Page 34 of I Really Do

Brooke let out an easy laugh, but she shook her head.“It was a pleasant conversation, I promise. I like her.” Brooke nodded back towards their friends.“I think they get along.”

Anna turned to look as their friends all burst into laughter. She scrunched her face up as she turned back to Brooke.“Why do I feel like they’re talking about us right now?”

“Because they probably are,” Brooke could feel the tips of her ears turning pink at the thought.“What did you want to talk to me about?”

“Oh,” Anna laughed.“No, I just wanted to go over the plan for tomorrow.”

Tomorrow, their trip.“Right, yeah. I thought I’d come pick you up from yours just past two. That will give us plenty of time to get to the airport and to our gate before the flight.”

“Perfect. I’m all packed already,” Anna said proudly.

“Oh yeah?” Brooke asked.

Anna nodded.“Yep.” Her eyes flickered down again.“I can’t wait.”

“Me either.” She swallowed nervously, pointedly keeping her eyes fixed on Anna’s. She was so beyond screwed.

Chapter Eight:

Brooke Kent (1:50 pm):

I’m on my way. Do I need to stop

and pick anything up?

Anna Fourchette (1:51 pm):

Nope! :) I’m all set. And excited!

Brooke sighed. She wished she could say the same. She had a knot of anxiety in the pit of her stomach that would not release. She had done her best to sleep in today. That had really just consisted of her reading a book in bed from her usual wake up time of six in the morning until nine when her stomach started to rumble.

Now, as she navigated to Anna’s place, her thoughts were free to wander. She was really going to see her brother again after thirteen years. She realized, sadly, that she had been out of his life for longer than she had been in it. That thought had burned. And she knew, deep down, she knew that that was neither of their faults, but still it hurt all the same. They would do better, she resolved.Shewould do better. They had lost a lot of time, yes, but they hadn’t lost all their time. They were adults now and could have a relationship on their own terms. And if this week was any indication, they’d have no problem building a relationship and, more importantly, keeping it.

Anna was waiting outside her apartment building all ready to go when Brooke pulled to a stop at her curb. Brooke couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face as she saw Anna, wearing yoga pants and a hoodie, clearly ready for their ten hour flight. She had a backpack on her back and two rolling suitcases stood on either side of her.

Brooke put her car in park and popped the trunk, hopping out as fast as possible to help Anna load up her luggage. Anna pulled Brooke into a big hug as soon as Brooke was in reach. She didn’t pull away, she was getting used to the fact that Anna was just a touchy person. She even registered in time to hug Anna back.

“Hey, Honey,” Anna said, her full smile already in place.

“Darling,” Brooke said by way of greeting.“Here, allow me.” She grabbed the larger of Anna’s two suitcases and tucked it neatly into the trunk, despite its weight.

Anna blushed.“Don’t worry. It only weighs thirty-nine pounds. I checked twice.”

Brooke just laughed.“I'm not worried, Darling.” She eased the carry-on suitcase into her trunk next to it.“Would you like your backpack back here? Or with you?”

Anna shrugged out of it and handed it over, smiling gratefully as Brooke wiggled her own suitcase deeper into the trunk to make room for Anna’s backpack. Anna pulled Brooke into another tight hug the second the trunk was shut.

Brooke didn’t fight it, but was caught off guard.“What’s this for?” she asked, hoping that her voice was playful and not as confused as she felt.

“My backpack was in the way before,” Anna said easily, not letting go.

“Ah,” Brooke said, like that made total sense. She hoped that Anna couldn’t feel her heart slamming against her chest.

“Okay, now we can go,” Anna said, letting go just as fast as she had latched on.

Brooke was left in a daze.“Right, yeah,” she said finally, moving to open Anna’s door for her without even thinking about it.

Anna blushed, but didn’t point it out. Instead, she just sank into Brooke’s car and got herself clear of the door so that Brooke could shut it behind her.