Chapter Eleven
Wren
Idon”t know what has gotten into me, but I blame Brooks. I have never acted like a lovesick teenager, even when I was a teen, but something about him makes me stupidly giddy and far from my cool, standoffish self. I”ve never been overly affectionate, but I can”t seem to keep my hands off of Brooks or stop smiling when I”m around him.
Brunch at the diner is delicious, and Brooks”s company is the best. Conversation with him is so easy. I live for our constant back-and-forth banter. I barely even notice when the good folks of Sparrow Falls glance our way. I”m still getting used to small town life, where everyone thinks it”s okay to be in each other”s business. I”m not even a little surprised when I get a teasing text from Chayse about how my night with my caveman seems to have spilled over to the next day.
Lunch is delicious. Since we had such a late start to the day, I have to head into the shop when we are all done. Brooks walks me back and hangs out in my room, working on his phone while I work on my sketch for my client. Before I am ready, I have to say goodbye to him and get on with my day.
All day long, my thoughts stray back to Brooks. Of course, Meadow and Daphne tease me relentlessly until I spill the beans about our night and morning together. I didn”t know how to feel at first, when he kept denying me in the shower, but it isn”t until I talk it out with Meadow and Daphne that I realize how much he was taking care of me in that moment. What is even more surprising is that I let him.
Since it”s a Saturday, the shop is busy all day long. I shouldn”t be surprised when Brooks shows up with dinner for all of us, but it has been so long since someone other than Lark took care of me that the gesture is unexpected. My eyes get a little glassy. What is even more unexpected is Brooks kissing me deeply in front of Meadow and Daphne before he leaves—not that I really mind much.
The rest of the day flies by with scheduled clients and walk-in customers. Meadow heads out early because she is going to pick up River tomorrow, leaving Daph and me to close up the shop. It”s nice having one-on-one time together since we”ve all been so busy since our doors opened.
”Thanks for opening today, Daph. Tomorrow, I am going to go over all of our schedules for next week and come up with our new hours. I figured with it being Sunday and those nights being slower, that”s the first day I”ll cut back. I”m also thinking about being closed completely on Monday and Tuesday since we don”t get the typical weekend. If we have a client who wants to come in that day, we can discuss it together.”
”That sounds great to me. I think the steady stream of appointments and walk-in customers show that people don”t mind driving to us, like we were initially worried about.”
”I agree.” I”m about to ask how she”s doing when her phone beeps and she gets an anxious look on her face. It beeps two more times before Daphne takes a glance at it and cringes.
”Let me guess, your mom?”
Daphne”s shoulders turn in on her and she won”t make eye contact, so I know I”m onto something.
I really fucking hate her parents. Her dad is some bigwig politician who likes to use his daughter as a prop rather than take any genuine interest in her. And her mother isn”t any better. If anything, she”s worse. Her dad at least tolerates Daphne’s passion for art because he can exploit supporting her, and in turn, the arts. But her mother seems like she can”t stand anything about Daphne. She makes her feel small and insignificant and isn”t above using threats to get Daphne to do her bidding. I fucking hate it.
I”ve tried talking Daphne into cutting them off, but I know that”s easier said than done. I just wish there was something I could do to make it better for Daph. She is the honest-to-God sweetest person I”ve ever met. So genuine, even though her parents have tried molding her to be what they want instead of who she is. She”s quiet and reserved, but that”s more so from the way she was raised.
I”ve seen her grow so much in the last few years. Standing up to her parents and becoming a tattoo artist was a huge step for her that almost cost her deeply. Daphne created an afterschool art charity in high school to help make art more available to lower-income communities. The program has grown and gained a ton of support over the years, but it”s also her mom”s biggest weapon to use against her. Her parents are the largest contributors for the program, and without their help, Daphne wouldn”t be able to reach nearly as many people as she has. So, she plays her mom”s games to keep doing what she”s meant to, even if it crushes her a little more each time.
”She wants me to go to some brunch for some frivolous fundraiser to help gain support for my dad.”
”That sounds awful.”
”Um, yeah. I haven”t said yes yet, so I”ll keep getting her typical passive-aggressive until I break down and agree to go with her. Would it be okay if I took a Saturday off so I can get this out of the way?”
”Sure, Daph. But you say the word, and I”ll drop everything to find you a different funding for your program if she gets to be too much and you”re ready to tell her no.”
”Thanks, Wren. I wish it were that easy. They may not have been the best parents, but they are still mine. I know that if I take a stand, I risk losing the only family I have.”
”Not the only family. You”ve got me, Meadow, River, and Lark. We might not be family by blood, but you know Meadow and you are my sisters, and I”ll fight anyone who tries to tell me differently.”
I step towards Daphne as a cautious smile spreads on her face. Pulling her into a hug, I squeeze her tight and rock us back and forth.
I fucking hate what those assholes do to her, but she”ll never not have family in her corner as long as I”m around.
”Alright, enough of this mushy bullshit. Let”s get the shop closed up and shut down so we can go to bed. I”m exhausted.”
”I”m sure you are.” Daphne wags her eyebrows and giggles.
I”m about to tease her back when the front bell rings, and we both groan.
I”m pleasantly surprised when I see Brooks lounging in one of the chairs, in a cut-off t-shirt that shows his pecks peeking through, gray sweats, and sneakers. His hair is a little disheveled, and he looks like he might have just rolled out of bed.
”Hi, ladies.”
Brooks smirks as he pushes from his seat and makes his way towards us. He stops at Daphne, bending down and giving her a quick cheek kiss, making her blush, before he turns his attention towards me. In two steps, he”s got me wrapped in his arms, his lips on mine. His taste is all his own, with a hint of minty toothpaste. When he pulls back, he smiles sweetly down at me.
”Ready to head out?” Brooks gently tucks some wayward hair behind my ear.
”Yep. We were just about to lock up and shut everything down.”
”Alright, I”ll meet you in the back.” Brooks releases me before heading towards the breakroom, so we can go up to the apartments.
I turn to Daphne, who’s smiling at me.
”Go ahead. Spit it out.”
”Hey…” She raises her hands as if surrendering. ”I don”t have anything to say other than I think you two are the sweetest and I love seeing this side of you. Honestly, I never thought you could ever be so lovey-dovey.”
I scrunch my nose in disgust then burst out laughing once I think about it a bit.
”That”s because I”ve never acted this way in my life, but something about Brooks has me all out of sorts in the best way possible.”
”I can see that, and I absolutely love that for you.”
”Thanks, Daph. Now, let”s get this place closed so we can go to bed.”
We work together to shut the shop down. Brooks is leaning on the door, looking like he”s about to fall asleep on his feet. It”s almost one in the morning, so I don”t really blame him.
”You ladies ready?”
We both nod. Brooks and Daphne wait in the hall while I lock up the shop. We all head up the stairs together. Brooks and I wait until Daphne is in her apartment with the door locked before making our way up to my apartment.
”Are you going to come in?”
”I”d like to, but I don”t have to. I just don”t love the idea of you ladies being at the shop this late by yourselves. I”d feel a lot better if you got some cameras.” I”m about to start in on him when he notices the look on my face and dives back in. ”Not that I think you can”t handle yourself, because I”m sure you can. But you”re pint-sized, and if some ogre the size of my brother wanted to take advantage of you, he”d have a good chance of doing just that. The shop is amazing, but the way it”s set up makes it easy for you to unexpectedly walk into a bad situation.”
It”s not unknown that we”re an all-female shop. We”re in a safe town and our clients are usually good people, but it would be na?ve to ignore that the world is full of assholes.
”I want to be irritated with you about this, but I can”t when I”ve had the same thoughts. I”ll look into some cameras tomorrow.” I head into my apartment with Brooks close behind me. ”Lark mentioned the same thing too.”
”Lark”s your brother, right?”
”Yeah,” I say with a sad smile.
”You miss him, don”t you?” Brooks wraps me in his arms.
I nuzzle into his chest as I nod in agreement. This is the longest I”ve gone without seeing my brother in a long time. If I wasn”t living my dreams with my besties, I”d probably be a complete mess by now.
”I”d love to meet him. You should see if he can come visit soon.”
”I”ll ask him tomorrow.”
”Good.” Brooks kisses my head before he swats my ass. ”Now, let”s go to bed. I”m fucking exhausted.”
I can”t help but giggle. I”m tired yet it”s not really out of the norm for me to be up this late, but I can tell my man is struggling right now. He”s already sprawled in my bed when I finally get my shoes off and make it into my room. His chest is bare, and he”s stripped down to his boxers.
I want to bite his ass, so I do.
”Ow, what the hell, Wren?” Brooks jumps up off the bed, knocking me over in the process. I fall back on the bed in a fit of laughter that I can”t contain.
”Oh, you think you”re funny, do ya?”
Before I can reply, Brooks is sprawled on top of me and tickling me. I let out a shriek of laughter that turns into a moan when his dick pushes into my core. He”s hard and has me aching in seconds. Brooks’s tickling slows when he slides across my body. When our eyes meet, his pupils are almost completely black and heated as he stares back into my eyes.
Brooks leans back, pulling my shirt over my head as he goes. His hands find my breasts as he tugs and pulls on my pierced nipples, sending tingles straight to my core. I whimper as I thrust my hips up into him, needing some relief. He quickly removes my bra before his hands slide down my stomach and make quick work of my leggings and lace boy shorts.
I”m bare beneath him and can”t wait another minute to feel him. I slide my hands down his sides and under the waistband of his boxers. I shove them down, eager to free Brooks. He growls when I wrap my fist around his length and slowly pump up and down. A drop of his precum lands on my stomach. My free hand trails down my chest until I”m swirling that drop into my skin, making Brooks shudder.
”Fuck, little minx.” He inhales shakily as his eyes never leave my hand rubbing him into my skin. I stroke him faster as he starts thrusting back into my hand.
”I need to be inside you, baby.”
”Yesss.” I moan as my back arches off the bed, and Brooks sucks my nipple into his mouth. My body is hot and ready to explode, but I need Brooks to get me there. Slowly, I run Brooks’s tip through my drenched folds, making us both moan.
”Are you on birth control, baby? I didn”t bring a condom with me, but I”m clean.”
”I am. I”m clean too.”
”Thank fuck.”
And with that, Brooks tears me apart with one hard thrust of his hips, ripping a scream from my mouth. He silences the scream with his lips as he gives me a chance to adjust to his size. I”m trembling and sweating, but I”m also in fucking heaven, which only gets better when Brooks slowly pulls back and thrusts in hard again.
Our lips pull apart as we both pant for air. Brooks”s control is gone as he leans back, wraps my legs around his waist, grabs my hips, and sets an unrelenting pace. With each thrust, Brooks pushes me a little higher up the bed until I have to brace my hands on the headboard to keep from hitting it.
We fit perfectly together, and it”s not long before my release builds in me. I”m so close, but I want to wait for Brooks to get there with me.
”Fuck, little minx. You”re gripping me so fucking tight right now, but that sweet pussy is so wet and warm, making it so easy to fuck you any way I please.”
Welp, so much for holding on. Brooks is sexy all on his own, but apparently, listening to his dirty talk is too much. Before I can even tell it”s going to happen, my release rips through me. I tip my head back and silently scream, unable to make my voice work. My walls continue to clench as Brooks pounds into me. I”m just starting to come down when Brooks pinches my clit, rolling my first orgasm into a second. This one is fast and furious, and I”m left a panting, whimpering mess when it subsides.
Brooks stills as he fills me with his release. He”s laying completely on top of me, his arms wrapped under me as he buries his face into my neck. His teeth nip it, sending full body shivers through me.
The look on Brooks”s face is pure adoration. He gently brushes my sweaty hair off my forehead before he kisses me sweetly. Unlike our sex, the kiss is slow and tender, making me whimper as I clutch him to me.
Slowly, he pulls out, and I immediately feel the loss of him. I pout, making him chuckle, as my eyes squeeze shut in an attempt to keep my pout in place.
”Little minx.”
I open my eyes and look at his smiling face.
”If there was any chance of you getting rid of me, it”s fucking gone now.”
The next few weeks fly by before I know it. The shop is busy, but the girls and I agreed on a schedule that seems to be working out well for us. We all have more free time outside of the shop, and River has been a godsend.
Not only does she handle the phones and schedules the appointments while she”s there, but she also helps me with the operational side of the business. She really is a genius, and even though I”ve been running different shops for years, her keen eye and different perspective have been awesome. She”s created new ”standard operating procedures”, as she calls them, to help make the paperwork side of the business run more smoothly. She also loves earning money to use for her ongoing science projects.
With my newfound free time, I”ve been able to get back to doing other things that I love. Meadow and I go to yoga in the morning two days a week. Sometimes, even River and Daphne join us. I”ve also started painting with Daphne. I used to love to paint, but it”s been years since I”ve fueled this particular passion. I love having this time with Daphne, just the two of us. She”s so at peace when she paints, and it”s hard not to absorb her vibes. And the absolute best part of the new, balanced schedule would have to be more reading time, which in turn has led to more Brooks time.
Brooks has been busy in his own respect with getting the bookstore ready to open. Last week, he announced his soft opening, which will take place this Sunday. We”re usually open for a bit on Sunday, but we were all about to move our clients that were scheduled that day to other times so we could all be there for Brooks”s big day. The girls have gotten to know him more as we spend more time together, and I couldn”t be happier to see their friendships grow.
A lot of our time together these past few weeks has been wrapped up in each other as much as we have been wrapped up in the bookstore. I had so much fun going shopping and spending his hard-earned money on furniture and special touches to make the bookstore come to life. We spent an entire day going from different antique stores and other mom-and-pop style furniture places until we found the perfect pieces to create the cozy area Brooks was looking forward to hosting book clubs in. We came up with a hodgepodge combination of chairs and a few love seats that didn”t match in the least but somehow worked. We also found a few different end tables and funky lamps. To top it off, we got a really cool rug that not only looks awesome but is the perfect material for little kids to hangout on when they come in with their parents.
I”ve loved getting to know Brooks more these past few weeks and didn”t even flinch the last time someone referenced us as a couple. I never needed a boyfriend, and frankly, that term seems insignificant when it comes to Brooks. Even though it”s only been a few weeks, he seems so much more than that. He”s become one of my best friends. And even though we still bicker and push each other”s buttons like crazy, I wouldn”t change a thing.
Today I have a surprise for him that I”m super nervous about, but I”m hoping he”s going to love it. Brooks had the front of the building freshened up and a new awning put in over the door. It”s a simple black and white striped awning, but it really pops against the deep red brick that Brooks had power washed and is looking good as new. He had a generic vinyl sticker made with the bookstore”s name, Lost in the Pages, that he placed in the window of the front door that Cash refinished. It looks fine the way it is, but I decided to paint him a new one that will take up the entire front of the bay window in the front of the shop.
My design is also a vinyl, but instead of a standard cookie cutter version on the door, I hand-painted the name and made it as whimsical as possible without making it look too cluttered. There”s a kraken latched to the side of a ship, a UFO flying through the air, crime scene tape marking off an area, and a few other things here and there to represent all the different possibilities you”ll find when you get lost in the pages of a good book.
The girls all loved it and said it would look beautiful, but now that it”s time to give it to him, I”m nervous. I”m second-guessing whether making the vinyl was a good idea or if I should have just painted it directly on the window. River pointed out that it would be more convenient as a vinyl that Brooks could take down and put back up later if he wanted to do a special display or decorate for a holiday.
Normally, I wouldn”t fret about presenting someone a gift I made them. It takes me a minute to realize it”s different with Brooks because I want him to love it and see it for the gift that it is. His opinion matters more than most, and being able to do something like this for him makes me feel amazing. I just hope he sees the gesture for what it is.
Squaring my shoulders and tipping my chin up a bit, I smooth my hand down my micro skirt before I head into the shop. Ready or not, I”m diving into this relationship with Brooks headfirst and can”t wait to get lost in the pages together.