Page 28 of Stonewall

Son of a bitch!

“LENNY! WHAT AREyou doing?”I heard a woman yelling. I opened my eyes to see Brooke sitting beside me, causing me to jerk forward, throwing her back.

“How could you do this?”

I looked to see Mary standing in the doorway. Anger and disapproval twisted her usually happy face.

“What is going on? Why are you here?” I pointed to Brooke. “And why are you yelling at me?” I pointed to Mary.

Mary spoke first. “I brought Brooke here to talk to you, Lenny, but I see now it was a mistake,” she snapped.

“Brooke’s here?” I asked, needing to see her.

“Was here. Seeing you with another woman kind of sent her running again.”

“What the fuck is going on? I wasn’t with another woman…” It dawned on me that Brooke, one of the club girls, was beside me when I woke up. “Why were you next to me on the couch?” I glowered at her. I had come in here to sit and had fallen asleep. I didn’t get any sleep last night with things unsettled with Brooke.

She looked pained as she answered, “I came in, and you were sleeping. So I went to leave, and you said, “Brooke” I assumed you knew it was me and wanted me, so I came over and sat next to you. The next thing I knew, Mary and the Brooke I assume you wanted were standing there. I’m so sorry, I misunderstood.”

Fuck! I had to find her and explain. And she has some explaining to do herself. She shut me out, and I want to know why. I brushed past Mary and headed to the bar seeing Shadow there with Marilyn, Gael, and Germie. The latter was playing and had his back to me.

“Did Brooke come this way?” I asked quietly so Gael wouldn’t hear. I would settle things with Brooke and then come get Gael.

“No, but I heard the back door open and shut,” Shadow replied.

“Thanks, man,” I slapped him on the back, heading outside.

I saw Brooke sitting at one of the picnic tables and headed toward her. She turned, hearing me coming, and jumped up, taking long strides in the other direction. I took off after her, and I’ll be damned if she didn’t take off running. I took off after her, catching her easily and wrapping her in my arms with her struggling to get loose.

“Stop, Brooke, you misunderstood what you saw,” I hissed, holding her against me.

“Let me go, Lenny! I trusted you!” she screeched, trying to kick me. Shit, she was a spitfire. I told myself now was not the time to get turned on, but my cock liked her fight and let me know. Add the fact the pretty pink sundress she was wearing was now riding up into indecent territory.

“Brooke, stop fighting, and let’s talk about shit! If I have to, I will tie your ass to my bed until you talk,” I growled and then grunted as her foot connected with my leg. “I mean it, sweetheart, we will talk. The question is how you want to go about doing it.”

I felt her body relax as she realized I wasn’t giving up. We were both breathing heavily, and silent tears ran down her face. I needed answers to what was hurting her. It was more than the misunderstanding in that room. “Are you ready to sit down and talk?” I rasped near her ear while I still held her.

“Do I have a choice,” she sniffled, staring straight ahead.

“No, now come on, there’s a bench at the end of this path that will give us privacy,” I told, keeping a hold of her, afraid she would run again. I’m sure several people witnessed the scene that just took place. I stopped at the bench and sat, pulling her onto my lap, my arms wrapping around her again.

“I can sit beside you,” she grumbled, trying to pull away.

“Hell no! You will sit where I can keep a hold of you so you can’t run off. I want shit straightened out between us. I will go first.” I situated her on my lap so I could see her face. “I was restless, I had been up all night because of you not talking to me, and I went into the room, and since it was empty, I sat down to think, and I fell asleep. The woman you saw is also named Brooke, and when she came into the room, she heard me mumble the name Brooke in my sleep and thought I wanted her; she just sat down when you and Mary walked in. End of Story. Nothing happened or would have happened.”

She looked as if she might not believe me. I watched as her mind worked, more than likely replaying the scene in her head. Then finally, come to a conclusion. “I believe you,” she stated, but her eyes said she was still upset about something.

“Now, your turn. Why did you shut me out?” I accused.

“Are you in love with someone else?” she choked, lowering her eyes.

Where did that come from? “What are you talking about, Brooke?”

“I saw you talking with Mary yesterday, and you had a look that only a woman will understand. So, I asked and was told that you were in love with her and always have been, but she is with Shadow. I was told you stopped having sex with anyone since she returned. Mary talked to me, saying I’m wrong…” her voice drifted off.

“You’re not wrong, Brooke,” I started causing her to try and scramble off my lap. “Stop and listen. Yes, I love her. She is special to me and always will be. And for years, I thought I was in love with her, but since she came back, I have struggled with what my feelings really mean, and then when I met you, it became clear.”

“What do you mean?” she asked so softly I barely heard her.