Page 67 of Choose Us

“Oh.” She turned back to look at Takara who was watching the entire exchange with a sour face. “I thought after yesterday you wouldn’t want to see me again.”

“Yeah, well I’m an idiot, so,” I snapped back. She ignored my remark.

“What are you hiding behind your back?” Brooke asked gently.

“Nothing,” I mumbled.

“You are. Let me see.” She smiled playfully. Did she think the whole thingwas a game?

I pulled the perfectly nice flowers from behind my back, walked the remaining two paces to the bin, and dumped them dramatically.

“You boughtme flowers?”

“They’re irrelevant now.”

“You didn’t have to throw them away, Holly.Were they—”

“Your favourite? Yes, they were because I listen, and I am thoughtful, and I thought maybe you hadn’t been lying to me this entire time.”

Brooke didn’t say a word. I gestured angrily towards Takara.

“Are we not going to discuss the fact that you’ve got a girlfriend who happens to be standing right over there?” I eyeballed Takara. She adjusted her position.

Brooke’s eyes widened. “What did you hear?”

“Enough.”

“You have to letme explain.”

“Go on then.”

“Now’s not a good time, but we have to talk about this, Holly. You owe me that, at least.”

“I owe you?” I sneered. “That’s rich.”

“Please. I just want to make things right.”

“Save it, Brooke. Nothing about this will ever be right.”

“Please, Holly. You see everything so black and white, but it’s not that simple.”

She looked back towards Takara who was unmoving.

“You better get back to your girlfriend before shegets upset.”

I turned to leave, but she grabbed meby the hand.

“Holly. Please... don’t do this,”she begged.

Her eyes glistened. For a second, I almost felt sorry for her.

“Goodbye, Brooke.”

I yanked my hand free and walked as fast as I could out of the parking lot and away from the shopping complex. I held my head high, trying to maintain some shred of self-respect.

Had she played me?

Was anyof it real?