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“That girl gives me whiplash, and I’m not even dating her.” Bear sighs, putting his head in his hands, as Adam circles his finger around his ear. “We need to talk to him.”

Cami looks away from the table like she wants nothing to do with this conversation, and I've not been around it enough to comment.

“Grant, come on”, Bear pleads "It's not healthy”

“I know, bud, but he loves her and he's adamant that he's happy” Grant's face is conflicted as he looks to Bear “We've got to let him get there on his own”

“So, my mom called me during the game,” deciding to take the opportunity and get us away from this awkward conversation and tell them my new Thanksgiving plans.

“I knew it,” Cami gasps, turning to face me. “I knew something happened. You came back all quiet. You didn’t even heckle the ref when he missed that foul on Grant.”

“I don’t always do that,” I mumble as he smiles at me with a shit-eating grin, and I stick my tongue out at him.

“What did she say, Brookie?” Adam asks with a hardened line.

“Well, she asked if I would go home for Thanksgiving.” I hear Cami take a sharp breath in. “She wants to talk, and I said yes.” I blurt it and pull the band-aid off. Cami might be a little mad, but I know she will support me.

“That’s a mistake.”

Chapter Twenty Nine

Grant

We all stare in shock at Adam, not having expected him to say anything.

"I mean, I know she did something wrong, but if we are going to talk and she apologises to me about it, maybe we can move forward," Brooke stutters, trying to explain it to him, playing with the label on her cider bottle.

"That will not happen, and you know it, B," Adam insists. "People like your mom are never wrong. You said it yourself when we first met."

"Look, I was hurt after I found out what she and Josh had done, but I think if we are going to move forward, I need to talk to her." She's rambles trying to get Adam on her side, but he's not having it.

"I care about you, Brookie, so I'm begging you, please don't hurt yourself," Adam said, leaning his elbows on the table and looking in her eyes.

"I'm a big girl; I know you all think I just showed up like some sheltered rich bitch, but I'm not stupid." She huffs, getting off her stool and grabbing her coat.

"Brooke, just hold on." I stand, touching her arm. "He's just looking out for you; we all are."

"Do you all feel the same way?" She looks around the table. "Do you all think that letting my only family back into my life is a mistake?"

"B, it's not that simple and you know it," Cami pleads, shifting in her seat. "Grant is right; we want the best for you."

"Doesn't feel like it," she mutters to herself before marching out of the bar.

"I got her," I say to Cami, who's gathering her stuff to go after her. "I'll follow behind her and give her space if she wants it, and text you when we get back."

Cami nods, and Bear pulls her in for a side hug, rubbing her back while Adam sits there, looking pissed.

"I know where that came from." I pat him on the back, and he looks up. “And you're right, but don't hurt her because of your pain." He nods his head and drains his beer as I walk out of the bar, jogging to catch up with Brooke.

"Go away, Cami." I hear her sniffle as I walk behind her back to the apartment; she holds her arms around herself.

"Not Cami," I call out, still sticking behind her. "I won't tell her you said that because my footsteps are way heavier than hers."

"Ha, ha," she wipes her nose. "You can walk next to me."

"Thank God, at least four cars have slowed down after seeing me following you." I grin, taking the extra strides to put us next to each other and putting my arm around her to fight off the cold I know she's feeling.

"I know; I noticed after the first one."