Page 56 of Broken Pieces

“Geez Rae, see somethin’ you like?”

I quickly look over at Summer as she asks the question. My cheeks flush with heat.

Brooks sits down on the other side of me, resting his elbows on his knees. “She hasn’t been able to keep her eyes off of me since the first time she saw me.”

“That is a lie,” I say to him.

“I recall you givin’ me a few full-on once overs in that ride back to your house.”

“Please, you only wish I was looking at you in that way,” I say. “I was too busy laughing at the way you were obviously thinking about me. I saw how you adjusted your pants when I got in the car.”

“You wish that was what I was thinking about.”

“I know that was what you were thinking about.”

Summer starts laughing next to us. “And to think it took y’all this long to hook up.”

“I have no idea what you’re talkin’ about,” I answer.

Summer glances down at my hips. “Says the bruises on your hips.”

I notice Brooks glance at them and a smile creep across his face when he sees the bruises that he knows he caused.

“And with that look, I am outta here,” Summer says as she stands and gathers her things. “Please don’t have sex in the pool.”

Brooks and I both crack up at that comment as she walks back into the house. He grabs the margarita out of my hand that I stole back from Summer and he takes a swig. “I like seeing those bruises on you. I like it because I know I put them there.”

I swallow at his statement. Mixed emotions flooding my brain. “I’ve had a lot of bruises before. But this is the first time I don’t mind them.”

He gives me a sad smile as he kneels next to my chair. “I don’t want you to think about the bruises from your past that ruined your life.”

I grab his hand and smile. I have nothing to say to him because his words meant enough.

* * *

I wash our dinner dishes and set them in the drying rack. I yawn as I hang the kitchen towel back on its hook. After the sexual activities with Brooks yesterday and this morning, I am beat.

Brooks is sitting on the sofa watching a baseball game. I tell him I am tired and heading to bed, but I don’t think he hears me.

I walk into my bedroom and leave the door open a crack. Not sure if I am leaving an invitation or not. I slip out of my clothes and pull one of Brooks t-shirts over my head. I lay down and start to doze within minutes.

I don’t know how long it’s been since I started sleeping, but the feel of a hand gliding up my leg wakes me up.

“What are you doing?” Brooks asks me.

I open one eye. “What does it look like?”

His hands continue to glide up my body as one grabs beneath my neck and the other behind my knees. “Oh I know your sleepin’. But what are you doin’ in this bed?”

Before I can answer, he picks me up and carries me into his room. He gently places me on the bed and pulls the covers over me. He kisses my forehead and turns to leave.

“Where are you going?” I ask.

“I am gonna finish watching the game.”

I look at him confused. “Then why did you bring me in here?”

He smiles at me. “Because when it’s over, I want to know that you are in my bed. I want to feel the heat of your body against mine even if it’s just us sleepin’. I want to wake up knowing you’re next to me.”

If I could swoon, I would. I smile at him and he walks back over to the bed to give me a chaste kiss on the lips. “Goodnight Blue.”