Chapter 4

Chapter

Four

brOOKLYNN

Staring at all my clothes on my bed, I can't help but wonder just how fancy this is going to be. My clothes are good quality, but they are not designer. I enjoy chic styles, but I don't necessarily spend thousands of dollars on single outfits. I have a feeling the people who are going to be at this party do spend that much per outfit. It's the freaking Hamptons, after all.

There is a knock on the doorjamb behind me. Lifting my head from the pile of clothes on my bed, I turn and look at Ayden, who is watching me silently.

"What?" I ask.

She shrugs a shoulder. "You're putting a lot of effort into this for a friend ."

"Any of us would do it for any of the guys," I murmur.

She laughs. " Girl ," she warns before she continues. "No way would I rearrange my whole schedule for any of those guys. As much as I like them, I just wouldn't go out of my way like that. It's super inconvenient. And then to have to spend four days with his family? No way."

As much as I want to tell Ayden that she's lying, she's probably not. Ayden wouldn't go out of her way for anyone. I love her, but she's not really known for going above and beyond for much. She loves her clients, she loves her friends and her family, but she's not going out of her way for much of anything.

"He asked me for help, and I'm going to help him," I mutter.

She sucks in a breath, holds it for a moment, then lets it out slowly. "Okay, but you're sleeping with him during these four days away, so make sure you bring protection."

"I'm not sleeping with anyone," I snap.

Mainly because I want to sleep with him so damn badly that I can't even think straight. But he doesn't want me, and there's no way I'm putting myself out there to get rejected. I'm not that girl. The kind who dusts herself off and pulls herself up by the bootstraps.

"Keep telling yourself that," she says in a singsong voice before she turns and walks away from my room.

We leave at nine this morning. We have a flight to catch. Forrest sent me the full itinerary a few days ago, which included all the flight information and theme-night parties.

Yesterday, I spent the whole day shopping when I should have been working. I rescheduled all my clients, knowing I would want to go shopping, which is exactly what happened. I shopped until I dropped, and now I'm trying to put everything together.

I roll my lips a few times then inhale a deep breath. It's time to pack. I think my clothes are ready to go. I know I won't be the best dressed, but I still want to look my best. I want to look like a girlfriend who is trying to impress her boyfriend's friends and family.

And since I actually want to impress Forrest, it's stressing me out more than if it were fake. It feels very real, and as I pack my bag, I start to put in a bunch of extra outfits just in case, so I end up with a bag that I know for a fact will not make weight at the airport. I try to pick it up, but it's just too damn heavy.

"Brooklynn," Karlie calls out from the bottom of the staircase.

Shit.

I don't know how I'm going to get this damn bag downstairs. I inhale a deep breath before I let it out slowly. I have to ask Forrest for help. As I move down the stairs, my gaze searches the living room, but it doesn't take me long to find him.

He's standing across from Ayden, but if he is talking to her, he stops as soon as he senses my presence. His attention shifts directly to me. His eyes find mine, and his lips curve up into a smirk.

I've been somewhat avoiding him since the jogging incident. But there's no more avoiding him now. The time has come, and we have a flight to catch.

"You ready, babe?" he asks.

Babe . I cannot believe he just called me babe, and it came so effortlessly. Like to the point where it sounded natural, organic, and sweet. Shit. And I liked it. So damn much, like to the point where I crave to hear it again.

And again.

Swallowing hard, I give him a small, shaky smile. "I need help with my bag," I murmur.

He chuckles, but instead of getting irritated, he jerks his chin and begins to walk straight toward me. Then he moves past me and heads upstairs. Before I realize what's happening, he's already back downstairs with my bag in his hand.

"Ready?" he asks again.

Flicking my attention to Ayden, I chew on the corner of my bottom lip. She gives me a smile and a sharp nod. I take a deep breath then turn my attention back to him.

"I'm ready," I whisper.

But I'm not. I'm not ready at all.

FORREST

The ride to the airport is awkward and silent. I'm not sure what I expected it to be, but this isn't quite it. I should have canceled this whole fucking party like I did last year and the year before. It's training season, and I should be at practice every day and in the weight room. What I shouldn't be doing is wasting almost a week at some stupid, pompous party.

But if I want my inheritance or at least a chance at getting it before I'm ready for retirement, I need to schmooze my parents. And this is the party to do that. I need to prove to them that I'm not playing a game, that this is my life, and that I can be both successful and happy—but I still need my money.

I'm not sure if my plan will work. I hope it does because working for the family business sounds like pure hell to me. I've never wanted to do that. Never wanted any part of it. My parents have never understood why, but my world is hockey.

It's what I love, what I need to breathe.

I can't give it up, not until my body is so destroyed that I physically can't play anymore.

I park the car and unload the bags, then silently, we walk together toward the airport terminal to check in. I've purchased first-class tickets to the East Hampton Airport, where I've also rented a car so we can come and go as we please, because there is no way in fuck I'm going to be beholden to my parents any more than I'm forced to be.

Once we're checked in, through TSA, and looking for something to eat, I turn toward Brooklynn. She stops, her eyes lift to meet mine, and I can tell she's hesitant. I don't blame her. It's been awkward, and I have to admit that I've felt like a damn bear over this.

"I'm stressed out. I'm sorry," I blurt.

Brooklynn's eyes widen, then her face softens before she takes a step toward me. My nostrils flare as her scent reaches my nose. I want that scent in my nose when I'm deep inside of her.

"I don't understand everything that's going on, but I do understand that you're stressed. But, Forrest, if you want your parents to believe that we're together, you can't ignore me like that."

My lips twitch at the thought of us being together, truly being together, and I can't deny that I want that because I do. It makes me feel like a fucking pussy, but I'm not sure I care, at least when it comes to Brooklynn.

This almost week-long trip is going to test my control more than anything else in my life. I already know that if she gives me the green light, I doubt I'll be able to hold back.

This is probably a horrible idea because whatever friendship we have is going to be null and void by the end of this. We'll either be fuck buddies, lovers, or hate each other—there will be no in-between.

And since I'm not the kind of guy to commit, considering I've never done it before in my life, except for hockey, I have a feeling that I'm going to ruin everything and her. I'll ruin her, and I can't allow that to happen.

Brooklynn is too special. Too bright for me to treat badly. Another reason of the thousands that I haven't taken this physical attraction I feel toward her any further. I'm afraid I'll hurt her, and the sensation is odd. Because I don't think I've ever been afraid a day in my life. I've felt a lot of different emotions, but never fear.

"I won't, Brook. I really appreciate all your help. I know I am asking a lot of you. Clothes and rearranging your whole life, your business, to help me. It's a lot, and I want to say thank you."

Her lips curve up into a grin, and she jerks her chin slightly. "Okay, let's get some mimosas or something… and food, so I don't get drunk."

Laughing, I reach out and hold my palm up for her. Without hesitation, she slips her fingers into mine, and I grasp her hand. Together, hand in hand, we head toward the nearest bar that is within sight of our gate.

The rest of the trip is great. We drink champagne, eat carbs so we aren't trashed, and by the time we land and head toward our car, we are finally completely comfortable. Until I arrive at the gates of the estate.

My stomach twists as I stare at the call box. I could probably put in the code. I doubt it's changed in all these years, but I decide against it.

This isn't a friendly family visit.

And I know I'm not wholly welcome, either, not unless I bow down to their demands. I won't be doing that. Instead, I lift my hand and extend my index finger to touch the call button.

I can feel Brooklyn's gaze focus on my profile. I can tell she's curious as to why I'm not just driving in, but she doesn't say anything. I hear someone's voice over the speaker. I don't recognize it, but that doesn't surprise me. My parents usually hire staff just for this party, and this is probably one of the temporary security people.

After I tell him my name, I am instructed to enter and drive to the back of the estate. It's the owner's entrance, but it still, for whatever reason, makes me feel like I'm some kind of dirty secret. I know I'm not. It's just in my own head. I don't feel like I belong at all. I never have. This isn't my world. I'm just a character in it.

"Ready?" I ask with a heavy sigh as the gates slowly open.

Brooklynn's fingers wrap around my wrist, squeezing me. When I turn my attention to her, she's giving me a soft smile. I flick my gaze to her lips, watching them for a moment, wishing I could kiss them. I bet they have healing powers.

"I'm ready, Forrest."

I'm ready, too, but not to see my parents… I'm ready to make her mine.