Page 37 of Healing Hearts
The question hangs in the air, and I find myself wanting to answer. "I don't know, man. It's... different with her. She's not just beautiful, she's... intriguing. Smart. Kind. But there's something else, too. Like she's holding back a part of herself."
"Sounds like you're pretty smitten," Reid observes, taking his turn at the table.
"I think I’m more than smitten," I admit, surprised by how easy it is to say that out loud. "But I don't want to screw this up. What if I'm reading too much into it?"
Reid straightens up, his expression turningserious. "Look, man. I've seen you go through some real rough patches. But I've also seen how you light up when you talk about Brooke. My advice? Jump right in with both feet."
His words resonate deeply, and I nod, mulling them over. "Maybe you're right. I just... I can't shake this feeling that there's more to her story."
"Then give her some time to tell it," Reid says, clapping me on the shoulder. "Good things are worth waiting for."
I smile, feeling a weight lift off my chest. "When did you get so wise, Lawson?"
"Must be all those medical journals I read," he quips, lining up another shot. "Now, are we gonna finish this game, or are you gonna keep daydreaming about your librarian?"
I laugh, picking up my cue stick. "Game on, buddy. Just don't cry again when I wipe the floor with you."
The bell above Hoopla's door chimes, and my heart skips a beat when I see Brooke walk in. Her red hair catches the warm light of the bar, and her eyes sparkle as they find mine. She’s stunning, in that effortless, understated way that has me completely captivated every time I see her.
"Well, well," I say, leaning casually against the pool table, a grin tugging at my lips. "I see I have a damsel in distress needing saving.”
Brooke raises an eyebrow, her lips curving into that playful smile I can’t get enough of. "Actually, I heard there was a knight in shining armor in need of saving himself. Though you seem to be handling yourself just fine."
I set the pool cue against the table, stepping closer to her, close enough to catch the intoxicating hint of her floral perfume. It’s subtle, soft, and completely distracting. "Maybe I was just waiting for the right moment to be rescued."
She tilts her head, a teasing gleam in her eyes. "Is that so? And what would this rescue entail, exactly?"
The challenge in her tone, the spark in her gaze—it’s all too much to resist. My pulse quickens, and before I can overthink it, the words are out. "How about a midnight boat ride?"
Her eyes widen, surprise flickering into excitement. She glances towards the door, then back at me. "That sounds... adventurous. Are you sure we can do that this late?"
I take her hand in mine, marveling at how perfectly her fingers fit between mine. Like they were meant to be there. "With you? Absolutely. Hell, it’s my boat. I can do whatever I want to with it. What do you say we get out of here?"
“Nah, thanks for asking, but I’m not feeling like going out on the water this time of night.” Reid waves us off sarcastically from the other side of the pool table, where he’s nursing his third beer.
“Sorry, dude. This is only a boat ride for two.” I shake his hand and flash him a grin, before turning my full attention back to Brooke. “Thanks for the beers and the games.”
Reid chuckles deeply, calling after us as we head for the door. “Try to keep him honest, Brooke.”
She glances over her shoulder, throwing him a mischievous smile. “No promises.”
Reid’s laughter follows us as we step out into the cool night air. The salty tang of the ocean carries on the breeze, mingling with the faint sounds of laughter and live music drifting from the bar. Hand in hand, we make our way toward the marina.
The quiet anticipation between us is electric. I steal glances at Brooke as we walk, the moonlight catching the delicate curve of her cheek, the way her hair moves with the breeze. She’s breathtaking, and I wonder if she feels the same pull I do—a magnetic force drawing us closer, like it’s impossible to resist.
Once we’re on my boat, I start the engine, the low humblending into the peaceful symphony of the harbor. The water is calm, the surface reflecting the stars above like a mirror. Brooke moves to the bow as I maneuver us out into the Atlantic Ocean, her silhouette framed against the endless expanse of the night sky. The breeze plays with her hair, and I have to remind myself to breathe.
"You know," she calls over her shoulder, a playful lilt in her voice, "I half expected you to have a saxophone hidden away on this boat somewhere."
I laugh, stepping closer to join her at the bow. "Sorry to disappoint you. It’s at home. Although, I could always serenade you with my stunningly terrible vocals instead."
She giggles, the sound light and melodic. "I think I’ll pass on that offer, but thanks anyway."
The boat glides effortlessly through the water, the harbor lights growing smaller behind us as we venture farther into the open ocean. The stillness of the night wraps around us, broken only by the gentle lapping of waves against the hull.
Brooke leans against the railing, her arms resting on the edge, her gaze fixed on the horizon. I watch her for a moment, caught in the way the moonlight dances across her features. There’s a vulnerability in her quiet moments, a softness that makes me want to protect her, to hold her close and never let go. I take a breath; the realization hits me hard and fast.
I’m in love with Brooke.
