Brooke looked stricken, her face pale, splotches of red across her cheeks. “Did you ask her about it?”
“I did. I asked her to explain, and I asked if she thought I wasn’t good enough for her. She said…” His fists clenched. “That I could stand to change a few things.”
Fuck, that had ruined him. He’d left before he could say something he’d regret and gone straight to their apartment, where he pored over her Instagram feed and agonized over every single derogatory comment she’d made about him. As soon as she arrived home, he broke up with her, and he left the city the next day.
“Oh, Jack.” Brooke took a step closer. “I’m sorry she was such a bitch. You must know that isn’t a reflection on you.”
“Isn’t it?” he asked. “Once is a coincidence, but twice? It seems like I have a type.”
He saw the moment his barb struck true.
Great job, Farrelly. You finally got through to her.
He suppressed a twinge of guilt—it wasn’t his fault the truth hurt—and embraced cold satisfaction because her feelings finally mirrored his own.
“If you want somebody who’ll carry you to the camp when you can’t hack it, you can hire someone for the job. I’m not interested.”
She stumbled back, a hand to her mouth, tears filling her eyes. “You were never just a guide to me,” she whispered. “And I haven’t been using you, I swear. I’m not like her, Jack. I know you’re only saying that because you’re upset, and you don’t mean it, otherwise I’d be out of here, but I can’t stand for you to think I’d do that to you. That’s not how it is, I promise.”
Her voice was strangled, and he wished he could believe her, but he’d seen the damning evidence with his own eyes.
“Yeah, right.”
Her arms encircled her waist and she cradled herself. He hated seeing her so small and huddled, but she’d brought all of this on herself.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I shouldn’t have been so open on my blog. That’s just how I’ve always been and I didn’t think to tone it back. I can see how it would bother you, especially given what happened, but I had no way of knowing that, and I really am sorry.”
“Bother me?” he demanded. “You think this is me being fucking bothered? I’m angry as hell.” Disappointed, too. Not that he’d admit it. “You violated my trust. You shared intimate details of my life with hundreds, maybe thousands, of people. How do I know everyone at that event today wasn’t laughing at me? That they’re not all in on some joke, where I’m the punch line?”
“They’re n—”
“Don’t.” His hands fisted again and he willed them to relax. Mad as he was, he would not physically intimidate her. “I knew you were like Claudia from the beginning, but I talked myself into believing you were different. I should have listened to my instincts and stayed away.”
Brooke’s back straightened and her hands went to her hips. She reminded him of a cat with its fur standing on end. “Don’t compare me to another woman. Because you know what? I’m sick of always being judged against someone else’s scale. I’m not your ex, and I don’t appreciate you saying I am, and making assumptions about me. You don’t know the full story.”
He opened his mouth to say he knew enough, and to enumerate the ways in which she was exactly like Claudia, but she stormed past him, threw the door open, and slammed it behind her. Just as Claudia would have done.
He waited for his breathing to even out, then returned downstairs and drained his beer, feeling empty on the inside. All of the alcohol in the world couldn’t fill the Brooke-shaped hole in his heart.
25
“Thanks for coming with me,” Brooke said to Kyle as she touched up her concealer. Unfortunately, there was only so much makeup could do to hide her puffy eyelids, and there was no masking the bloodshot whites of her eyes.
“No problem at all,” he replied from where he was sitting on the edge of her bed. “I’ll always be here when you need it. I’d offer to beat him up for you, except he’s a rugged outdoors type, and I’m a librarian.” He grinned at her reflection in the mirror. “I doubt it would end well. Tione would probably be up for the job though.”
She couldn’t laugh, though she knew he’d intended her to. “I don’t want to think about Jack right now. Besides, it was as much my fault as his.” She pivoted to face him. “What do you think? Do I wear a dress, or go casual?”
“Casual. You don’t want the daughter to be too starstruck.”
At that, she did laugh. As if anyone would be starstruck by her. Gathering jeans and a blouse, she carried them to the bathroom to change. Every part of her body ached, but it was the ache of a job well done. Once she’d dressed, she returned to the bedroom and tugged on a pair of black boots with a little heel, then put a necklace on.
“What do you think?”
Kyle nodded his approval. “I think Jack Farrelly is an idiot for letting you go.”
Brooke sniffled. “Shush. It’s too soon for that.”
He mimed zipping his lips. “Sorry. You look nice. Ready to go?”
She drew her shoulders back and nodded. “Let’s go impress my sponsor.”
He stood, slung an arm around her shoulder and squeezed. “You’re gonna rock this.”
She leaned into him, absorbing his strength. “I hope so.”
“Come on.” He urged her forward. “You can mope later.”
She didn’t argue, knowing very well that she would mope later. And probably curse both herself and Jack. In the foyer, she waved goodbye to Kat, then strode to Kyle’s old Ford and slid into the passenger seat.
“I’m glad you brought this and not the motorbike.” Her makeup wouldn’t have survived a brief ride on the back of his Yamaha. They drove to Sailor’s Retreat, the only restaurant in town, and parked opposite the beach pavilion. When they entered, Brooke scanned the circular tables until she found one with the red-headed girl, Sarah, and headed over.
“Hi, Sarah. Great to see you again.” They’d spoken briefly earlier.
“Hey, Brooke.” Sarah grinned, revealing slightly crooked teeth. She was small for her age, a byproduct of her heart condition, but she had a warm, cheerful personality. “How are you feeling?”
Brooke tested her limbs. “Sore, but in a really good way. No regrets.”
Sarah bounced in her seat. “I can’t believe you actually did it.”
“Me neither.” Brooke tucked her hair behind her ear. “It’s so weird to think that this time last year I was only out of bed for a couple of hours each day.” She glanced at the older couple seated with Sarah. “Why don’t you introduce me to your parents?”
“Oh yeah.” Her cheeks went pink. “This is my dad, Andrew, and my mum, Adrienne.”
Brooke shook Andrew’s hand. “Nice to meet you in person. Thank you so much for sponsoring me, it means a lot.”
He glanced fondly at his daughter. “It’s my pleasure.”
“Nice to meet you, Adrienne.” Brooke nodded to Sarah’s mother, an attractive woman with hair the same shade as her daughter’s.