Page 149 of For the Boys
Brent’s eyes widened as his mother joined their group. “Mom,” he said, jaw tight. “You remember Berkley?”
Sandra turned to Berkley. “Of course I do.” She swooped in for a hug, kissing Berkley on the cheek. “Hello, dear. Congratulations.”
“Thank you, Sandra,” Berkley said, dazed.
“I’m sorry, what is going on?” Berkley’s mom asked.
Sandra swiveled toward her and stuck out her hand. “Sandra Jean,” she said. “You must be Michelle! It’s so nice to finally meet you!”
Then Ron, Mackenzie, and Nate walked up. More hugs were exchanged and introductions made.
“What the hell is he doing here?” Logan asked when he joined them. “And who are these people?”
“We’re Brent’s family,” Nate said through clenched teeth. “Who the hell are you?”
“I’m Berkley’s brother,” Logan said, stepping closer to Nate.
“Okay, boys,” Sandra and Michelle said in unison. They shared a look and burst out laughing.
Berkley didn’t find it nearly as funny. Her mind was spinning with the appearance of the Jean family. Why were they all here? This was certainly not the time or place for this. Berkley glanced around, catching eyes glued to their little group and the scene they were making in the middle of the crowded lobby.
“I was hoping to have a conversation with Berkley,” Brent said, his eyes locked on hers, ignoring their families completely. “If she’s interested.”
“Of course she’s not interested,” Logan said. “And you’re not welcome here.”
“Logan,” his dad scolded.
“Why don’t we let them decide that?” Sandra said. “We’re intruding on what should be a very private moment.”
Berkley looked around at all of the people gathered, gaze darting back and forth between Brent’s family and her own. The breakup had been quick but certainly not painless. More than once over the last two weeks, she had almost convinced herself to run to Brent and beg him to take her back. To be fair, she hadn’t even given him a chance to speak his piece. She was hurt, yes, but maybe she had overreacted.
And God, she missed him. She missed him so much that every part of her ached to touch him at that moment. She felt the pull, the thing that had always been there between them, whispering to her to come home.
“I am interested in a conversation, yes,” she said. She turned to her family. “I’ll meet you guys at my apartment when I’m done. Then we can go out to eat. Sound good?”
Logan opened his mouth to protest, but their mom cut him off. “Sounds good, honey. Call us when you’re headed our way.”
“Will do,” she said, hugging her mom and Jessica and kissing her dad on the cheek.
Logan pulled her into an embrace and whispered in her ear, “If you need me to kick his ass, just call.”
She shoved him away and gave him an eye roll. “Bye, Logan.”
“See you soon.” As her family walked away, joined by Brent’s, Berkley watched as Sandra and Michelle linked arms, talking animatedly to one another.
That’s a dangerous alliance, Berkley thought, a small smile playing on her lips.
“Want to take a walk?” Brent asked, turning her attention back to him.
“Sure,” she said. He led them to the exit and out onto the crowded sidewalk. They didn’t speak, too intent on maneuvering through the crowd, but when Brent reached back to grab her hand so she didn’t get lost in the bustle, a jolt shot up her arm at the contact.
He dropped it as soon as they were clear, and she mourned the loss of his skin against hers.
“So, how have you been?” she asked, then cringed.What a stupid question, Daniels.
He let out a harsh laugh. “Really? The love of my life breaks up with me without even letting me fight for her, and now she wants to know how I am. Well, Berkley, since you’re asking…” He stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and whirled on her. They were standing in front of an empty lot, which seemed as good a place as any to hash this out. “I’ve been fucking miserable.”
Did he just call me the love of his life?she thought, careful to keep her growing smile in check.
