to the group and not get lost in just the girls.” She wanted them to be more comfortable around her. “Maybe I can even be your wing-woman when we’re out and find you both a date.”
Simon and Adam’s eyes went wide with trepidation, then they both hurried their steps to the dessert table.
She grinned at their bashfulness.
This was what she needed, to focus on school and friends. Maybe soon she’d be ready to open her heart and start a relationship with someone new—instead of waiting for something that was never going to happen with Cody.