41
The next morning, Luna and I stand in the alley, awaiting the arrival of my family, and I can’t help but wish that Brooks were here waiting with us.
I had hoped that Brooks would change his mind about meeting them.
I imagined him knocking on our front door this morning, coffee in hand, and his smile spread across his face, revealing his beautiful dimples.
Instead, I woke up alone with a brain-shredding hangover.
The touch of someone tapping my shoulder startles me, and I spin around to see Brooks. Any hurt I felt from him disappearing last night vanishes, and my heart fills with hope. Could he have changed his mind?
“I’m taking off now. I should be back later tonight. I’ll call you,” he says, bringing me into a hug and kissing the top of my head. My heart plunges into the pit of my stomach. I hold onto him, trying not to cry.
“Where exactly were you last night?” Luna asks abruptly.
“Have fun,” I say, in an attempt to make him feel as though he doesn’t need to justify himself.
He smirks at Luna before kissing me again and begins to walk away without saying another word.
Just as he’s getting into his car, my parents pull into the parking lot.
They’re here, finally. My heart tries to persuade me to run to them, but Brooks’ car is still there, and I don’t want to look like a baby running towards my mummy.
I watch as Mum appears, followed by Dad, then my sister and, to my surprise, Mark climbs out of the car too. My stomach drops.
“Oh my fucking God,” Luna says, bursting into laughter beside me. Of course, she would see the humour in this.
“Did you know?”
“How the fuck would I know?” she says, defensively raising her hands in surrender. I look towards Brooks’ car to see if he’s leaving yet. He’s sitting behind the wheel with the engine running.
“Do you think he’s seen him yet?” Luna whispers in my ear as my family and Mark get closer.
“I have no idea,” I say through gritted teeth. “Hey, guys! I’m so happy you’re here.” I grab Mum and pull her into a hug.
“What is he doing here?” I ask into her hair, feeling a panic rise through me.
“We bumped into him at the grocery store the other day. He said he wanted to see you. I would have told you if you had answered any of my calls.”
I hug Dad and then scoop Paige into my arms. I haven’t missed her going through my stuff or trying on my shoes, but I’ve missed these hugs.
Mark is next in line, and I hesitate in front of him, not knowing what to do.
I look over at Brooks’ car as Mark pulls me in for a warm embrace.
Luna lets out an amused laugh behind me.
I’d give anything to push her over right now.
My head naturally presses against Mark’s chest, and I remember the way I used to find it comforting.
Now, all I feel is the need to pull away.
“Shit,” Luna gasps under her breath. I try to pull back to look at what she’s talking about, but Mark brings his hand to my head, trapping me in his hold.
“Hey. I’m here,” Brooks’ voice announces behind me. His hand grasps mine and pulls me away from Mark. “Sorry I’m late,” he adds, heaving me into his side and wrapping his arm around my shoulders.
“I didn’t know,” I whisper into his ear. He nods slightly and smiles at my parents.
“You must be Rita, Daniel and Paige,” Brooks says smoothly, holding out his hand to greet each member of my family. “And I’m sorry, who are you?” He holds out a hand in front of Mark.
“Ahh, I’m Mark?” he replies as if it’s a question. Mark steps forward and takes Brooks’ hand, giving it a firm shake, in what I assume is meant to be an act of intimidation.
“This is Brooks, he’s my, umm…” I hesitate, looking up at him for help.
“Boyfriend,” he finishes. “I’m Abi’s boyfriend.” I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. I’ve wanted to hear that sentence leave his mouth since the day I met him.
Back in the apartment, Luna is showing Paige around while Mark, Dad and Brooks stand awkwardly in the kitchen. I pull Mum into the living room.
“What were you thinking?”
“I’m sorry, Bug, but how was I supposed to know you have a new boyfriend? You certainly didn’t tell me. We didn’t even know that you’d broken up with Mark,” she says defensively, and I know I can’t blame her.
“I thought it was just going to be you guys, that’s all.”
“I ran into him, and he looked so sad. He said he hadn’t heard from you in a while and that he missed you.
I didn’t want to disappoint him by telling him it was a family trip,” she answers sweetly.
Well, that’s Mum, always trying to please everyone around her.
Everyone except me. I pull her in for a hug, promising myself that I will be a better daughter.
Her body relaxes, and she squeezes me tightly.
“So, you’ve got a new boyfriend?” She pulls back slightly, her arms still wrapped around me.
“Yeah, I guess so.” I beam, unable to wipe the smile from my face.
“He’s a little old for you, don’t you think? He doesn’t look like he’d be a student. Unless he’s one of those late bloomers who enrol late? You know, like the girls who get pregnant in high school and have to put off their studies? Oh, Abigail, he’s not a single Dad, is he?”
“Mum, no. He doesn’t go to uni, and he doesn’t have a kid. Can you just give him a chance? Please, Mum. He’s special, ok?”
She nods knowingly, and we walk into the kitchen to join the others.
I stand next to Brooks, and he instinctively pulls me under his arm again.
Luna walks back into the room with Paige, with an entertained smile, and I wonder what they’ve been saying about me.
They always liked to keep their secrets.
Mark’s eyes are firmly fixed on Brooks’ hand holding my shoulder.
Shifting my gaze up to Brooks, I can’t help but smile.
The way he got out of his car and pulled me away from Mark made my brain buzz.
He could have gotten angry and left, saving everything for a fight later.
Instead, he came back and announced to my entire family that he was my boyfriend.
Brooks leads Dad out to the courtyard after hearing him speak about how beautiful it is out there, and everyone files out behind them.
My phone rings in the bedroom, and I rush to see who it is.
I miss a call from Amir and slide my phone into my back pocket as Mark ducks into my room and closes the door.
“I can’t believe you,” he scowls. I shift my weight to the other foot, wishing that I were anywhere but stuck in this room with him.
“You said you didn’t want to lose me and that we’d see what happened once you got to the city.
I thought that meant that if I was patient and waited, you’d come home to me.
But you moved here, ignored all of my calls and messages, and then I came to surprise you, and you’ve replaced me. With him?”
He points out the window into the courtyard where Brooks and Dad are looking up at the canopy above.
“That’s not how it happened.”
Even as I say the words, I know I don’t believe them. I look back at Mark. Everything about him is so familiar: his skin, those green eyes, the way his hair spikes up in the front. He reminds me of home, and it hurts to know that I’m causing him pain.
“How exactly did it happen? How long after leaving me did you hook up with that guy?”
“That guy’s name is Brooks, and when we met is none of your business.
” The hurt I was feeling seconds ago is morphing into anger.
How dare he speak about Brooks like that.
That guy? How about the most important person in my life?
I walk forward and reach for the door handle, but Mark shifts his weight to block me.
“You hooked up the day you met?” Hearing the anger and hurt in his voice makes me feel uncomfortable. I’ve never seen him this angry.
“It’s not like that. Please, Mark, let me out,” I beg.
“I can’t believe you,” he says again. “After everything we had. You threw it all away.”
“What we had was high school. It wasn’t true love.
” I place my hands on the side of his arm, trying to push him from the door.
He looks down at me with an amused glint in his eye at my feeble attempts to move him.
I used to love how solid and snuggly he was, but now I’m cursing his strong build as I fight to free myself from being locked in this room.
“And he’s your true love?” He scoffs and waits for me to respond, but after what feels like a long silence, I think he’s guessed my answer. “Did you ever love me?” I look up at him and see tears building up in his eyes.
“I don’t know. I thought I did. But looking back, our whole relationship lacked any real fire,” I say with a sigh, admitting defeat. I give up trying to move him and sit down on the bed.
“Fire? Is that what you have with him? You know fire burns out in the end,” he says, his anger fading to reveal sadness.
“You know I still love you, right? You say we didn’t have any fire.
But I have a burning love for you, in here.
” He places his hand on his chest, and I begin to feel the sting of tears in my eyes.
He’s never spoken so openly about his feelings before.
“Abi, are you in there?” Brooks’ voice sounds anxious through the door. I watch as the handle moves up and down. I look at Mark, pleading with him to step aside. He nods and takes a step away from the door. Brooks swings it open and looks at both of us.
“Everything ok?”
“We were just catching up. I’d better go find Paige,” Mark says, pushing past Brooks and leaving the room.
“You alright?” Brooks asks.
I nod, wiping my tears with the back of my hand.
“What was that all about?” He sits down on the bed beside me.
“I guess he needed to hear that it was over one more time.” I place my hand on Brooks’ knee.
“Is it?” he asks. I look up at him, confused. “Is it over?”
“How could you ask me that?” I say, bringing my hand to Brooks’ face and forcing him to look into my eyes.
“I am with you. You are my boyfriend after all, right?” I ask, wanting to hear confirmation one more time.
“You caught that, did you?” He flashes me a confident grin.
This is the side of Brooks that I love, the one that no one else sees when he’s vulnerable and insecure.
He only ever shows people his self-assured cockiness, but it’s a mask.
The more I get to know him, the more I learn that he’s caring and funny, and he feels more than anyone I’ve ever met.
“I caught that.” I lean closer towards him, pressing my lips against his.
He parts his mouth, sliding his tongue in.
His hands move around my waist and pull me over so that I’m sitting on his lap.
I cling to his t-shirt, pulling him closer, desperate to feel every part of his body up against mine.
He wraps his strong arms tightly around my waist, holding me close.
I could easily push him back and show him how I feel about him, but I remind myself that my parents and little sister are just outside.
I break the kiss, pushing my forehead against his while we attempt to catch our breath.
“We’d better go out there,” I whisper. He nods, standing up, supporting me as he pushes me from his knee. “I’m glad you’re here. Lucky your plans fell through,” I tease, standing on my toes to kiss his cheek.
“Shut up,” he says with a chuckle. A light shade of red flushes his cheeks. He places his hand on my lower back, guiding me out of the room.