Chapter 23
Twenty-three
I stood over my blue suitcase, wide open with its contents strewn across my bed. It was as if it had gotten sick—food poisoning from being stuffed with too many unnecessary outfit options.
I groaned and pulled at my hair, letting chunks of blond locks fall flat over my face. I gazed past my open door and to my sister’s room. The door was shut.
Two weeks had gone by since our fight, and we were decidedly not doing any tiptoeing this time. It was as if we didn’t even live in the same house. If I was down in the kitchen or the living room, she’d wait until I’d left or gone back upstairs to go downstairs.
Mom had tried to intervene at the beginning, but there was no hope for us. We’d never had a fight like this before—so pointed and personal and mean—so we didn’t know how to make up or get over it either. This was all dark, uncharted waters, and it was impossible trying to navigate it.
There were nights I’d sit at my desk, looking dead-eyed at my laptop screen begging and willing the creative block to clear.
But Nikki had been right about one thing: I’d been so distracted by everything going on (both her and Brooklyn included) that that only added to the blockage.
What was once a small pile of dirt and muck had evolved into this heaping mountain of bullshit, and I did not have a shovel.
However, that could not be a now problem, as I still had to pack for this trip.
My phone buzzed somewhere underneath a pile of shirts, and I tossed them to the side over my bed until I found it, smiling to myself at Brooklyn on the caller ID.
It was a photo I had snuck while we were at the beach.
His back was to me but his head was turned around, and he was smiling that big dorky smile of his, with his cheeks tinged pink from the sun and the heat.
Water glistened on his hair and sand dusted his shoulders.
I had never been a great photographer, but I’d be lying if I said he didn’t make it easy for me.
“I’m outside. Are you almost ready?” His voice came through the phone as soon as I swiped to answer.
I eyed my suitcase. “Define ready.”
I heard a groan from the other end of the phone. “Nat, we’re only going for a weekend, and it’s a two-hour drive away.”
After a few moments of silence, he sighed. “You were definitely in bed reading all morning instead of getting ready. Admit it.”
“You know me so well.” I couldn’t help but chuckle. I held up a lime-green tank top, scrunched my nose at it, and tossed it to the floor. “I’m trying to be strategic about the clothes I’m bringing. That’s all.”
Brooklyn groaned into the phone again. “It doesn’t matter what you bring. You’ll look great anyway. You always look great.”
I saw a flash of blond hair in the corner of my eye. “I’ll be down in five minutes,” I said hurriedly, and hung up the phone before he could answer. I stalked into the hallway to see Nikki ready to disappear back into the void of her bedroom.
“Hey, wait,” I called to her.
She stopped, but kept her back to me for a few moments, and I held my breath for what felt like way more than just a few moments. Finally, she sighed and turned around, leaning against the door frame in an oversized pink hoodie that almost covered her tiny running shorts. “What?”
I realized I was sorely unprepared for if she’d actually turned around. “I just wanted to let you know I’m leaving in a few.”
She pinched her lips together and nodded tersely. She took one step to turn back into her room, but froze in the way people do in suspended animation and they won’t move until you activate them again.
“You should bring that silk dress you bought from Reformation,” she said. “It complements your eyes.”
Then she turned and shut the bedroom door behind her, and I let out a long exhale.
The dress she was referring to was on my bed, unpacked and in the “questionable” pile.
I had a long baby-blue halter dress I’d worn to a few formals in school neatly folded beside my suitcase, but as if touched by some kind of divine intervention, sunlight came through my window and shone directly onto the Reformation dress.
There were little iridescent glints in the threading of the dress, and I could almost hear the dress saying Pick me, I’m perfect.
Now I guess I was taking advice from a dress.
>> <<
The Grand Island Estate definitely lived up to its name—it was actually its own private island, and the entire estate was on acres of open land, with little inlets of water that spilled in from the ocean running through the open fields.
The entranceway was well manicured, and the lengthy driveway leading up to the estate was lined with rows of colorful flowers that swayed gently in the breeze.
It was dusk by the time Brooklyn and I arrived, and the sun was barely visible as it sank behind the horizon of the ocean, darkening the sky and turning it a grayish-purple color.
Brooklyn refused to let me carry my own suitcase as we trekked from the gravel parking lot through the property, passing the main pool deck and an extravagant garden where I was sure the wedding would take place.
Farther off in the distance, a dock jutted into the bay.
The property was quiet and empty, with most of the hotel’s patrons either enjoying a luxurious seafood dinner on the water or prepping for whatever nightlife was around in the area.
Another section of the estate stretched far past the main building, which looked more like a row of condos, in the same slate-gray color. It had its own smaller gated-off pool, and strings of lights hung low between the trees.
“My parents rented a suite here,” Brooklyn said as he swiped the key card into the room. “They’re finishing up a few things at home so they’ll be here tomorrow. Stella is supposed to be here already, and Alec’s also coming tomorrow since he’s got some work thing.”
“Wow,” I said as we made it through the front door. “I’d live here.”
The entire floor plan of the suite was open, with all the bedrooms and bathrooms to the left, and a small eat-in kitchen that blended into the common area to the right.
Large sliding glass doors that opened onto the balcony covered the far side of the room.
The bay was barely visible in the dark, but I could hear the faint sloshing of the waves in the distance.
“I’m here,” Stella called from the room closest to the balcony. “I’ve already claimed this room. And I don’t want to hear any thumping, humping, moaning, or groaning from you two. I need my beauty sleep.”
I smirked through my cheeks, flushing a brilliant shade of red.
After giving his sister a disgusted look, Brooklyn slung his arm around my shoulder and guided me into the bedroom closest to the front door.
A queen-sized bed adorned with plain white sheets and pale-blue accent pillows was pushed against the far wall.
I took my time unpacking, and realized when I ran out of space in the small dresser by the bed how excessive I had been with choosing how much to bring.
I delicately hung my dress bag in the closet, brushing over Brooklyn’s eccentric patterned suit jacket. It definitely suited him.
“Well, it’s still early.” Brooklyn sat on the edge of the bed and beckoned me over. I stood over him, my hands on his shoulders to steady myself as he gently ran his hand up my thigh. He looked up at me, and his blue eyes had a devious glint to them.
“We have the whole night to ourselves.” Brooklyn took my hands off his shoulders and held them gently in his. “You want to explore a little?”
I glanced at the bed, neatly made and so inviting, and then back at Brooklyn, still grinning and glowing and everything that made my stomach flutter.
“Lead the way,” I told him.
“I have an idea.” He gave me a wink, then quickly pulled me out of the suite and down to the courtyard below. Tiny lights twinkled above us in the trees, and a cool breeze cut through me and sent goose bumps prickling up my skin.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
Brooklyn stayed silent and raised his eyebrows. He led me through the courtyard and out to the empty pool deck. The surface of the pool was calm and clear, like a sheet of glass had been laid over it. The lights above the pool reflected glowing pale-yellow dots on the water.
“Up for a late-night swim?” he asked with a grin as he pushed the gate to the pool open.
“Of course, the one item I didn’t pack was a bathing suit.” I chuckled, my arms still wrapped around my shivering body.
Brooklyn shot me a knowing glance. He grabbed the hem of his faded Carolina Panthers T-shirt and pulled it over his head, exposing his freckled chest. Goose bumps continued to run along my skin as I watched him with the intent of tackling him where he stood.
“You’ve never gone skinny dipping before, have you?” he asked, but he knew the answer.
“I intend on keeping it that way. Someone could totally see us here.”
“Come on,” Brooklyn pleaded. He slid his shorts off so that he was only in his boxers. “Live a little, babe.”
Suddenly I wasn’t so cold anymore. He motioned for me to come over to him, and with every step I took I heard my heart throb in my ears.
“What if someone catches us?” I whispered.
Brooklyn reached down and tenderly pulled my loose cotton dress over my head. I silently thanked past me for picking out a lacy matching bra and panties set. He discarded the dress next to his own clothes. “Look around. Nobody’s here. We’re out of sight. I promise it’ll be fine.”
“Okay, but—”
Before I could even finish my sentence, my whole body jerked forward and hit the surface of the water. I sank to the bottom, letting the cold chill my heated nerves. When I came back up for air, I felt Brooklyn pull me up into his chest. I smacked him on the arm.
“Not funny,” I snapped. “I wasn’t ready!”
“That’s the whole point.” He grinned and reached into the water and wiggled me out of my bra and underwear, tossing them and his boxers onto the side of the pool.
“That’s not so bad, is it?”
“No.” I sighed, giving him a faint smile. “It’s great, actually.”
Brooklyn smoothed my wet hair back and kissed my forehead. “You’re beautiful.”
“No, you’re beautiful,” I teased him, sending a gentle splash his way.
“Stop it.” Brooklyn splashed me back. “I mean it. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve you. You’re so fucking great.”
He looked down at me, and I swore that the moon had come down from the sky and made a home in his eyes. My heart swelled, and I leaned my head into Brooklyn’s so our foreheads were touching. Water dripped off our hair and onto each other’s cheeks.
“I’m so glad I met you, Brooklyn Keller,” I said in a breathy whisper. “You make me feel so seen and so understood. I don’t take that for granted.” Our noses rubbed against each other. Brooklyn brought his lips gently to mine, and I felt him smiling against my mouth.
“Me too,” he whispered between kisses. “You make me want to be a better person, better than I ever thought I could be.”
“You are a good person.” I held his face in my hands and stroked his cheeks with my thumbs. “I promise.”
Brooklyn pulled away from me and his smile faded. I ran my fingers along his jaw, stopping at his mouth and letting them brush over his lips.
“Nat,” he mumbled against my hand. “I have to tell you something.”
“Tell me what?” I jerked back, feeling my heart jump into my throat. That combination of words was usually never good.
He must have sensed the uneasiness in my voice, because he offered me a faint smile. “It’s nothing bad. I’ve just had a hard time figuring out how to tell you.”
“What is it?” I asked, feeling my heartbeat slow.
He closed his eyes and dunked his head under the water, then came back to the surface and pushed his wet hair out of his face.
I splashed him again. “Come on, spit it out.”
Brooklyn splashed me back, and when I closed my eyes, he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me into him. His warmth engulfed me.
“Natalie,” he said in a breathy voice. “I think that I, um . . .”
He closed his eyes and sighed, and every nerve I had shuddered in anticipation.
Suddenly a group of raised voices penetrated the night air, growing louder as they came closer.
“Shit,” Brooklyn hissed as he pulled me to the edge of the pool.
He hoisted himself out, and then reached down and lifted me out of the water with ease.
Scrambling to wrap me in a towel he pulled from a chair with one hand, he grabbed our clothes with his other hand and yanked me toward the gate.
We ducked behind a row of bushes as we bolted back to the hotel suite in only those stolen towels.
We made it back to our room, laughing and chests heaving as we tried to catch our breath.
“Well, trying not to get caught is half the fun,” Brooklyn said. He fumbled around the pockets of his shorts for his wallet.
“Hey.” I bit my lip. “What were you going to tell me before?”
Brooklyn cleared his throat. “Nothing. It wasn’t that important.”
He gave me a weak smile before turning around and retreating into the suite. A shiver ran through me as water dripped off my body. Maybe it wasn’t that important, but when it came to him, something made everything feel important.