Page 51 of The Sounds of Her
I stare at the diamond ring and the message beneath it.
Roman: While you’re at your friend’s wedding, use your time to get some ideas from her. I had this dropped off at my office.
“So, about that offer,” Brooke says.
“You’re right, Brooke, saying we’re together to the press while we’re a million miles apart will not work. Your mom and this dick will not stop.”
Brooke chews on her lip, her head turned away from me.
Shit, all this joking and talking about faking everyone out is more than talk. This is her life her mom is messing with. I can’t get my head around what kind of parent would do this. For money.
Hell, when my mom left, I said she was the worst person in the world. Abandoning her kids. Danny was only five and blamed himself. I handled it, but my brothers all struggled.
We all turned out okay, amazing in fact, without her. Like Brooke has without hers. Except she is still around, still trying to meddle. I get up and walk around the coffee table, taking a seat beside her, with enough space so we’re not touching.
If this plan is going to work, we’re going to get a lot more comfortable with each other. And we are also gonna have to decide how far it goes. Who do we tell or not tell?
“Hey,” I get her to look up at me. Her eyes are shining, and the tip of her nose is red, she’s trying not to cry, and I hate that. She tries to wave it off, but a tear slips free. “Come here,” I shuffle over and pull her into my arms.
For a tough, independent woman, she curls against me easily. I don’t mind offering her comfort when she needs it. “We can figure this out,” I tell her, stroking her hair.
I’d like to smack fucking Roman Campbell in the face with a sledgehammer. What kind of sick fuck is he? After a few minutes, Brooke pulls away.
“Like I said, I appreciate the offer.”
“So say yes.”
“Archer.”
“What? We’re friends. Friends help each other out. You’ll be doing me a favour too.”
“Nowhere near as big a favour as you’re doing me. Plus, it’s not as if we’re going to pretend to be together just to make mom back off. You’re… you. This will be big news. How do we manage it? How do we maintain it without anyone finding out it’s not real?”
“Brooke, I don’t give a shit what the press thinks. And neither of us is dumb. I can act fine. Question is, can you handle it?” I lift a brow.
I guess appealing to her competitive side helps because her eyes narrow and she sits up straighter at the challenge. I hide a grin. I’m not lying, doing this for her won’t hurt me in the slightest.
“How would it work?”
“First of all, kiss your relaxing vacation goodbye.”
“What does that mean?” she leans away from me.
“You’re coming to Australia.”
“Are you joking?”
“Not even a little bit.”
“I can’t go to Australia.”
“Why not?” I shrug. “You’ve got another week of vacation time, no one says you have to be locked away in a secluded beach hut.”
“My vacation is supposed to be relaxing.”
“Going on tour with a world-famous rock band isn’t relaxing?” I lift a brow.
“Not even a little bit,” she repeats with a smirk.