Page 53

Chapter 52

Brooks

I’m pulling into Lia’s apartment complex for the second time today—it’s been hours but I can’t sit here and do nothing. Definitely don’t think this is my best idea, but it’s the only one I fucking have. I had to delete all the social media apps from my phone because the amount of activity was sickening. Why the fuck do people care so much about things that don’t impact them?

Helplessness hits me as I knock on Lia’s door, a place I know she can’t be. I can basically taste the depression at this point.

I walk to my car after waiting for a few minutes, the snow blowing into my face, and feel the vibration of a text message.

Wes

don’t know if you’re looking for her

hope you are

but she’s at the diner

Finally, I let out a long breath. The diner. She’s with Wes. It’s like my body was in a vice and its grip has suddenly been loosened. My muscles relax bit by bit, knowing she’s okay.

Me

on my way

don’t let her leave

I’m in the car and driving across town, and even just having a destination, fuck, it’s making me feel better. She’s close. She’s not alone. Not that I know what I’ll say when I see her, or how this will end up, but I’ll deal with that later.

All I know is I’ll do whatever I can not to lose her.

I step into the diner and it’s like a magnet—Lia pulls me in her direction like that. I see Wes before I see her. The same waitress we had before stands at the counter, and she grins at me, like she’s happy I’m there. Fuck, I hope she’s right.

Wes sees me and slides out of the booth as I reach them.

“Where are you going?” Lia asks her brother.

He doesn’t say anything but instead moves out of the way. Her eyes land on me and my heart fucking cracks open in my chest. The way she’s struggled the last few days, and now this? She deserves better.

“Brooks, what are you doing here?” Lia sniffles.

I sit across from her. “I’ve been looking for you.”

“You have?” She seems genuinely confused, like she can’t imagine me doing that. “Aren’t you afraid you’re going to get in trouble? Can they suspend you for this? I mean, it sounds ridiculous, but I’m sure there’s some morality clause in your contract and—”

“Lia. Stop.” I cover her hands with my own. “I don’t care about any of that. I care about you.”

Her rich green eyes look around, darting to the walls before landing back on me. I feel her knee bouncing and lightly shaking the tabletop.

“This is your career. Your livelihood,” Lia tries to argue with me .

“I could say the same for you.”

“Brooks.” She rolls her eyes and lets her chin fall forward a little. “It’s not the same. You have more to lose than I do.”

“You’re right. I do. But it’s not basketball. Lia, I can’t fucking lose you . You don’t get to stroll into my life, on the date from hell, and make me fall in love with you. For this to be it.” I lean further on the table. “I need you.”

Her eyelids are heavy as she blinks away the tears. “I can’t ask you to do that,” she protests. Her voice is small and muffled, unlike the bright and confident woman I’m used to seeing.

“Good thing you didn’t ask.”

Lia’s blonde hair falls forward, like her muscles are too sore to keep her head up. I know she’s tired; there’s no way she’s not fucking exhausted.

“They’re saying horrible things about me. About you. About the Jags. Even about Megan. It’s not just about me.”

Lia’s need to consider everyone feels heavy, even from here. She’s so used to worrying about everyone else and putting herself last. “But what if you let it be about you? And not everyone else?” I ask.

Her voice cracks as she answers, “I don’t know how to do that…”

Squeezing her hands even tighter, I quickly reply, “Well, I’m going to fucking teach you how. That way, we can test out this whole forever thing.”

“You say that like it’s easy.” Her hands move from mine, pushing her hair away from her face.

“No, Lia. I say it like it’s going to be worth it.”

For the first time, I don’t feel the push back. There’s no retort on the tip of her tongue or doubt in her glare—there’s space. It’s only a few seconds but they stretch, the string tying Lia and me together pulling tighter.

“What do we do now? ”

“First, I’m going to kiss you.” I slide out of the booth and kneel so I’m eye level with her. “And then I’m taking you home.”

Lia reaches her hand out to me, and I use it to stand us up. My lips crash into hers, telling her more secrets. It’s the kind of kiss which feels like the rest of your life. Like you see can the bones of the montage and it looks fucking perfect.

Her lips are full and press back into mine. My hands find her lower back while she grips the front of my shirt. When we break apart, I kiss her forehead, then the top of her head. She falls into me in a way where I feel like I’m holding her up. It’s like she’s finally given in, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.