Chapter 19 – Slater
Chapter Nineteen
SLATER
W hen I wake up from my nap, the first thing I notice is that Brooks isn’t here. I grab my phone off the charger, wondering where he went. Normally he would leave a note or text me. It makes me think he’s up to something, but what? That man has a way of keeping me on my toes.
My first thought goes to Felipe, but that can’t be right because we have a plan.
At least I think we do. It sounds complicated, and I’m not excited about dragging all of Brooks’s friends into my mess.
Kaden, and hell, all of them have careers or their lives in some kind of spotlight, and I don't want to tarnish that in any way. I’ve already brought this on Brooks, and I don’t want that for anyone else.
I know how the internet can turn on you. I’ve been living it.
I really had a great time with all of Brooks's friends. Especially the girls. They are the definition of ride or die. I know without a doubt that you’d never catch them in their friends' beds, not only because that's not their style— they're girls' girls—but also because their men would kill each other.
It was adorable how possessive Brooks was toward me around them.
I pile my hair on top of my head in a messy knot before getting dressed to head downstairs. My hand goes to my stomach. “Do you know what your daddy is up to?” I smile, feeling the bump more today than I have before. A flutter of excitement fills me.
When I enter the back of the kitchen at The Plate, there are only a few people there. It’s still early. “Anyone seen Brooks?” I ask.
“He hasn’t been in yet,” one of them tells me. What the heck? Then where the hell did he go?
I pull my phone back out to call him when I notice a bunch of missed texts.
I click it, seeing it’s a group chat I’ve been added to called Heart Connection.
It only takes a couple of seconds for me to realize that it’s all the girls from last night texting, asking what is going on and if Brooks has gone AWOL and done his own plan because Felipe is losing it on social media.
I don’t have to ask Brooks if that’s the case. We might have only known each other for a short time, but I know that man, and the Felipe situation was driving him insane. He wanted to fix it for me. I’m starting to think he might be more upset than I am at this point.
I flick out of the texts, hopping over to social media. I have to unblock Felipe to see his crap. He's cursing into the cameras and screaming about being hit in the head. Oh God, Brooks is going to jail. He went and hit him.
Felipe is on a tangent going on about a range of things. It's hard to keep up with his erratic behavior, but my eyes drop down to the comments. Everyone is laughing at him and calling him a creepy pervert. That's a change from before.
I'm not sure why the tide has turned, but that's the power of the internet for you. Changes happen in the blink of an eye. One second you’re the victim, and the next you’re a villain or vice versa. But everyone is going on about him filming the people he has sex with and all his stuff being a con.
I think from the things he’s saying and going off the comments, he’s snapped and is telling on himself while blaming the public for turning him into who he is. That he's done everything for his followers. Yeah, he's completely lost it and is likely going to jail.
Another person comments, asking if he really had cancer a few years back that he did a GoFundMe for. If I had to bet, that was all a lie, like the rest of him. At least I wasn't the only person he fooled.
My phone starts to ring in my hand, showing Frankie’s name. I answer. She doesn’t even wait for me to say hello, she’s already chattering the second I pick up.
“Girl, is that the tea over there? That perverted man was filming sex with girls, and the wine is all fake?”
“Wait, what?” I think Frankie has more tea than I do. “Maybe you should fill me in.”
“All I know is your ex?—”
“He’s not my ex; we never agreed to be together.” I cut her off, not wanting her to get the wrong idea about what my relationship was with Felipe.
“Did you agree to marry Brooks?” Shit, she’s got me there.
“We’re not married, and he more ordered it.” Which should annoy me, but it’s all honestly cute.
I also think he made up the whole eating his food in his home thing and how it makes us married already. Also annoyingly adorable. Gah, I think I might love him and his strange ways that only make him more endearing to me.
“Are you sure? I wouldn't put it past one of these men to have you sign papers and the next thing you know you’re married.”
“Is that possible?” I laugh. It can’t be.
“With money and some pull, people can do just about anything.” I’m going to take her word for that. She does know everyone better than I do in this group. Plus, she’s a lawyer.
“I suppose it’s inevitable. I’m having his baby, after all.” I swear everything goes quiet. Shit, did I just blurt that out? I peek behind me and see the other chefs staring my way. They quickly glance away, pretending they didn’t hear anything.
“Are you really?” Frankie asks in a gushy sweet voice, showing a softer side that is in there.
Frankie has a sharp tongue, but I quickly realized she’s all marshmallow on the inside, but she has to trust you to get that from her.
It means a lot that I’m getting it so quickly.
They really have taken me into their fold.
Even if all this shit with social media goes sideways, it would be worth it to get Brooks and all of them.
“Yes,” I tell her.
“No wonder Brooks went rogue today.” I’m not sure what he did, but whatever it is has sent Felipe into a total meltdown. I even noticed people calling him out about his name being fake too.
“Are you really pregnant?” I turn back around to see Gabby.
“Can I text you later?” I ask Frankie.
“Yes, but have more tea for me,” she says before ending our call.
“Yes, I’m pregnant.” Gabby nods. I notice she’s not in uniform. She is carrying an oversized purse that is filled to the brim.
“I’m already fired.”
“I didn’t?—”
“I know.” She cuts me off. “I was a bitch to you, and I let my crush get the best of me. Brooks is a good one and never gives women the time of day romantically. He picked you, so that means something.” I didn’t see that coming.
Today is filled with surprises. “Like I said, I’m sorry, and I wish you both the best.”
The door to the dining room swings open. Brooks's eyes land right on me, and he smiles. Then he catches sight of Gabby, and the smile falls away.
“Why are you here?” Brooks comes to stand next to me.
“I was just getting my things.”
“You’ve got them.”
Gabby gives a nod, turning to leave.
“Gabby,” I call after her. “Thank you.” She gives me a smile. “And Brooks will give you a glowing recommendation.”
“I will?” I elbow him in the side. “I mean, I will.” He nods.
“Thank you, and congratulations. I’m happy you found your one.” With that, Gabby turns to leave.
“Why do I feel like the asshole now? Maybe you should hire her back.”
“No.” Brooks stares down at me like I’m the crazy one now. I might be. “She lied. Hopefully she’s learned her lesson, but I have zero tolerance for anyone that would try to upset you or break us up.”
“You’re right.” I sigh. “I’m a sucker.”
“No, you have a soft heart.” He leans down, pressing his mouth to mine. “And I'll always protect it."
Yep, I’m totally in love with him. “I love you,” I blurt out. How could I not love him? I can be a hot mess, but he doesn’t care. All he cares about is making sure that I’m happy and protecting that happiness.
“I love you too.” He wraps his arm around me, lifting me off my feet. “And we’re getting married.”
“And we’re getting married,” I agree, not that it was a question. Everyone in the kitchen cheers, making me laugh.
It might have been a crazy-ass mess to get here, but I’m thankful for all of it. In the end, everyone got what they deserved. Fate has a way of doing that.