Page 111 of Beauty & Chaos

Her parents come flying in a minute later.

I introduce myself to her father, and he looks about as happy to meet me as he would be a serial killer.

“Nice to meet you, Travis. Brook told me she enjoyed your vacation to Switzerland.” Her mom smiles, holding a jacket up against her chest.

Her father puts his arm around her and meets my eye. “Do you know who did this?”

“No, sir.”

He nods, guiding his wife to a chair.

Next, a couple around Brook’s age run through the door and go straight up to her parents.

I watch, as if I’m a stranger, and realize as they all hug, that I do not know this woman I love. I know what I wanted to see, but in two weeks I haven’t scratched the surface.

I was single-minded in my mission.

That was all.

I’ve fucked up.

Instead of giving her space and waiting for her to come to me, I should have been spending time getting to know her.

Idolove her, but there is much more to her than admiring her beautiful eyes over dinner or falling over and making snow angels.

She is loved by others.

She has a family and friends.

The woman glances over and studies me. Her husband, I assume, warns her, but she ignores him and crosses the room.

“You’re Travis.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I’m Jasmine, Brook’s best friend.”

Fuck.

How do I not even know her best friend’s name?

There’s a strong sense that I’m out of place here, and I fucking hate it. I hate that I am not the most important person in her life, and that all these people have precedence over her in this situation.

That if she dies, I’ll be some guy she spent a week with.

“Nice to meet you.” I rub my hand over my face and spot Killian behind her, checking out her ass.

Her husband notices too.

“She’s going to be okay,” Jasmine says, giving me a sad smile. “Brook’s a fighter.”

“Yeah, she is. I won’t let this happen again. I won’t let anyone hurt her.” I growl.

Her smile grows. “I hope she says yes.”

I frown.

“When you ask her to marry you.” Jasmine winks and returns to the others while I stand there blinking and wondering what the hell just happened.