Page 82 of Broken Pieces

Chapter Thirty-Two

Brooks

I dropped Rae off at her brother’s house earlier. I was surprised he didn’t come out with a shotgun when he saw me pull in the drive. Needless to say, I didn’t stay long.

I decide to get Rae out of my head by meeting my brother at the Cellar for a few drinks.

“Will you quit sulking and pay attention?”

I look at my brother and grab the pool cue from him.

“What’s gotten into you?”

I shake my head. “Nothin’.” I line up my shot and sink the ball into the side pocket.

“Well, something has gotten into you since you made us come to this shitty bar to play pool rather than playing at home.”

“Just lay off me, man. Really it’s nothing.”

“You’ve been spending a lot of time with Raelynn recently.”

His words cause me to miss my next shot. I take a drag of my beer, “No more than any other girl.”

He just grins at me. “You sleepin’ with her?”

“What the fuck, man?”

He shakes his head as he lines up a shot. “If you weren’t sleeping with her you woulda just told me no.”

“If I was sleeping with her, I wouldn’t have denied it.”

“That means she is lasting more than a night.”

I laugh, “Despite what you think I have slept with a girl more than once.”

He grabs his beer and gives me a stern look. “But not since Leigh have you spent time with a girl outside of the bedroom.”

“Don’t fucking bring her up.”

“You like Raelynn then? More than just a few romps in the sack. I’ve seen you spending time with her. Awfully convenient that she is staying in the cottage with you too.”

I tighten my fist not wanting to discuss this with him. I know I haven’t spent this kind of time with a girl since Leigh, but can I even compare the two? I was in love with Leigh. I thought I was gonna marry her. Despite the fact we both had problems, I knew it was me and her forever. So why does her name not make me feel things anymore? Do the feelings I have for Rae outweigh the feelings I had for Leigh? Every minute I spend with her makes me forget about every other thing in my life weighing me down. But that’s all she is right? A distraction? I can’t really love her despite what I felt yesterday.

“Fuck man. You have feelings,” Brett says.

“No, I don’t,” I say as I grab the pool stick and look for a shot.

“You were just lost in thought for a long time. I know that face. You like her more than you want to admit.”

“No, I don’t.” I am in love with her.

“If that’s true then why do I see you eating breakfast with her every morning before I start work?” He questions me. “I never saw you eat breakfast before going out on the farm. But every morning for the last few weeks you have been in the kitchen eating with her as she prepares for the guests.”

I rub my hand over my face. “It’s just her being nice. She likes to cook for me.”

He guffaws, “I’m sure she likes to do more than just cook for you.”

I drop the pool stick and slam the rest of my beer. “I don’t care what you think. I know what is going on. You don’t. It’s a thing. That’s all it is. Get over it.”