Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 81113 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81113 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Michael didn’t look all that pleased about it, but he didn’t put up a fight, either. “We can compromise,” he said. “For now. You can stay in our spare room, the guest room, and we won’t tell Brooke until you’re ready.”
I breathed a sigh of relief, my chest loosening. “I appreciate that, Michael, really I do. I just don’t think…I think we have to be careful about how we break the news to Brooke, that’s all.”
“Fair enough.” He stepped closer to me, his hands falling to my hips. “I have to warn you though, I’m not going to be able to be patient for long.”
“Oh?” I asked, half teasing him.
He shrugged, smirking at me. “Where do you think Brooke got her inability to keep secrets, anyway?”
I groaned, but I didn’t want to fight him on this. We would figure out a way to tell Brooke—I didn’t want to hide my relationship from my best friend or my boyfriend’s daughter. It wasn’t fair.
Was Michael my boyfriend? Was that the right word to use? It sounded a bit… juvenile, honestly. Boyfriend felt like something you called your significant other in high school, not when your significant other, your lover, was twenty years older than you were and you were both professional adults.
In any case, I knew that we’d have to tell Brooke eventually. I just… wanted it to not be all at once. I wanted to break it to her the right way, at the right time, so that she didn’t feel lied to or betrayed.
Michael kissed me, soft and slow, making my knees go weak, and I knew that I wanted to be with him. And we were going to find a way to make it work, with Brooke, with everything.
I let that hope buoy me up and carry me as I got into the car and drove back south - back towards home.
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Michael
I didn’t like keeping secrets from my daughter.
I hadn’t ever liked it, of course, and I’d always been honest with Brooke about things. But especially after what her mom did, I took extra care to never hide anything from her. I was honest with her when I was struggling in the wake of Virginia’s betrayal. I was honest about how the restaurant was doing. All of it.
So while I could understand Stevie’s fears about telling her, I wanted to let Brooke in on everything right away. Why couldn’t she be happy? She was getting a little sibling, something she’d always wanted, even if it was about ten years later than expected, and her best friend was going to be even more a part of the family than before. And Brooke had always been encouraging me to move on and find someone. I also knew for a fact that she’d been trying to get Stevie to see someone for ages, bemoaning to me several times the fact that Stevie refused to go out and try to meet potential dates.
I felt even worse when we got back and Brooke nearly cried with relief at seeing Stevie. “Oh my God!” she shrieked, nearly tackling Stevie in her enthusiasm to hug her.
“Ah, Brooke, hon, careful, the baby,” Stevie said, laughing and gently loosening Brooke’s grip on her.
“Oh my God, sorry, sorry!” Brooke took Stevie’s hands in hers. “I’m just so excited and glad and you’re here!” She looked at our two cars laden down with stuff. “And you’ve got all your things?”
“I’m moving back,” Stevie said. “Andy’s got someone staying with him. Michael, your dad, said that I could stay in the guest bedroom with you guys? I’m coming back to the restaurant.”
Brooke shrieked again and hugged Stevie tightly. “I’m so glad, I’ve missed you so much! Go on inside and put your feet up, oh my God!”
After Stevie did what she was told, Brooke grabbed me and hugged me just as tightly. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I know that you did that for me—and I know I’ve been upset with Mom and all but you really didn’t have to, and I’m so grateful. Thank you.”
Fucking hell. Now I felt even worse about lying to her.
Brooke pulled back. “And I think it’s really generous of you to help Stevie like this. I’m so grateful for all of your concern, and thinking of me, and—and I know she’s tried to put on a brave face but she really could use the help and I know she’ll be so much happier with us here than she was at that other place. You’re the best dad in the universe.”
She kissed my cheek, and then ran inside to grab Stevie again.
I felt so guilty it was like an animal was chewing on my stomach. Fuck.
We all had dinner together, making it together almost like a family, and my heart ached to see it all play out. I could easily see it happening for the rest of our lives, although, I hoped Brooke would move out eventually and find her own place, make her own family as well. But for the time being, the three of us, eventually the four of us once the baby was born… I loved that idea.