Chapter 19
Tobias
“Are you sure I should be here?” Brooke’s uncertainty isn’t surprising. It’s become very clear she doesn’t recognize that she’s already part of my family. Whether she likes it or not.
Whether she chooses me or not.
“I’m positive.” I climb out from behind the wheel of the side-by-side we drove over, rounding the front to help her out.
“I also feel obligated to tell you what happens when my mother is expecting you for dinner and you don’t show up.
” Reaching a hand out, I wait for her to take it before offering a little tug as she straightens from the vehicle. “It’s not pretty.”
Brooke’s lips curve in a smile. “I can imagine not.” She doesn’t pull her hand from mine as we begin walking toward the house. “Your mother is a pretty determined individual, and very much likes when things go her way.”
“No lies detected.” Leading Brooke to the door, I give her a smile. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
She needs to know I appreciate who my mother is as a person. That I don’t see her bossy nature or stubbornness as something to love her in spite of.
It’s actually a big part of the reason she’s so lovable.
My mother knows who she is and makes no apologies for it. That’s what I want for Brooke. Will it happen? I don’t know. The more insight I gain on what happened in California, the more I worry it might not. But I’m going to do my damnedest to give her all the support I can no matter what.
As soon as we step inside, Brooke tugs her hand free, putting a little extra space between us as we enter the kitchen. I know she feels some sort of way about what she should be doing right now. Thinks other people will judge her if she jumps into another relationship too soon.
But considering one of my brothers is about to marry his personal chef, and another rotates through women like most people do socks, I can’t imagine there’s going to be any judgment happening.
Not toward her anyway. It’s entirely possible I could catch some shit if any of my brothers heard the rumor going around about the noises that have been coming from my office lately.
Brooke and I have fallen into a weird sort of rhythm. One where we keep our work and home lives completely separate. And not in the way you’d think.
More days than not, one of us finds our way into the other's office, and I find my way into her panties. For a while, Brooke tried to reciprocate, but I’ve shut it down every time.
I’ve got a point to make.
She needs to know, without a shadow of a doubt, I’m nothing like the man she left—the one in California, and the one who sent her there.
More than that, I need to prove to myself I can be what she needs. What she deserves. That the selfish boy who claimed he wasn’t ready for more has grown into a man who will do whatever it takes to prove he’s ready for everything.
That’s why I only touch her at work where there are limiting factors to help keep me in line. Once I get my hands on her without the fear of someone banging on the door, all bets are off.
As soon as we enter the kitchen, my mother sets her sights on Brooke, hustling to her side with smiles and compliments.
Brooke and I came here straight from work—only stopping at home to quickly let the dogs out and switch from our cars to the UTV—so she’s still dressed in her fancy clothes, looking fucking irresistible in high heels and one of those fitted skirts that makes it hard for me to think.
If I wasn’t worried my mother would have come to collect us personally, I might have tried to break the barrier we’ve built and brought her here late with flushed cheeks and weak knees.
It’s going to happen at some point. Honestly, it’s a miracle I’ve made it this long knowing she’s just down the hall asleep in my bed.
“Don’t you look stunning.” My mother hooks an arm around Brooke’s shoulders, leading her toward the table where Mariah sits.
“Come have a seat. Mariah and I are finalizing plans for her baby shower this weekend.” She directs Brooke to the seat across from Mariah before sitting down next to her.
“Would you be able to come over an hour early to help me put the finishing touches on everything?”
Brooke looks between my mother and Mariah, and it takes everything I have not to intervene. I know this moment has to happen, I just wasn’t expecting it to come so soon.
Her brows pinch as she finally says, “I didn’t realize I was invited.”
My mother stares at her in complete disbelief. “Of course you’re invited. I told you when we were having it.”
Brooke is still visibly confused. “I thought you were just making conversation.”
My mother’s mouth hangs open as the two women sit looking at each other in silence. Neither one can honestly believe what the other one considered easy truth.
Finally, my mother manages to spit out her own perspective. “But you’re part of the family. Why wouldn’t you be invited?”
Brooke’s head tips back like my mother’s words carry an actual force. “I…” Her eyes dart to where I stand, desperate for someone to save her from a situation she’s not sure how to navigate.
And I will always save Brooke.
Stepping into the mix, I stop right behind her seat, meeting my mother’s still perplexed eyes. “Brooke has had a lot going on with work and the move. I doubt she really had time to put too much thought into the logistics and reasons behind every word you’ve said.”
My mother’s eyes barely narrow on me, but soften when they drop to Brooke.
“I am so sorry, honey. I didn’t even think of that.
” She reaches out, resting one hand on top of Brooke’s.
“For future reference, you are always assumed to be a part of anything this family does.” She gives her a smile.
“Because you are in the unfortunate position of becoming one of ours.”
A little of Brooke’s discomfort at the conversation eases away and she manages a small laugh. “I’m not sure I would call being a part of your family unfortunate.” Her smile slips. “I’m quite well-versed on what being part of an unfortunate family is actually like.”
My mother’s mouth flattens into a hard line.
“I am aware of your unfortunate family.” She takes a deep breath, blowing it back out like she needs a second to regain control.
“Have you heard from your parents recently?” There’s an edge to her words, and it really makes me hope Brooke’s parents haven’t tried to get in touch with her.
For their sake. I honestly don’t know what my mother is capable of, but I’m pretty confident she could ruin lives. And I think she might do it with a smile on her face. Especially in this circumstance.
Brooke shakes her head. “They don’t have any way to get a hold of me.” Her lips twist wryly. “Unless they want to come here again.”
My mother’s chin lifts and she stands from her chair, giving Brooke a pat on the shoulder. “I don’t think we have to worry about that.”
I lean to where Titus is standing next to me, watching the whole interaction with interest. Lowering my voice, I ask, “Mom didn’t kill Brooke’s parents, did she?”
Titus shrugs, his voice as quiet as mine when he replies, “You should probably ask Tucker. He has the equipment she’d need to dig a hole of that size.”
That sounds like a great plan, except my baby brother would never say a word to anybody about it. Not even me. So asking him is pointless. Tucker might be a fuck boy. He might be a leg hound. He might even commit crimes against grammar on a daily basis. But that man will take a secret to his grave.
Even if the secret is making him dig one.
My mother starts putting out food, enlisting me and my brothers to help. I’m stuck carrying in the last dish, so I’m also the last one to sit down. And it just so happens, the only available chair is right next to Brooke.
Taking my spot—and it is my spot—I give her a smile, looking over her face to gauge how she’s handling this night.
Family dinners are a lot, even for me. And I haven’t missed a single one.
I can only imagine what this is like for Brooke.
Someone who came from a completely different sort of upbringing.
Someone who’s not accustomed to the kind of unconditional love I used to take for granted.
It’s the reason Brooke thought I would move to California with her. I’ve always loved my family, but there were times when I was younger that I found them stifling. Smothering. The expectation that I would go to work with my brothers made my world feel small before I even stepped into it.
I still always knew I would step into it, part of me just rebelled at the assumption. I liked to bitch and complain about all of it, and it made Brooke think something that wasn’t the case.
One more regret I carry. Especially now that I’ve seen how genuinely awful her parents can be.
When she starts to look a little overwhelmed, I lean close, lips barely moving against her ear as I ask, “You hanging in there?”
She offers me a barely perceptible nod before tucking her chin and quietly asking, “You do this every week when your mother’s in town?”
“Only if I don’t want to deal with her wrath.” I can feel Brooke’s leg bouncing next to mine, so I reach under the table, giving her knee a squeeze. “But I’m pretty sure if anyone can skip unscathed, it’s you.”
I refuse to pressure Brooke into something she’s not ready for, and I won’t let my family do it either.
I know my mother has the best intentions.
She wants Brooke to know she’s not alone.
That she’s supported. That she’s loved. That there’s a family behind her even if it’s not the one she was born into.
But for someone whose parents are manipulative, using, assholes, who only want her when there’s something she can give or do for them, this could cause an automatic response the same way loud noises, sharp tones, and sudden movements do.
Brooke peeks my way, smile small, but grateful. “Are you saying she’s going to assume I’ll come every week now?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” I give her knee another squeeze.
“And for future reference, if my mother mentions a time and date to you, it’s because she wants you there.
” I wait until Brooke looks my way again, making sure she hears the next part.
“But you’re allowed to say no to anything you don’t want to do. ”
I hope Brooke understands that’s a blanket statement. That no one in this room will ever push her into something she doesn’t want to do. Not me. Not my family.
Brooke gives me a little nod as the food starts coming around. “Good to know.”
The rest of the meal is a whole lot like normal, with Titus spending most of it staring at Mariah like she’s the only thing that matters to him—probably because she is—and the rest of my brothers doing everything possible to avoid calling attention to themselves and the fact that there is no woman sitting beside them.
And because I’m kind of an asshole, I decide to make that task a little more difficult.
“Since it seems like everyone else is going to be busy this weekend”—I lean back in my chair, smirking at Trevor, Tucker, and Walker—“you boys feel like getting into something?” My smile widens as they start shifting in their seats. “Or do you have plans?”
As expected, my mother’s attention zeros in on the three of them, waiting to hear their answers. Normally, Tucker would spew off some bullshit about how he always has plans, then smile like the cat that ate the canary.
He probably has. I’m sure there’s a woman named Canary somewhere who’s found her way into his bed.
Not tonight. Tonight Tucker won’t even look up from his plate. He’s acting like the freshly steamed green beans at the end of his fork are the most interesting thing he’s ever seen.
Walker isn’t much better. He’s downing his beer and pretending like I didn’t ask a question. Trevor is the only one acknowledging me in any way, and that’s only because he’s trying to glare a hole through my head.
My mother angles a brow as she looks them over. “It seems like all three of your brothers are free.” She sighs, turning away. “Shocking.”
Tucker still doesn’t look up, but one of his hands begins peeking above the edge of the table, middle finger sticking straight up and aimed right at me.
I’ve never understood his aversion to spending more than one night with the same woman. But that could just be me projecting. Because I’ve spent every night wishing for the same woman.
There were more than a few times I envied my youngest brother. That he could look at any number of women with interest. At his ability to move through life without regret or loneliness.
But then I’d remember he was also moving through life without someone standing at his side. Someone who had his back no matter what. Someone who needed him. Someone who wanted him. Someone he could take care of. Someone he could love.
I decided I liked where I was at, because I’d rather face the kind of loneliness I suffered, than to be alone the way Tucker is.
Tucker is just lowering his middle finger when Trevor tosses his napkin over his plate, the glare he’s been shooting at me carrying a challenge it didn’t before.
“I guess it’s good you’re free this weekend since you’ve been occupied every time I’ve tried to come to your office this week.
” He shrugs, feigning nonchalance. “At least I assume you're occupied, since the door is closed and locked and all the blinds are dropped down.”
I feel Brooke stiffen next to me, but don’t look her way. I’m not going to call anyone’s attention to her. Won’t confirm the suspicions I’m sure they all have. And if someone upsets her, I will lay them out. Right across my mother’s dining room table.
I don’t give a shit if the hole she asks Tucker to dig ends up being for me.
Tucker’s eyes finally lift, going from Trevor to me to Brooke. An easy smile splits his face as he chuckles. “Didn’t know we were allowed to take naps on the job, Toby.”
Brooke seems to relax as everyone at the table rolls with Tucker’s suggestion that it’s sleep happening behind my closed door and blinds. My mother is immediately concerned, asking if I’m working too much and not getting enough rest at night.
I guess I’m going to have to quit giving my baby brother shit now. Which is fine.
I’ll add his portion to Trevor’s.