Chapter 27
CADE
“The famous Brooke,” Val greeted in her slightly-husky voice. “I’m relieved to see you aren’t a figment of the boy’s imagination. I would’ve hated to have had him committed.” Val tipped her head toward me playfully.
Brooke wrapped her arm around me possessively, sending a buzz throughout my body. The four of us sat outside at a small table with metal folding chairs, enjoying the California sunshine and the gentle breeze coming off the ocean.
We ordered the handmade vegan biscuits with the jam sampler, which included flavors like jalapeno apricot, carrot cake, and cherry-rhubarb. I noted Brooke’s attempt at keeping a straight face as she tried each of the more adventurous flavors.
Val’s deadpan sense of humor had Brooke laughing all through brunch. My insides felt warm at seeing how well my worlds were colliding.
A grin spread across my face as I watched Brooke animatedly tell a story from her nurse-interning days to Val and Yvonne.
I reached over to brush a strand of hair that had slipped free of Brooke’s ponytail.
It was different than her volleyball ponytail—a more relaxed, casual sweeping up of her hair.
I mentally tallied all her various hairstyles: her no-nonsense slicked-back and serious ponytail, this casual tied-up look, the long and straight style she wore most often, or, when she was feeling fancy, the wavy curls cascading down her back.
Every Brooke was my favorite Brooke.
“What else do you two have on your agenda?” Yvonne asked from beside Val, taking a bite of turkey bacon. She had short-cropped platinum blonde hair and a lip ring, her sparkly, vibrant make-up quite a contrast to Val’s dark tones.
“Hoping I can get this girl to come to my game tonight.” I nudged Brooke playfully.
Val rolled her eyes. “This boy and his sportsball.”
“Softball,” I corrected. Val shrugged, like it made no difference. “And it’s the Battle of the Badges tonight. Firefighters versus cops,” I informed them. “And tomorrow, if she’s up for it, I thought we’d go to the zoo.”
Brooke squeezed my hand under the table.
We said our goodbyes to Val and Yvonne after brunch.
“I like them,” she informed me as walked across the sand, swinging our arms back and forth like she had when we were kids.
“I like you,” I told her, nudging her with my hip.
“I like you, too.” She reached up and pecked my cheek. I’d never get used to being on the receiving end of her casual affection, the way it made my heart soar. “So—softball, hm?”
“If you want to come . . .” I trailed off.
“Of course I do.”
“That the girl?” Blaze asked from the dugout, nodding towards Brooke.
“Yeah, that’s her.” Warmth spread across my chest as I saw her up in the stands, sunglasses over her eyes, long brown hair whipping softly around her face.
“Dude, look at your face. You’re so gone for her.” Blaze shoved me playfully.
“Yeah,” I said back, head in a daze. “I really am.”
Her eyes found me and she waved. I was hopelessly, ridiculously, impossibly gone for this girl.