Page 40 of Broken Pieces

Chapter Nineteen

Brooks

I didn’t mean to overhear the conversation Rae was having with her sister at the pool. But I was just rounding the house after finishing cutting up some wood that was needed to repair a fence when I heard her talking.

I know I was a dick to her yesterday, and I did apologize. I am sure she doesn’t remember my apology. But when I walked in that door last night and saw her passed out with an empty whiskey bottle next to her, I couldn’t ignore her.

As I got closer, I saw that she was sleeping at an awkward angle and would definitely have a sore neck the next day. I also saw her puffy eyes and knew she had been crying.

I might be a dick, but I don’t want to be the reason a girl cries. I heard her murmur the name Tyler, a pained look crossing her face while she dreamed. I took it upon myself to move her. It was the least I could do for being an ass to her earlier in the day.

Although I am still trying to figure out how she knew I was on probation.

I am no eavesdropper and I am not a gossip, but when I heard her say the name Tyler, I stop in my tracks. Despite the lies I told myself, this girl was getting to me. I don’t know if it’s because of the way her green eyes glow when she’s angry or the way she looks so happy when she is baking, like nothing could bring her down.

When I hear that name, I have to stop. I want to know more about her. I want to know why she is so closed off to the world.

And I understand it now. She lost someone close to her, someone she loved, and she blames herself. Maybe that is why I am attracted to her. We are both battling the same demons. Killing ourselves over the idea that we killed the ones we love.

After she gets off the phone, I can hear her crying. I don’t want to scare her, and I am not even sure I should bother her after that phone call.

I peek around the corner and see her finish off a margarita. I am surprised she is drinking after she drank half my whiskey last night. But that call she was on would make me want to drink too if it was me and all the memories of Leigh came flooding back.

I decide to take the high road and be a gentleman, sort of. I walk around the house to the front door and walk into the parlor room and make her another margarita. I grab myself I cold beer from the minifridge under the bar and head toward the back door.

She is a sight for sore eyes, I’ll tell you that. Her bright blue bikini plays off her tanned olive skin. Water glistens on her body and her honey colored hair is fanned out around her head. She looks like a goddess. A goddess I would very much like to get my hands on. A goddess I want to know more about.

The thought scares me. I haven’t wanted to get to know a girl in almost three years. Not since I lost Leigh.

I clear my throat as I walk up to the pool. It still scares her because she jumps, losing her balance on the floatie, and flops into the pool.

“What the fuck, Brooks?” Sunglasses cover her face hiding her gorgeous eyes from me. She wipes at them under the glasses, I am sure pretending water got in them when I know for a fact it’s tears.

I hand her the margarita when she swims over to the edge of the pool.

“Is this supposed to be a peace offering?” she asks me.

I shake my head. “No, the peace offering was me moving you into your bedroom last night, so you didn’t wake up in a shitty position with a sore neck.”

She downs a large gulp of her drink. “Thanks for that.”

I sit at the edge of the pool and take my work boots off. I roll up my jeans and stick my feet in the cool water. “I saw you out here and saw your empty drink. Figured you wanted another.”

“Thanks,” she says as she sets the glass on the deck and crosses her arms in front of her on the pool ledge. It causes her ass to rise in the water and I can’t help but glance at the perfectly round ass.

“I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation on the phone earlier.”

“Were you eavesdropping on me?”

I sip my beer. “I didn’t mean to. I had every intention of walking away, but then I heard you crying.”

She looks away from me, distancing herself from our conversation.

I ponder over my next question, unsure if I should ask it. But it’s been driving me crazy since the last time we were at the pool. Her mention of loss and after hearing Tyler’s name mentioned a few times I can’t help but ask. “Who’s Tyler?”

Her head snaps back so quickly in my direction she could give herself whiplash. Even though her eyes are covered by sunglasses I can see the wrinkle between her eyes, the telltale sign she is glaring at me.

“You mumbled his name last night before I carried you to bed. And then I heard him mentioned in your phone call.”