Crumbling

BROOKE

I’m not ready to talk. I don’t think I’ll ever be ready to talk. “No,” I say and hope maybe that’s enough.

He stops walking and turns our bodies to face each other. I know what’s coming. “Colin—”

“Brooke! Just listen, then. It’s no secret how I feel about you. And yes, I broke things off with Natali. Not just for myself, but for you.”

Colin cups my face and pulls me close to him, resting his forehead on mine for a moment. I feel his warm breath on my face, sparking goosebumps over the rest of my body.

He pulls back and forces my chin up to look him in the eyes. “I want to show you I’m not like everyone else. I want to show you what it’s like to be treated like a queen, like you deserve.”

I shake my head, trying to force my eyes from his. I can’t let him suck me in.

Hold strong, my walls. “Colin, I—I can’t…I can’t go down this road again.”

“I know you feel something for me. I know you’re fighting it. You’re afraid of letting someone in, letting anyone in, but I promise you, I won’t hurt you. Just give me a chance. Please.”

He searches my eyes for an answer, and I know he’s hoping I’ll say yes and give myself to him. I’m torn. There are so many emotions swirling around in my head.

“Brooke. I want you.” Colin’s hand caresses my face; his finger moves down my cheek and glides across my lips, making them tingle at his touch.

He keeps his eyes on me, leaning his head into mine and closing the distance between us; then, I feel his warm lips press against mine.

It feels like time stands still for a moment as I taste the sweetness of his mouth. He parts my lips with his tongue, and I know; if I let him in, it will all be over.

I’ll get sucked further into his abyss. I’ll melt right here in front of him—and I can’t let myself fall like that again. I turn my head away, breaking our seal.

“I—I should go,” I whisper, though I don’t make a move to leave yet.

“I don’t want to pressure you,” he says. “I’ll wait. As long as it takes, but I won’t stop trying to prove myself to you.”

I simply nod, not knowing what to say. We walk back to his house silently. The darkness of the sky shades his eyes, but I can still feel them on me.

“Oh, there you both are. Brooke, honey, Sydney fell asleep on the couch,” Roger says when we get back to the house.

“Oh, dear. We should get going anyways.” I walk over to the couch to pick up Sydney. “It was nice meeting you all—”

“Colin, why don’t you have them stay over?” Denise suggests.

“Oh,” I start, “no, we—”

“I think that’s a great idea, Mom!” Colin interrupts.

“No, really.”

“Why not? It’s a forty-minute drive back to your house,” Colin argues.

“No, seriously! You suddenly have a house full of your family, and you should enjoy your time with them,” I insist, looking for any excuse to leave.

“Yes, and Sydney’s having a great time with them too, and I have plenty of guest bedrooms,” Colin answers, his eyes boring into mine, willing me to say yes.

I give him a look, but like always, he doesn’t seem to get the hint. “How about this?” he offers, with the air of someone sweetening the pot. “You stay over, and tomorrow, we can do some physical therapy.

“And I still have to show you some training for Luna. Now that the expert is here”—he looks over to his mom—“she can help!”

I continue glaring at him. “Come on, it will be fun!” he says with a smile on his face and grabs my hand in his again. But I just keep glaring.

“Look, I promise I won’t try anything with you, and you’ll sleep in the farthest room away from mine. Come on, please?”

I can’t hold onto my glare after that—I burst into laughter at his innocent persistence. But really, I think it’s his puppy eyes that sucker me in the most.

“If anything, I should sleep with Sydney,” I say, taking my hand back. “If she wakes up, she’ll get scared not knowing where she is.”

“So you’ll stay?” he asks with a beaming smile.

“Fine! Only to do your physical therapy exercises tomorrow!”

His smile grows bigger but turns devilish. “Watch a movie with me tonight, and then I’ll agree to physical therapy tomorrow.”

“You just don’t know when to quit!” I throw my hands on my hips.

“Not when it comes to you.” Something in his eyes, his smile, the way he looks at me, or the way he won’t give up, makes my heart twist so tight it feels like it’s going to burst.

I end up agreeing to the movie before arguing with Colin again about who’s carrying Sydney up to bed. I win that one, though. I’m not letting him strain his foot for Syd’s sake.

I tuck her in, and then change into the oversized T-shirt he loaned me to sleep in. I figure I’d rather be comfy if we’re watching a movie before bed.

God, the shirt smells like him. As if I’m wrapped in his arms. I just might have to steal this shirt. I keep my leggings on so he doesn’t get any ideas, and rinse my face off before heading back downstairs.

The house is finally still, most of the lights off; everyone’s gone to bed except for Colin, who’s surfing the channels while he waits for me. Luna lies curled up on his lap on the couch.

“Find anything good?” I ask, taking a seat on the far end of the couch.

“No. Here, you find something,” he says and holds out the clicker just enough so I have to move closer to him to reach it.

I give him a look. “I know what you’re doing.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re too far away to reach, and you wouldn’t want me to move your comfortable little Luna, would you?”

Jesus. I knew I was a sucker for Syd’s puppy eyes, but why are Colin’s pleading eyes just as powerful? I move closer and grab the remote from his hands. Payback is a bitch, though. I surf the channels looking for a sappy chick flick.

Turns out ~When Harry Met Sally~ just started ten minutes ago on Lifetime. Perfect.

“You look good in my shirt, by the way,” Colin says, not raising any protest as I set the remote aside and admire Meg Ryan’s big eighties hair.

I tuck my legs under my body, curling in on myself. It’s cold down here, maybe because of the ocean wind through the open screen door. He notices and pulls a blanket from the storage ottoman in front of him.

“Come here,” he says, pulling me closer. I don’t protest this time, huddling into his side so he can cover both of us with the blanket.

Not long after that, he’s at it again, testing what I’m comfortable with. He stretches his arm out and drapes it over the couch, then shifts so it’s over my head, finally bringing it down to rest on my shoulder.

I look over at him, silently questioning him with my eyes.

“What?” he protests. “This is what guys always do in these cheesy romance movies. Is it working?”

On-screen, Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal haven’t touched at all yet, but I throw my head back, laughing hysterically at Colin’s cheesy attempt. “You’re such a wiseass!”

He starts running his fingers through my hair. I want to look at him, to ask again, ~What are you doing?~ I should probably tell him to stop, but every time I try, I just lose my willpower.

After a few minutes of struggling with myself, I give up and drop my head to rest on his chest. His touch feels so nice, so comforting, so relaxing. I can’t tell him to stop.

I haven’t felt this relaxed in God knows how long. Just a few more minutes, then I’ll put an end to it.

But for now, my whole body feels like a cloud, floating away…drifting off to sleep.