BROOKS PULLS out my chair and holds out a hand, motioning for me to sit. Thank God the cocktail hour appears to be over and the guests are settling around the table, because my ability to stand is severely compromised right now.
The saying about going weak in the knees must have been coined by a woman whose best friend went feral for her.
That’s what just happened, right? I don’t know how else to explain it.
Brooks literally lost it on his uncle. He claimed me. Caressed me. Kissed me in front of the man.
But why? I’m not even sure if he knows the truth of what happened between Seb and me. If he did, he’d be kicking me out, not pulling me close.
It’s obvious by his protectiveness that he heard something. But what? And how much? And what the hell is his plan?
Brooks settles in the chair next to me and grasps my hand. It takes a second for him to extricate it, since I’m wringing both of them in my lap. But once it’s free, he tugs it up and onto the table with a loud thwap, drawing the attention of the guests near us.
Across from me, Liv licks her lips and eyes me. She’s obviously fighting a smile, but her dark eyes are wide and filled with joy. I’m not sure what the hell I’m even supposed to do with my face. Five minutes ago, I was crying in the bathroom. Now my best friend is claiming me.
His words from earlier hit me. That comment about me being the one to say thank you if I just so happened to witness him come. In this moment, I believe it, because he is something else.
Who is this man and what happened to Saint Brooks?
My tongue feels too big for my mouth, and it’s like I’ve forgotten how to use my body parts. I can blink, but that’s about the extent of control I have over myself. My nose is itchy, but I don’t dare scratch it with the hand Brooks has practically glued to his own.
When the server comes around to fill our water glasses, Liv smirks. “Hey, Brooks. You think you can let go of your girl’s hand long enough so that she can fill her water?”
Brooks drops his chin and assesses our hands, like he’s surprised to see that he’s still holding me so tight.
With a sigh, he peels his fingers from mine. “Sorry. Here.” He picks up my glass and hands it to the server.
I take the opportunity to scratch my nose in case Brooks grabs for me again.
Seb saunters into the room, head held high, buttoning his jacket. He only hesitates when he takes in the open spots at the table. One next to his wife, and the other closer to our end of the table.
For a second, I think he’s going to sit near us, and my stomach bottoms out. Blindly, I grasp at Brooks’s hand and then lean into his arm.
“You okay?” His tone is soft, the anger that laced every word only moments ago all but gone.
“Yes, thank you.”
He shifts in his chair and takes me in, his green eyes studying me like he’s seeing me for the first time, as if he’s cataloging every inch of my face. Then he cups my cheek and strokes my face reverently with his thumb. “Thank you.”
My breath hitches, and tears burn at the backs of my eyes at his gentleness. “For what?”
Angling closer, he dips his chin and holds my gaze. “For being here. For staying.”
“You’re my best friend. You told me to follow your lead.” I swallow past the lump in my throat. “I trust you.”
Something about those words must settle him, because his forehead hits mine, and he closes his eyes as he takes a deep breath.
Across from us, Gavin chuckles. “Well, that’s one way to announce a relationship.”
Brooks huffs a breath of a laugh and opens his eyes. This time when he focuses on me, there’s a spark there, something akin to joy. A knowing glint in his emerald irises. Like he’s looking forward to whatever he’s going to do next.
It’s impossible to look away from him, even as he does just that. He turns, though his forehead still slightly kisses mine, and clears his throat.
“Figured that since everyone would be here tonight, this would be the perfect opportunity. Ya mind if we steal a little of your thunder, Dad?”
Oh my God. What is he doing?
I don’t have a clue what’s going on, but my heart trips over itself, and a smile consumes me, unbidden. Because this version of Brooks is fun. He’s always calculated, always thinking five steps ahead. Always in control. But for the first time, he seems like he’s enjoying his calculations.
Preston shakes his head, but he’s wearing a knowing smirk. “It’s about damn time.”
Beside him, Monroe sits straighter and beams. “Couldn’t be happier for you both.”
Confusion washes over me at their reactions.
What the hell?
Beckett grins and loops an arm around Liv. “I’m going to take credit for this one.”
“You take credit for the relationships of every person you know.” Gavin groans. “Please explain to me how you could possibly have led these two together.”
Beckett sits up taller and drops his forearms to the table, settling in. Oh, here we go.
“You tried to force me to admit my marriage to Liv was fake by asking her to travel with the hockey team. You remember that, right?” He glares at his brother. “And I put my foot down, because I’m amazing. I told Liv she was staying home, and that decree led to Sara taking over the hockey team.”
Beside him, Liv rolls her eyes and chugs her water, probably pretending it’s a big glass of wine.
“She’s worked with us long enough to know that we Langfield men are the best of the best, so naturally, she already knew she needed to get one of her own. Since Brooks is only slightly less good-looking than me, it makes sense that she’d fall madly in love with him once they started working so closely together.”
Beaming, Beckett scans the group. The rest of the guests are wearing expressions that range from amused, with smirks and twinkling eyes, to annoyed, with pinched brows and frowns.
Finn is the one to break the silence. “You’re silly, Bossman.” He holds out a fist, and Beckett taps his against it, taking it as his tacit agreement, it seems.
Then Beckett is back to assessing us all, waiting for confirmation of his theory with his brows raised.
Aiden’s the next to speak. He pushes back in his chair and huffs. “No way is Brooks the second best-looking Langfield. That distinction goes to me.”
I surprise even myself when I laugh. These freaking Langfield men. Aiden isn’t even arguing for the title of best-looking Langfield brother. He just allows Beckett to maintain that status.
Honestly, all four brothers are drool-worthy in their own ways. I just happen to be partial to the man beside me. Always have been. There’s just something about those goalie thighs. Not to mention the messy bun and friendly smile.
“Actually, it was Uncle Seb who brought us together,” Brooks says, squeezing my hand like he’s silently urging me not to panic.
Sebastian straightens in his chair, smoothing his tie, and his wife, completely oblivious that a cheating scoundrel sits beside her, perks up. “Aw, hunny. Have you been keeping secrets?”
A sarcastic laugh puffs from my lips. Eyes wide, I slap a hand to my mouth quickly and cover it with a cough.
Without missing a beat, Brooks picks up the water in front of him and hands it to me. He waits until I’ve taken a slow sip, then lets out a steady breath. “’Fraid so, Aunt Zo.”
“Well, don’t keep us waiting,” Sienna begs, picking up her wineglass and holding it out toward her brother.
Beside her, the grumpy man leans back in his chair and scrutinizes us. The clarity in his expression makes me wonder if he can see through this whole façade. If so, he seems like the only one. The rest of the people here, minus Seb, are wearing smiles and watching us eagerly.
“Recently, Uncle Seb reminded me that the people in our lives are what’s most important. Not our careers or accolades, but the relationships we have. He really got me thinking, and that’s when I realized that I didn’t need to wait to have everything.” He squeezes my hand and focuses on me, and I swear to God, I feel the words as he says them. “Because she’s right here.” With a sweet smile, he brings my knuckles to his lips and plants a soft kiss there, never looking away.
My heart flip-flops in my chest, and I think I swallow my tongue.
“Aw, Seb. That’s beautiful,” the cheater’s wife says. Or at least I think that’s what she says. My hearing may be out of whack since my heart is beating so loudly the energy coursing through me could power a Lake Paige concert right now.
Brooks doesn’t say things he doesn’t mean. Until this moment, I truly didn’t believe he possessed the ability to lie.
I was so, so wrong. This man must be an expert-level liar, because he even has me believing that he thinks I’m his everything.
“Too bad we’re going to have to move Sara to another department,” Seb says, stealing the air from my lungs.
As if he actually gives two fucks. He’s not nearly as good at lying as his nephew is. How am I just now noticing this?
Gavin frowns, swirling his glass of whiskey. “Why would we have to do that?”
Brooks sits up straighter. As he does, he grips the seat of my chair and pulls me closer. “Yeah, what’s the issue, Uncle Seb? Last time we chatted, you didn’t have a problem with Sara being involved with someone on the team.”
My stomach sinks. Apparently he heard everything.
I swear I’m on a goddamn roller coaster. My heart has gone from light to aching to shattered tonight.
Brooks knows about Seb and me, yet he looked me in the eye and told me it was all okay. See? The man is possibly the most talented liar I’ve ever met, because there’s no possible way he’s okay with what I did.
“She can’t handle PR for you if you’re dating, now, can she? Not when she’s part of the story.” Seb has his elbows planted on the table and his fingers steepled. His full attention is fixed on Brooks, like I’m not even here.
Liv laughs. “I suppose I should resign, then, since my biggest pain in the ass—er, client”—she waggles her brows at Beckett—“happens to be my husband.”
Beckett doesn’t even growl. The man just grins at her. It’s so weird seeing him so relaxed and okay with Liv’s teasing. Even after his overconcern about his wife being hugged too tightly, I think the pregnancy has made him even more relaxed.
He throws his arm around Liv and tugs her close. “She’s right. And if anything directly involving Sara pops up, Liv can handle it, just like Sara does for us when it involves Liv.”
Liv winks at me. “I’ve got your back.”
I lick my lips and force a smile. She wouldn’t if she knew about the real scandal.
All these people who are jumping to defend my job would be chasing me out of the city of Boston if they knew what I was to Sebastian.
I hate what he made me.
As if Brooks can feel my self-loathing, he squeezes my hand and presses his lips to my forehead. Then he turns back to his uncle. “We’re a team, and teams stick together. Right, Seb?”
I don’t hear Seb’s response, because Brooks has lowered his forehead again. He’s watching me intently, those green eyes full of all sorts of secrets.
I want to unravel every one. I want to know what he’s truly thinking. But part of me is scared to death that I won’t be able to handle the truth when it all finally comes out.
