Chapter 28

Brooklyn

I don't know how I get into these situations, but hiding out in the john seems like a perfect idea to me. I have too many other things going on right now to be worried about being accosted by Amber Jenkins, or Dolly Simpson for that matter. Either of them tracking me down isn't on my radar.

I stare at myself in the mirror and take a long, hard breath.

I'm tempted to stop by Eden's on the way home. She may have said she was tired, but I don't like being on the outs with her. I don't want her to doubt me, or my intentions.

But I have the feeling the person she's doubting is herself. And I get we have history, and it's failed before, but things are different now. Not only are we older and wiser, but we're both established in our careers and have accomplished so much individually.

Maybe we were crazy to let things go. But it's done now and we can't go back.

We can only go forward and make it even better this time, if she'll give it a chance.

When I head back out of the gents, the Moose is in full swing. Easton is saddling up and Dolly Simpson is hanging over the barrier trying to get his attention.

I smile to myself. At least she's preoccupied with him, so I can make my escape.

It's then I feel two arms wrap around my waist and I whirl around quickly.

Amber has found me again.

"Hey there, darlin'. I was just heading out."

"But the night's still young!" she protests with a pout. "Come on, let's go for a dance. We can practice those boot scootin' moves. I know you can!"

I unwrap her arms from around me and chagrin. "Not tonight."

"Which night?" She loops her arm through mine and she falls into step with me as I walk across the tavern back to Beau's table.

It's clear she has definitely had a few drinks tonight from the way she's slightly unsteady on her feet and being more giddy than usual. She's never tried to come onto me quite like this before. "You took off at boot scootin' the other day. I was going to ask you on a date," she says.

"A date?"

"You're the hottest Daddy in town, don't you know?"

My eyes widen. "Actually, I didn't know that."

"Believe it." She prods me in the chest. "And I'm going to go all out next week for the auction, Brookland Bassett!"

Brookland? Oh, boy. "My wife might have something to say about that."

She scrunches her forehead in confusion. "What wife?"

"Never mind, it's a long story." I'm sure she'll hear about it soon enough. It's probably spreading around town as we speak. I approach the table and give Beau and Autumn a nod. They're still talking but I'll get the skinny from him later. Owen has taken himself off to grab another drink at the bar.

"Gotto go," I say. I need to get out of here and clear my head.

"I'll come with," Amber giggles.

"That's really not a great idea."

"Aww, why are you in such a rush to leave?" she purrs.

Beau and Autumn look up at us. "I was only stopping for one drink, honey. I'll see y'all later."

Just as I'm leaving, Peggy-Sue, also from boot scooting, comes up to Amber and pulls her by the arm. "Come on Amber, the Moose is about to start."

Phew for that, she's distracted for five minutes. I quickly make my escape.

I step out the front doors and straight into Travis. He's off duty and all smiles tonight for some reason.

"Hey, Trav."

He glances at his watch. "Leaving so soon?" Yeah, it is still relatively early.

"Yeah, I just dropped in to see Beau for a minute. Be careful in there, Amber Jenkins and Dolly Simpson are out in full force. Everyone is trying to snag you apparently."

"Oh, boy." He looks a little bewildered by that. "That's news to me."

"Amber's going all out for the charity auction apparently. I'm a little scared for my life."

He chuckles. "Maybe I should have security on standby."

"Might be a good idea."

"Did you see Gabe in there?"

"Not yet. He's coming down tonight?"

"Yeah. I've managed to tear him away from my sister, for a few hours at least."

"You cool with it all?" I ask. I know Gabe and he have recently reconnected, though they did stay in touch over the years.

"Yeah, I mean, at first it was slightly weird. But not when I see them together. He's a good guy, so I couldn't think of anyone better."

"That's awesome. Well," I sigh and give him a pat on the shoulder. "Heed my warning, Bro, the women are a little frisky in there tonight."

"Good to know." He chuckles and heads off inside.

I stop at my truck and fish my keys out of my pocket when I hear someone behind me.

I turn and get the fucking shock of my life to see Amber again, she's standing behind me with her hands on her hips. She's obviously escaped her friend's clutches and followed me out here. I don't know how many drinks she consumed while I was in the john but she's looking even more bright eyed and bushy tailed now.

"Brook there you are! Not trying to escape, are you?" She bounces towards me and I'm not quite quick enough to jump in my truck and get the hell out of there.

Not that I want to leave her intoxicated on the street, but it's not exactly the Wild West here, or the Bronx for that matter.

"Just headin' home," I reiterate, again. And it would be great if you'd stop grabbing me.

"Why don't you take me with you. I can do things that will make your head spin, just ask my ex-husband!" she chortles.

"I'll take your word for it."

She stalks toward me, her heavy breasts bouncing as I back up against my door. Wedged between my truck and Beau's car alongside mine. "You don't want these?" She grabs both tits and thrusts them towards me as she presses her body to mine.

"Woah, Amber! Stop! You're an attractive lady and all, but I'm seeing someone else."

She disregards that and continues to press herself into me. "You want it, Brooks. I've seen you checking me out at boot scootin' when you think I'm not looking!"

I pinch the bridge of my nose. That is one hundred percent untrue. I may have been a ladies man in the past, but that was before I was interested in my wife again. And Amber has always scared the shit out of me.

"I don't want it, Amber, thanks all the same." I gently force her backwards as she stumbles a little. I hear a car pull up a few doors down and it distracts her for half a second.

"Shhhh!" She giggles as her hands grip her chest again and pulls the deep V slit in the top of her dress aside to expose herself. "Are you saying you don't want these babies?"

I'm momentarily stunned as I'm met with two huge tits with no bra covering them staring back at me. "Holy shit, Amber!" I reach toward her to try and cover her up or something. That's when I hear someone else approach and I quickly turn my head.

Oh. God. No.

It all happens in slow motion.

Amber turns her head too, both her tits hanging out and we're met with a very startled Eden staring back at us.

I slap myself on the forehead with no idea how I'm going to get out of this one.

I look up to the heavens like that's going to help me.

Eden

Just a few minutes earlier

I pull up to Moose's after a quick shower and getting changed into my jeans and a silky black shirt. If Brook is still around, maybe I can redeem my stupidity to him over the phone. I didn't mean to come across as all confused about us. Even if I was scared and still don't know what we're going to do, I shouldn't take it out on him.

I'm sure he has questions too.

What I'm not expecting to be faced with is Juliette's Mom in the lot out front, exposing herself to my husband.

I stand there in shock as he drops his hand from her dress.

Is he actually fucking for real?

A few seconds go by of us all starting at each other, before Brook says, "Fuck, Eden. This isn't what it looks like!"

Amber giggles. "Oops." She makes no attempt to cover herself.

I just stand there and stare, frozen to the spot. No words even escape me as my eyes dip down to Amber's exposed cleavage, where Brook just had his hand.

I don't believe it. It's like catching Kirk in the act all over again. I guess at least this time they're not going at it like rabbits.

Finally a small mewl leaves my lips as I take a step backwards, trying to back away without stumbling over myself. Brook reaches for me but I shake my head and motion for him to back off. "Don't, Brook! Don't touch me!"

"This isn't what it looks like," he pleads.

"Yeah, you already said that, but it looks a lot like that to me!"

Amber turns toward me, still not covering her chest. "I was trying to seduce Brookland!" She giggles. "Give him a taste of what he's missing."

"Yeah, I bet you were," I balk with my hands on my hips. "You might want to cover yourself up before you get charged with indecent exposure!" I can't keep the seething tone out of my voice.

She gapes at me with her mouth open like she's just realizing her boobs are front and center stage.

"Unbelievable!" I cry, turning on my heel and rushing back to my car. Tears spring to my eyes and I can feel my body shaking. I just can't believe this! After everything we've been through, and him knowing about what Kirk did to me just last week!

He's got some damned nerve. We have one phone conversation where I was doubting this whole process, and he runs off to Moose's to get fresh with the next available broad.

I feel his hand on my shoulder but I shrug him off. "Brook, don't!"

"Eden, I didn't do anything. She followed me out here, ask Beau."

"I don't need to ask Beau anything. I know what I just saw and walked in on."

"Clearly you don't."

"How could you do this to me?"

"I didn't do anything! I'll get the security footage from the bar if you don't believe me."

"You know what, I don't believe you. If you were just out for a good time with Amber big tits, you should have said something!"

"I'm not out for anything with her." He shakes his head, adamant. "And I'm not taking the blame for this either, especially when I didn't do anything. Beau wanted to talk to me, that's the only reason I'm here. But I left because he's busy talking with Autumn. Amber followed me and exposed herself. I was trying to cover her up, that's what you saw me doing."

I laugh without humor. "Do you seriously expect me to believe that?"

"Actually, yes. I do."

"Well, you're sorely mistaken if you think you can take me for a fool." I fumble with my keys and unlock the car, ready to climb in and escape, but Brook blocks my way with his large frame.

"Eden, don't do this. I'm not your ex, and I don't want Amber."

I glance over to where his truck is. Luckily two of her friends have come out from the bar and are helping her breasts find their way back inside the fabric of her dress. "Leave me alone, Brook." I shove past him and slide into my seat, starting up the engine as I pull my door closed.

He bangs on the window but I ignore him and back out of the lot, screeching my tires as I take off up the street.

I don't even glance back because what's the point? Tears escape me as I drive away.

Somewhere in the back of my mind reminds me Brook had idly mentioned Amber Jenkins getting a little fresh at boot scooting and on a separate occasion Blake mentioned Juliette's mom has a crush on her dad. I also know Brook isn't a cheater, not that we've said we're a thing yet, but everything I know about him contradicts what I just saw. Could it really be that I walked in on something somewhat innocent?

I shake it off. Amber's breasts on display told a very different story.

I'm such an idiot. I wipe the tears away as they roll down my cheeks and try to ignore the horrible, dull feeling in my chest. Brook is free to do whoever and whatever he wants. I have no claim over him. But then why was he professing his feelings for me and wanting me to think about rekindling things with him again? Would he really risk that for a grope of Amber's breasts right outside Moose's for all to see?

I have no words or explanation for what I just saw. I can only assume.

I pull up at home a few minutes later and while I'm rustling for my keys, Brook's truck rolls up alongside and stops abruptly. I didn't even realize he'd followed me. I quickly try to get my front door open so I can slam it in his face, but I fumble and he comes running up before I can get inside.

"Eden, stop!"

I whirl around and shove him in the chest but he doesn't move. My tiny weight against him does nothing. "I told you to get away from me!"

"And I told you nothing happened! I was warning Travis about Amber and Dolly on the prowl just moments before you pulled up. Amber followed me after I blew her off inside. She'd had too much to drink and exposed herself."

I stare up at him and see in his face he seems to be telling the truth; the serious look in his eyes says it all. It's just a shock to be faced with after everything else that's happened in the recent past. "And I'm just saying after this whole Kirk thing, this is a shock to the system. It feels like it's happening all over again!"

"It's not Kirk all over again, I'm not him!" he says firmly. "I'd never do that."

I push the door open as I can hear Noodle scratching, waiting for me to get in.

"I never said you were Kirk! I said the whole Kirk thing."

"But you're thinking I'm just like him, aren't you?"

"I was shocked to see you and her in the lot, since it's not exactly normal to be topless in the street."

"I was shocked too when she cornered me!"

"Do you even know how that sounds?"

"I don't care how it sounds, that's how it is."

He wedges his foot in the door and proceeds to follow me in the doorway and I spin around as Noodle tries to sidle up to his legs.

"You need to go, Brook."

"No. Not until we straighten this out."

"I think you've done enough for one night."

He runs a hand through his hair and sighs exasperated. "Please?"

"Brook, I can't."

He stares at me with those eyes, the ones I loved for so long, and still love now.

I want to reach out to him. I want to believe him, but I just don't know if I can.

He steps back like I've slapped him and my heart aches. "I'd never do that to you," he whispers. "Just know that."

I open my mouth to speak but he backs away and walks out the way he came in, straight over to his truck. He starts her up and backs out of my driveway before I can even blink.

He's pissed. But can he really blame me? What if it had been the other way around?

I bend down to pick up Noodle, wincing because I'm still very sore from my fall and it's been a few hours since I've taken any painkillers.

"Brook," I whisper, as he drives off into the night. "I love you."