Page 88 of Pretend You Love Me

“Let’s go to bed. You’re exhausted,” he says, taking my hand.

I don’t argue. He helps me undress and pulls me into bed. I fall asleep listening to the sound of him breathing.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Kip

I wake up the next morning to the smell of bacon cooking which is weird because I didn’t have any bacon in the house. Brooklyn isn’t in bed. I grab my phone and text Hawk really quickly, and then I make my way out to the kitchen. It’s full of people who are cooking some sort of breakfast feast.

“Morning Kip,” Will calls. He’s flipping pancakes. “We sent people out for food. I hope it’s okay we’ve taken over your kitchen.”

“It’s fine.”

Brooklyn brings me a coffee and sits beside me at the counter.

“How did you meet?” Zadie asks. All eyes turn our direction.

Brooklyn laughs. “I crashed my car, and Kip drove up and got me help.”

“Oh, that’s romantic,” Juno says. I feel heat rising to my face.

“It wasn’t really,” Brooklyn laughs. “He took me to a veterinarian.”

“What?” Eli says.

“Really?” Keene says.

“Yeah, that’s who did the stitches and cast.”

“That’s actually awesome,” Declan says. “I wish I had a story like that.”

“Hang out here long enough, and you will,” I say. Everyone laughs.

“Is there not a doctor in town?” Elizabeth asks.

“There is. He was just out on a call that morning,” Brooklyn answers. She sneaks a little smile at me, and it lights up my insides.

“What are you planning to do now, Brooklyn?” Juno asks as she stirs the scrambled eggs.

“I’m not sure. I’ve hit a dead end with my mom.”

Everyone is quiet for a moment. A Secret Service agent walks inside and whispers something to the President who just nods. The agent returns a few minutes later with Hawk trailing behind him.

“Hawk?” Brooklyn says, standing up.

I just nod. She gives me a curious look.

I stand up. “This is my brother, Hawk. Hawthorne, if you like to be fancy. He’s our sheriff.”

The President steps forward, “Pleasure to meet you.”

Hawk shakes his hand. The Sterlings are nothing if not friendly, each of them comes over and introduces themselves and shakes his hand. It takes a full five minutes.

“Pancakes?” Will asks.

“Sure.” Hawk takes a plate.

Brooklyn is still eyeing him suspiciously.