27. Brooklyn
brOOKLYN
The interview is over. The show has moved on to the next segment, yet I can’t turn away from the screen. My mind is blown. Did I really just hear what I think I did?
Mateo touches my arm and I look over, still in shock.
“Are you okay, Brookie?”
It hits me then. Why he was so insistent about controlling the remote and why he chose the gossip channel to begin with. “You knew about this all along. Didn’t you.”
He grimaces. “Don’t be pissed at me. I had a few little chats with Luka and he strongly encouraged me to make sure you watched the show, but I didn’t know exactly what he was going to say. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, but honestly. Would you have cooperated if I had?”
“I don’t know.”
Luka loves me. He said it on national television. He still wants to be with me. He said I’m more important than his image, his work, other modeling contracts. I can hardly believe it.
“What do I do now?” I ask. I’m too overwhelmed to think straight.
Mateo turns my face toward him, and his eyes are kind. “Go to him, of course.”
Rationally, I know this is the answer. But I’ve made such a mess of things. I ran away and hid like a coward, ignored his calls, and didn’t tell him where I was. I basically forced him to go on TV to plead his case. I can’t even imagine what his family thinks of all of this.
I think about all the voicemails he left. All the texts he sent. I should have at least replied to one, just to let him know that I was okay, but I left him hanging. I wouldn’t blame him for being angry with me. Not one bit. He was frantic, and I’m sure Tori and Emzee were, too.
“God, Mat. I have so much apologizing to do,” I moan.
My best friend laughs softly. “Yeah, you do. But first, let’s do something about…all of this.” He gestures at my yoga pants, my oversized sleep shirt, the messy bun on top of my head.
I hurry to the bathroom and jump in for a quick shower, and afterward Mateo wastes no time whipping out his makeup kit and working some subtle magic on my face with the neutral palette.
I slip into jeans and a white tee and towel dry my hair so it’ll fall in loose waves.
It’s a simple look, but it’s the best I can manage—and it’s the first time in days that I don’t look like death warmed over. It has to be good enough.
“He’s going to think you’re beautiful no matter what you look like,” Mateo says, trying to calm my nerves. “Besides, you won’t be wearing this for long anyway.”
I can’t help laughing at the insinuation, and hoping it’s true.
I can barely recall my husband’s touch thanks to all the stress lately, and I’m more than eager for a refresher.
Once Mateo declares that I look perfect, he ushers me to his car and drives me home.
Home. The place I’ve longed to be for the past week.
As we pull up to the building, my heart feels like it’s going to explode.
“Oh my God, what if I can’t do this?” I fret.
“Brooklyn, you’ve got this,” Mateo insists. “He loves you. You love him. It really is that simple. As for the details, you two will figure it out. Have faith.”
He pulls into the parking garage and hustles me out of the car, then walks me over to the private elevator and gives me a big squeeze.
“Thank you,” I whisper. “I feel like you’re my fairy godmother.”
“Oh, I definitely am. I’m always here for you, darling. And you know what? So is Luka. You’re so lucky to have a man who loves you the way you deserve. Enjoy it, Brooklyn.”
He punches the elevator button and the doors ding open immediately, kicking my adrenaline into high gear. I take a deep breath, step inside, and flash Mat a little wave goodbye.
As I ride up to the penthouse, every possible scenario that could go horribly wrong plays through my mind.
My worst fear? That Luka will simply slam the door in my face.
Then again, I suppose it’s possible the crew from Celebrity Chat is still inside, breaking down their gear and wrapping things up after Luka’s interview. Shit. I hadn’t even thought of that.
But when I cautiously push the door open, I’m met with silence—and Mr. Kibbles waiting for me, as if he somehow knew I was heading up. He sits like a good boy, wagging his tail so hard that it thumps against the floor. I drop to one knee and give him a good scratch.
“Who’s my good boy, huh? Oh, I missed you. Yes, I did.” He jumps up to turn in a circle and lick my face, then sits back down for another ear scratch. “What a good boy he is.”
“Did you miss me, too?”
Shivers race over my skin at the smooth, sexy voice I’ve been dreaming about for days.
I don’t look up, worried I might start crying the moment I see him.
The subtle scent of Luka’s cologne washes over me, reminding me of hot, sexy nights, and riding to dinner in the car with his hand sliding up my thigh.
Talking over a beer while we watch TV. Standing close during his father’s trial.
We’ve been through so much. We’ve grown so much. As individuals and as a couple. Now that I’m here, I can’t believe I stayed away. A sob wells in my chest, so I focus on scratching the dog to keep the tears at bay.
“Yes, I did,” I say, my voice wobbling a little.
Suddenly, Luka’s crouched in front of me, his hands coming up to gently cup my face. Mr. Kibbles wiggles between us, so happy to have us both at his level. I can’t not look at my husband now, and the shock of seeing him so close makes my heart jump.
“I missed you more.” His low, rich voice is the most perfect sound I’ve ever heard.
His gaze is soft, with hope twinkling in his eyes—and no sign of the anger I worried would be there. The dam inside me starts to crack.
“Why did you do it, Luka? I took the fall for you, got you completely off the hook. You could have just walked away and saved face.”
“That’s not who we are,” he says simply. “We’re a team, and that means we work through things together.”
“But people think I’m—”
He pulls me to my feet. “I don’t care how anyone sees you but me. And I know what kind of person you are. I know why you took the blame, and I don’t want you sacrificing yourself for me like that ever again.”
My eyes start to blur. “But I heard you on the phone. You told Guy that—”
“I know,” he interrupts. “I said those things to save the company, and maybe it was the best thing for DRM at the time, but I shouldn’t have done or said anything without talking to you first. We should have figured it out together, and I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
I fall into his arms, blinking back tears.
“I’m sorry I didn’t come home. After the Monica story hit, I went to your office right away but you were talking to Guy and after I heard what you said, I just…
ran. Spilling the story to TMZ seemed like the only way out for me.
I thought we’d both be better off if I just…
I don’t know, removed myself from the equation.
So you all could move on from the scandal as a family. I’m sorry I couldn’t face you.”
Luka squeezes me. “You are my family, Brooklyn. And look, I know I haven’t made you enough of a priority.
But the truth is, you’ve been the most important thing in my life for a long time now, and I’ve done a terrible job at showing you that.
It’ll never happen again. And I’ll prove it, if you’ll just give me another chance. ”
My lower lips quivers at the sincerity in his voice. “Of course I will.”
He pulls back to look me in the eye again. “I love you, Brooklyn. My family loves you. We’re all behind you, no matter what. We’ve got each other and that’s what matters.”
“I love you, too,” I say.
Luka leans down to kiss me. Then he scoops me up in his arms and carries me to the bedroom, setting me gently on top of his bed. Our bed.
“I want to be with you. Always,” he says, dropping kisses down my neck. “I want to build a life with you, and Mr. Kibbles, and I want us to be happy together.”
I run my fingers through his hair. “I want to be with you, too. I couldn’t stand being away all this time. I’m sorry for making you leave all those voicemails.”
“So many,” he murmurs in between kisses. “I made myself hoarse. But I meant them, every single one.”
I wince a little. “I…actually, I couldn’t bring myself to listen to them.”
He draws back in mock horror. “None of them? I poured my heart and soul out to you!”
I kiss him, slow and soft, and then I kiss him again harder. “I’ll make it up to you. Promise.”
Luka settles himself between my legs and tugs my shirt up, cruising his lips along my ribcage and making me laugh. “Hell yes, you will.”
I pull his face back up to mine and catch his eyes. “I promise not to hide from you ever again.”
“Unless we’re playing a sexy game of hide-and-seek, you mean.”
“Yes.”
He traces my jaw with a finger. “I promise to always put you first. Always.”
“I like the sound of that.”
Luka sits up to whip his shirt off, and then takes my hand and places it on his bare chest, right over his heart. “This is yours, okay? It’s gonna be me and you, together. Always.”
I loop my arms around his neck and tug him back down on top of me. “I really like the sound of that. And I think we should start now.”