Page 47 of Worth the Fall
EVERYONE DESERVES A WAFFLE
BROOKLYN
Istood there and watched my ex-husband trying to flail out of Tali’s strong grip. It was no use, and I wasn’t even sure why he tried. I couldn’t believe he’d shown up here, of all places, and said the things that he had. Accusing me of cheating on him was one thing. Doing it in front of my coworkers and boss was another.
“I’m so sorry. God, that was so embarrassing,” I whispered to Thomas before turning around to face the rest of my staff. “You guys, I’m really sorry about that. I’m not sleeping with Thomas, and there was no affair.”
“It’s none of our business, but we know you weren’t,” Maribel announced, and a blip of relief soared through me.
“Thank you. I just don’t want any of you thinking that about me,” I said before meeting Thomas’s gaze. “Or him. Us. I mean, there is no us.” I shook my head, clearly rattled by everything that had just occurred.
Looking into Thomas’s blue eyes wasn’t helping matters. He’d gone to bat for me. Stood up for my honor. Actually balled his hand into a fist at one point, and while I shouldn’t have wanted him to sock my ex in the jaw, I wouldn’t have minded one bit if he had.
Hell, I probably would have jumped his bones for it and really given everyone something to talk about.
Rock climbing, here I come.
Goodness, I was a mess.
“Hey, it doesn’t matter what people say,” Thomas said gently. “We know the truth.”
How is he so calm?
“I don’t want people saying that about you though. I’m sorry, Thomas. I don’t even know how you got dragged into this.” I covered my mouth with my hand and closed my eyes, willing this to be some sort of nightmare that I could wake up from. “If you want to let me go, I’ll understand.”
“Let you go?”
I opened my eyes to see him making a ridiculous face before pinning me with those damn eyes.
“Not happening. Probably not ever.”
Are we still talking about work?I wondered.
It was exhausting, attempting to read between the lines, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself from trying anyway.
“Miss Brooklyn, are you okay? Who was that?” Clara’s voice hit my ears, and I looked down to see her watching me with concern as she latched on to her dad.
I sucked in a quick breath before giving Thomas a glance that clearly said I wasn’t sure how to explain any of this to an eight-year-old. Did I just tell her the truth, or did I sugarcoat things to make them more digestible and easier to swallow?
“That was someone Brooklyn used to love,” Thomas answered for me, and I bristled at the wording.
“But he isn’t nice, Daddy,” she said before focusing back on me. “Why would you love him?” Clara asked, thoroughly confused.
Great question, kiddo.
“Well, he wasn’t always like that,” I answered honestly, but still hated the impression I might be giving her. I didn’t want Clara to think it was okay to love a man who was cruel. And Eli had definitely come here, acting that way.
“I don’t understand,” she said, looking up at her dad for an answer he couldn’t provide since it wasn’t his relationship.
“He didn’t used to be so mean.” I tried to explain a little more, but I was unsure if I was making things better or not.
“So, he used to be nice, but now, he isn’t?”
I nodded at how smart this girl was. “Yes. When we lived together, he was much nicer. But when I left, I guess he got a little mean.”