"I-I understand," I managed to say, I felt my voice trembling slightly. "It's okay." I forced a small smile, even though I didn't feel like it. "We were both just...caught up in the moment."
There was a moment of uncomfortable silence as we both tried to pretend that last night had been nothing more than a mistake.
"Well," Brooke said finally, clearing his throat. There's a lot to do today." He turned to walk toward the door, then paused and turned back to me. "Anna?"
I looked up at him, expecting him to say more. But he didn't. Instead, he just smiled faintly and left the room. The door clicked shut behind him, leaving me alone in the kitchen once again.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. As the weight of disappointment settled heavily in my chest, I couldn't help but wonder if I had read the situation wrong.
I tried to keep myself busy by washing the dishes, mechanically washing and drying them, as if to wash away the memory of last night. My thoughts were a jumbled mess, and I couldn't seem to focus on anything for very long. I could still feel his touch, his lips on mine, his body pressed against mine. It all seemed so surreal, like a dream from which I couldn't wake up.
As I dried my hands on a dish towel, I heard laughter from the living room. It was the sound of Brooke's family, gathered around, enjoying each other's company. A feeling of longing shot through my mind. I missed the feeling of belonging, of being part of something bigger than myself. But I couldn't shake the sense that something had changed between I and Brooke.
I took a deep breath and made my way into the living room. They were talking animatedly about a vacation they had taken last summer. Their faces were filled with laughter, and their eyes sparkled with joy. I felt a tug at my heartstrings as I took in the scene before me. I locked eyes with Brooke and for a brief moment, we shared a look that conveyed more than words ever could, like we were both still feeling the weight of what had happened between us.
"Anna, come join us, don't just stand there!" I heard Mrs Parker say from the table, waving me over. I forced a smile and took a seat beside the young man, Brooke's brother, as I thought. I later discovered his name was Luke. The laughter continued around me, but it felt hollow, distant. I couldn't help but steal glances at Brooke as he listened to his brother's story, his face carefully composed to show interest.
The conversation flowed easily enough, with everyone eager to share their news and catch up. As the afternoon wore on, I found myself forgetting about the incident with Brooke. Instead, I was enjoying Luke's company. He was charming and attentive, always making me laugh with his stories or asking about my life.
Luke offered to give my a tour of the house. It was a gesture that felt surprisingly natural, like we were old friends rather than mere acquaintances. We wandered through the hallways, admiring the family photos and marveling at how much the house had changed since his parents had moved in.
"So," Luke said, leading me into the living room, "what do you think?" He gestured around, his eyes sparkling with pride.
"It's beautiful," I replied truthfully. "Your parents have done an amazing job with it."
"Thanks," he said, taking a seat on the couch. "They really love it here. They've put their heart and soul into making this place a home."
I sat down beside him, feeling more at ease than I had all day. There was something about Luke that made me feel welcomed, like I truly belonged here. I couldn't help but wonder if that was how Brooke felt when he was around me.
"So, tell me about yourself," Luke said, leaning in a little closer. "What do you like to do for fun?"
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say. I didn't really live a very interesting life especially after my parents died. It's been one hustle to the next, except when Stella was tired of seeing my boring at home, she would drag me to the club with her. I didn't want to make things awkward, but at the same time, I didn't want to lie to Luke. "Well," I said slowly, "I enjoy reading, and I'm also really into art. I like to paint and draw in my spare time."
"That's cool," Luke said with a genuine smile. "I've always wanted to be able to draw or paint something that looks halfway decent. I can't even draw a stick figure without it looking like a mutant alien." He laughed, and I found myself laughing along with him.
Our conversation continued for several more minutes, ranging from music to movies to their favorite restaurants.
"Uh-hum" we heard Brooke's voice from behind us.
Luke glanced over his shoulder, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Didn't see you there Brooke, I was just giving Anna a tour of the place," he said casually. "She's been really cool to talk to."
"Oh, yeah?" Brooke asked, his voice neutral. He glanced at me, I could feel my cheeks flush as I averted my gaze.
Luke shrugged. "Yeah, someone had to do it, you know, I'm sure you didn't think of that" He winked at me and I couldn't help but smile.
"Well, I appreciate the tour," I said,"It was really nice meeting you, Luke."
"Likewise," Luke said with a smile. "It was great to finally meet you, too, Anna. I hope we can hang out again soon."
I smiled back, feeling a twinge of guilt at the thought of spending more time with Luke. I couldn't help but wonder what Brooke would think about it. "Me too," I said, my voice a little less sure.
Brooke stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "Well, I'm sure you two have lots more to talk about. I'm just going to go check on Dad and make sure he doesn't get into too much trouble in the kitchen." He offered us a small smile before turning and walking away.
I glanced at Luke, feeling the weight of Brooke's words despite his casual tone. "I should probably help him out, too," I said quietly. "You know, since I'm supposed to be spending time with him today."
Luke nodded understandingly. "Yeah, I get that. Family time and all." His smile was reassuring, but there was an undercurrent of something else in his eyes, "I'll help too."
As we both entered the kitchen, it was immediately apparent that Brooke and his dad had already made some progress. The counters were cleared off, and the dishes were stacked neatly in the sink.
Brooke was standing by the stove, flipping pancakes with a frown on his face. "Did you have a good time with Luke?" he asked with sarcasm.
"Of course she did," Luke said, coming from behind.
"Oh, you're still here," Brooke said.
"You boys still argue about little things." their dad laughed.
Luke rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on, Dad. You know we don't argue."
"Well, you could act a bit more civil to each other," their dad teased, gesturing to the tense atmosphere between them.
I smiled at Mr. Parker. "I'm sure they'll be fine. We're just getting to know each other better." I glanced at Brooke, who was still flipping pancakes, his expression thoughtful.
Luke smirked. "Right." He leaned against the counter, his arms crossed over his chest. "I mean, I don't know why you're so worked up about it, Brooke. It's not like I'm going to steal your girl or something."
Brooke rolled his eyes.
"So uh, how'd you two meet?" Luke asked casually, glancing between I and Brooke. His tone was light, but there was an undertone of suspicion in his voice.
Brooke looked up from the pancakes he was flipping and shot Luke a warning look. "We met at a restaurant," he answered quickly. "I just sort of... approached Anna."
Luke raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really sort of? And how long ago was that?"
Brooke shrugged. "A couple of months ago, I guess." His tone was nonchalant, but he couldn't quite meet Luke's gaze.
I cleared my throat, sensing the tension between us. "So, Luke, what about you? Do you have any lady friend perhaps?" I asked, hoping to change the subject.
"I don't have time for a girlfriends right now," Luke replied, still eyeing Brooke warily. "I'm too focused on my company."
Brooke laughed. "Oh, come on. You're not still hung up on that, are you?"
"Well, you know," Luke said, shrugging nonchalantly. "I've worked really hard on my business, and I've met some interesting people along the way. But you know how it is. You put so much time and energy into something, you don't really have time for a personal life." He glanced at Brooke out of the corner of his eye, noticing the slight tension in his jaw.
I smiled at Luke, hoping to ease the tension in the room. "I can understand that. It's not easy balancing work and relationships." I paused, then added, "But it's worth it, finding someone you can share your life with"
Luke nodded, but there was a distant look in his eyes. "Yeah, maybe. But I'm not sure if I'm there yet. I mean, I've got so much going on right now, it's hard to even think about dating." He turned back to Brooke, studying his face intently. "But you seem to have found someone, huh?"
Brooke shifted uncomfortably, his expression a mixture of amusement and annoyance. "Yeah, well, you know how it is. Sometimes you just click with someone, I guess." He glanced at me, then back at Luke. "Anyway, we should focus on enjoying our time together today. The pancakes are almost ready."
I smiled, hoping to diffuse the tension further. "That sounds great. I love pancakes." I glanced at Luke, who was still watching us carefully. "Don't you?"
Luke shrugged. "I'm more of a bacon and eggs guy myself. But I'm sure they're delicious." His gaze never left Brooke, as if he was searching for some hidden meaning behind every word they spoke.
I felt the tension in the air, but I tried to ignore it. "Well, I'm sure they'll be great with some syrup and a little butter. I've always loved making breakfast for people." I smiled at them both, hoping to ease the awkwardness.
Luke nodded absently, still studying Brooke. "Yeah,"
He started off walking out, "well, I'll be on my way, I have much more important things to do."
As he left, I couldn't help but ask, "What's it with you two…What's it with him?"
Brooke sighed, "It's complicated."
I raised an eyebrow, "Seems like there's more to it than just breakfast." I glanced at Brooke, who was visibly uncomfortable. "Is everything okay between you two?"
Brooke sighed, "It's complicated..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "Anyway, I'm sure it'll all work itself out. You don't need to worry about it."
I nodded, but I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. As I watched Brooke, I noticed the tension in his shoulders, the way he kept glancing at the door. Something didn't add up, and I couldn't help but feel like there was more to the story.
Breakfast was quite awkward. Luke had been unusually quiet, almost distant, and Brooke seemed preoccupied with his own thoughts. I was sure there was some sort of unspoken tension between them. As they ate, I tried to make conversation, asking them about their jobs and their interests, but the air remained thick with an uncomfortable silence.
Just as I was about to suggest that maybe we should all do something else, Mrs. Parker walked in, a bright smile on her face. "Good morning, boys!" she exclaimed, her voice echoing through the kitchen. "I hope you're all enjoying breakfast. I've got the day off, and I was wondering if there's anything I could do to help you with the wedding plans?"
Both I and Brooke looked up at her in surprise, "Oh, um..." Brooke stammered, "well, we haven't quite planned it yet..." He glanced at Luke, then back at their mother, clearly unsure of how much to reveal.
I tried to step in, "We've been meaning to sit down and discuss it, but there's just so much going on..." I trailed off, gesturing vaguely around them.
Mrs. Parker raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "Why not? Are you two having any issues? we can solve it together as a family."
"No, it's not that," Brooke stammered. "It's just...there's a lot to consider, and we haven't really had the chance to talk about it yet." She glanced over at me, I was now studying my lap intently. I didn't know what else to say.
"Nonsense, I see the way you two look at each other, we can start planning against next week!, your dad will be super proud!" Mrs. Parker said, looking overjoyous as ever. "I'll tell the butler to gather everything up! Can't wait!"
"Uh...mom, we need time to prepare everything." Brooke said hesitantly .
"Well, you can start by picking a date, right? Then we can work from there. Or you can just tell me what kind of wedding you're imagining, and I can find vendors to match. You know I have the best connections." She smiled warmly, but the tension in the room only seemed to grow.
"Maybe..." Brooke trailed off, glancing nervously at Luke. "We should...talk about it later. When it's just the three of us."
Luke sat there smiling, enjoying the whole drama, he knew something was up.
"Why not brother, I can be your best man even, next week is fine by me" Luke said smirking.
"Well then, It's settled! The most luxurious wedding is about to happen! Mrs. Parker shrieked.
I and Brooke exchanged glances. There weren't many excuses left, after all we were a couple. We managed to pretend to be happy about the news but I could see the fear in Brooke's face, left alone mine.
Luke, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying the chaos. He let out a small chuckle, shaking his head.
I kept asking myself questions in my head. Was I really getting married next week?? This wasn't the agreement. Brooke never mentioned any of this to me. I was so furious at him right now.
Brooke caught my eye and gave me a small smile, trying to reassure me. But I couldn't help but feel like I was being dragged along in this mess.