Page 65 of I Really Do

Mel squeezed Brooke back even tighter.“Same, B. Same. And you, Anna. I know. I know. You two are just starting out, but sometimes when it’s real, you just know it’s real. I’m glad I have you both.”

Brooke caught Anna’s eyes over the table, afraid of what she might find. But all she was met with was that same soft smile that Anna only ever seemed to smile for her.

Chapter Sixteen:

Brooke fiddled with the collar of her gray suit. Mel had insisted that she and Anna get ready for the rehearsal dinner together, saying something about needing Anna’s advice for her makeup. It left Brooke splitting the guest bathroom with Nate.

“It’s unfair you know,” Nate said with an amused grin.

“What’s that?” Brooke asked, moving to mess with her hair next.

“That you rock the shit out of suits like that,” he teased.“I’m glad we’re both already taken. I’d never want to grab a drink with you if we weren’t. I swear women would never even notice me.”

“Oh?” Brooke asked, lifting an eyebrow.“Well, I’ll have you know…” She huffed out a laugh.“I can’t even pretend, Nate. I have no game. You’re charming and funny and I can barely speak around women. I still just go completely blank sometimes in front of Anna.”

Nate laughed at that.“Can’t say I blame you. You did good.”

Brooke blushed.“We both did.”

“Hell yeah,” Nate added, holding his fist out for Brooke to bump her own against. She had never actually fist bumped anyone. It felt fitting that her first fist bump would be with her little brother. He ran his fingers through his hair again, making sure his part was perfect.“We should get a snazzy photo.”

Brooke immediately slipped her phone out of her suit’s inside pocket.“I agree.”

One silly photo shoot with Nate later and they were ready. Anna and Mel were still holed up in the master bathroom though, so Brooke decided it would be a good time to call Christine and Vivienne. She stepped out onto Nate and Mel’s back deck and paced along the railing while the line rang.

Christine picked up first.“Hi!” she practically screamed in Brookes’s ear.“How is it going? Tell me everything.”

Brooke laughed.“Let’s let Vivienne pick up first.”

Two rings later and Vivienne answered.“Hello, Christine. Hello, Brooke. How’s Nathaniel?”

“Nate is amazing and wonderful, and Mel is honestly delightful. I’m so truly happy they have each other,” Brooke answered.

“Good, I’m glad,” Vivienne said, as enthusiastic as she possibly could be.

“And Anna?” Christine questioned.

Brooke knew that’s what Chris had meant by‘tell me everything’before. Brooke glanced at the backdoor, making sure that no one could hear her through it.“We kissed.”

Christine screamed. Genuinely screamed.

“Holy shit, Chris,” Vivienne growled.

Brooke just laughed at how incredibly different her two best friends were.

“And?” Christine asked, completely ignoring Vivienne.

“And it was amazing. I mean, the first kiss was in front of my Mother, so that was unfortunate. But the second.” Brooke exhaled loudly.“And then today, we made breakfast and kissed again while sober.”

“Wait, you saw Sybil?” Vivienne asked.

Brooke groaned. She had never been one to kiss and tell, but that’s really all she wanted to talk about at the moment. She didn’t want to get into seeing her mother, or the fact that she was going to have to see her again tonight.“I did, yes.”

“Is she still alive?” It was Vivienne who had asked.

Brooke let out a pained breath of air.“Honestly, after she witnessed me and Anna purchase a harness and dildos, I’m not entirely sure.”

“I’m sorry. What in the actual fuck was that last bit?” Christine asked, her voice still an octave too high.