Page 98 of Words of Love
Chapter 27
Flawed internal logic.
Hah.
Brooke stewed and steamed over Sam’s accusation for the next two days—in-between crying and repeatedly picking up her phone and putting it back down again. If he was right about her “internal logic”—and maybe he sort of was, because in her brief moments of thinking straight she did recall saying she was using Michael as a contact—thenshewas definitely right about Sam’s resistance to feelings.
Feelings of love and trust, at least.
She pulled herself together enough to thinklogicallyabout the job offer withClarity. She wasn’t about to let her pride get in the way of a great career opportunity, even if this mess with Sam still simmered underneath it all.
She called Jillian Powers to discuss the contract details, and Jillian told her to take a few days to think it over and come to New York for another visit, if possible. Brooke decided that getting away again would be a good thing, so she booked another flight on her credit card.
Before the transaction cleared, she knew she’d accept the job. She’d be foolish not to. Still, she couldn’t prevent a pang of unease over technically working for the Atwoods. Though Sam had kept a great deal from her, the things he had told her painted an unpleasant picture of his parents and his childhood. She might never know all the details, but her loyalty was still with him.
Even if he had flat-out rejected her love.
That was a sledgehammer to the heart. There was absolutely no bright side to discovering the man you’d let in all the way was not only leaving, but locking you out for good.
The sooner she left Bliss Cove, the easier it would be to start over. That was what she’d intended at the start of the new year, wasn’t it? A clean slate. A new life path. A career boost.
She’d achieved her goals, even if she hadn’t remotely expected the circumstances leading up to her success. She certainly wouldn’t have chosen them.
Oh, yes, you would have.
Not even a sledgehammered heart could change the fact that she wouldn’t have given up her time with Sam for anything. She’d always treasure the Eagle’s Nest cabin, the blanket fort, their shared, whispered secrets, and their Romance 101 course. She’d remember him when she read a romance novel, when his next John Kane book came out, and whenever it snowed.
And she’d try very hard not to imagine whatmight have been, if he’d realized all the lessons about his fictional characters were actually real. If he’d learned love wasn’t a lie. It was a great, glorious emotion that lifted your heart like a sunrise and made you see the world in bright, vivid colors.
Love was big, romantic gestures, yes, but mostly it was everyday things—making coffee with just the right amount of cream, stocking up on lemon-cayenne iced tea even though you didn’t like it, holding hands.
It was forehead kisses, making cookies together, and getting safely home. Love was also complicated and sometimes prickly, but when you believed in it and trusted it, you held on together through all of life’s storms and waves. You didn’t give up. You didn’t walk out.
Brooke would always secretly wish Sam had learned the truth about love. She would always hope, in some way, that he still would. He had too much to give to spend his life keeping the world at a distance.
Three days after their fight—she couldn’t yet bring herself to call it abreak-up—she went to the Meow and Then Cat Café for both best-friend commiseration and cat therapy.
While Aria made coffee and murmured consoling noises, Brooke confessed some of what had happened between her and Sam—namely, that she’d gone and fallen in love with him, and he hadn’t returned the feeling.
“It all happened so fast.” Brooke moved a pillow on the sofa in the Cat Lounge to make room for a large tabby named Velvet. “But in a good way, you know?”
“You two have always had a thing going on.” Aria set a cup of coffee and a box of animal crackers on the table. “Even though you think it happened fast, it didn’t really. You’ve been circling each other for the past year.”
“Yeah, well, I should have known it would be impossible to break down the Great Wall of Bliss Cove.” With a snort, Brooke reached for the coffee. She took a sip and forced a light note into her voice as she said, “Anyway, I’ve talked to Jillian, and we’re getting all the details of the job figured out. I’m going back to New York the day after tomorrow to meet with her and get some paperwork signed.”
“When does the job officially start?”
“March first, but I figure I might as well stay a couple of weeks in New York. I need to find a place to live and plan the move.”
“Hunter knows a lot of people in New York.” Aria sat down and sipped her green tea. “He can help you find something.”
Absently petting Velvet, Brooke murmured a thank you and looked out the window at Mariposa Street. People sat at the tables outside the newly renovated Nico’s, and Destiny stood in the doorway of Moonbeams, chatting up a young, good-looking college student. People wandered around the cobblestone street, looking into shop windows and sipping take-out drinks.
“Hey.” Aria nudged her foot. “Why aren’t you ecstatic over the job offer?”
“I am.”
“You look like you’re about to go to work sealing envelopes in an airless basement.”