Chapter Twenty
Wren
It”s only about a week before Brooks gets tired of running back and forth between buildings.
I stumble up the stairs after a long day of tattooing to find my bed missing. I realize all of my clothes are missing too. Back in the living room, I”m shocked to see that it has been transformed into an art studio. My furniture is still there, but it”s pushed against the walls to make room for a drawing desk and several easels.
Knowing that Brooks had to have done this, I lock my apartment and head next door to Brooks’s. When I get there, all the lights are out and I don”t hear a sound, which isn”t surprising with how late it is. I quietly close and lock the door before kicking off my shoes and heading towards Brooks”s room. I stop in my tracks when I realize a painting that I made and used to hang in my apartment is now holding a place of honor on Brooks”s living room wall. I slowly scan the room and see bits and pieces of my stuff mixed in with Brooks”s.
I know I should be annoyed that he did this without telling me, but we”ve already talked in detail about living together. I would”ve preferred to stay in my building so I could just walk up the stairs after a long day”s work, but walking ten more feet to Brooks”s apartment won”t kill me. Besides, I love the studio he set up in my living room. It”s going to be awesome to get back to painting more.
Turning off the light in the living room after being done with my snooping, I head back to Brooks”s bedroom. Well, I suppose it”s my bedroom now. The thought makes a smile tug up the corner of my lips.
I find Brooks sleeping on top of the bed, with his sexy-as-hell reading glasses on, no shirt, sleep pants resting low on his waist, and his Kindle laying on his chest.
Unable to resist how good he looks, I shimmy out of my skin-tight jeans and pull my shirt over my head, which leaves me in my matching set of violet lace bra and booty shorts. I climb up Brooks”s body until I”m straddling his lap.
His eyes shoot open as he sleepily smiles up at me. His hands go to my legs, where they gently caress up an down.
”I see you”ve found me.” Brooks smirks. ”I hope you”re not mad that I took the liberty to move you in.”
”I”m not mad. I kind of wish you had picked my apartment solely for the fact that I”m lazy and walking the extra ten feet to your building is going to kill me,” I tease with a dramatic eye roll that makes Brooks laugh. ”I”m kidding. I”m glad to be here with you, and I absolutely love the studio you set up in my old place.”
”Good, I”m glad. Daphne and Lark helped me set up that particular spot. I love your painting, and I know how much you enjoy doing it. This way, you now have a dedicated space for it. And maybe a place to escape to if I”m driving you nuts. You also won”t have to worry about walking outside for long. Reid said it wouldn”t be a problem to put a door between our buildings, connecting our break rooms, if we wanted.” He looks sheepish at the last part, but I can tell he”s anxious that he might have jumped the gun and wants to make the transition as smooth as possible.
”I love the studio. And it”s actually a brilliant idea to connect our buildings. We”re always walking back and forth to see each other. This would give us direct access.”
”Exactly. He said he could either do an open doorway or frame it up and put a door that can lock in.”
”Either way works for me. Thank you for thinking of me and for taking care of me. I love you, McSexy.”
”I love you too, my little minx.”
The next few weeks fly by in a blur. True to his word, Reid comes over and adds a door that connects both of our buildings. Dealing with the dust for a few days is well worth it in the end, to be able to just go to Brooks’s place through our shop and not have to go outside into the dark alley every night.
We fall into a comfortable routine where I either help Brooks at the bookstore in the morning or curl up beside him to read a book while he grades papers. In the evenings, he ends up bringing the girls and me dinner, hanging around the shop on the nights that we have to work late.
Our book club has been a hit, and more people join us each week. The polls to choose what we read next are just as popular on Instagram now as they were that first week. If anything, each week gains popularity. Brooks started reaching out to a few smaller local-ish indie authors about doing potential signings, and it”s gone over really well. I can”t wait to see that dream of his come true.
Weekends are always a little crazy with the shop taking up a lot of my time, but we”ve been able to make up the missed hours during the week. We”ve also been spending much time with his brothers before their schedules get super crazy. Having the extra apartment open made it a lot easier to host his family. I”ve grown close with his mom and dad, and it”s been amazing. They will never replace my parents—or Lark, for that matter—but they”ve been instrumental in filling the void I”ve had since losing my parents. I love them so much and am so thankful they accept me even if I don”t look like the woman they imagined for their son.
Brooks working from home has allowed us to have a ton of flexibility with our schedules. We have been able to enjoy new activities together, like hiking and exploring the trails in Sparrow Falls. Brooks even tried yoga. I was surprised with how flexible he is. I was also extremely excited when he tagged along to classes with Meadow and me.
Lark has been a regular fixture around here, which makes me insanely happy. He knows he”s always welcome at our shop, and I”m holding out hope that he”ll make the move here permanent. He still won”t tell me what”s going on with him and Paxton, but I”m never surprised when he comes to visit with Pax in tow. He”s also joined me for my therapy sessions a few times he”s been here, and it has been wonderful to have his support.
Speaking of therapy, I”m still going a few times a week, but we”ve been talking about cutting back. Working so hard those first two weeks, I really set myself up to be successful in managing my anxiety and panic attacks. I did have a few more, but that was to be expected with everything we were digging up in our sessions. The only good thing about them was letting Brooks and my friends in to help and support me through all of the bad days.
It”s nice to have other people to lean on and support not only me but Lark too. Joining my family—which used to be just Lark and me—with the girls and now Brooks”s family has been healing in more than one way. Family isn”t always blood, but those you choose. And damn did I pick a stellar fucking family.
I have no idea what the future holds for Brooks and me, but I can”t wait to see where it takes us and what dreams we accomplish together. Who knew this small town would fulfill a dream even I didn”t know I had. I”m so grateful it did, and that I get to choose this place and this man every day—and even better, that he chooses me too.