She shrugs my hand off of her shoulder. Swivels her chair back around slowly.
“You were right!” she laughs, throwing up her hands. She’s not full-on crying, but a single tear slips from her eye and she quickly wipes it away with her sleeve. “The date wasn’t as great as I thought it would be. The kiss sucked. Are you happy? You win.”
I do feel like I won, actually, but I can’t be happy about it while Brooke looks so fucking miserable.
“Fuck that guy,” I grumble, shaking my head. “You deserve a lot better than fuckingConnor.”
Better thanme, too.
She sniffles, shaking her head. I don’t see any more tears, but I can still scent them and it’s driving my wolf insane.
“It just wasn’t what I expected. It’s not his fault. I built it up too much in my mind.” She pauses, blows out a breath. Steadies herself. “I’m sure the next one will go better.”
I bristle, narrowing my eyes. “You’re going out with him again?”
Brooke shrugs. “Maybe. I don’t know. He’s really nice…”
I slump back in my chair.
“Honestly, I don’t even want to think about it right now,” she sighs. “It just stresses me out.”
She brings a hand up to her temple, rubbing it. Presses her eyes closed.
“You’re wound up too tight,” I mutter. “You need to get out, kid. Do something fun. Live a little.”
I pause, watching Brooke as her eyes flutter back open. I feel like I’ve got an ‘in’ here since ol’ mop top flubbed his date last night, and I’m not about to waste it.
“Let me take you out,” I drawl, flashing her my most charming smile.
Brooke looks at me curiously, like she’s trying to analyze me again. I can see silver swirls in her irises- her wolf peeking out. She gives a little shake of her head. “I don’t think I’m ready for another date,” she says quietly.
I sit up, trying to play it cool, casual. “It won’t be a date, it’ll be an anti-date. Just a couple of friends hanging out.”
She narrows her eyes. “Are we friends?”
“I’m pretty sure you’re my first female friend ever,” I laugh.
And it’s true- I’ve never taken the time to actually get to know a girl before Brooke. And I didn’t even do it on purpose, but now that I know her, I think I fuckinglikeher.
Brooke tilts her head, considering. Bites her bottom lip gently.
“Okay.”
“Yeah?” I ask, a little too enthusiastically. I clear my throat, reining it in a little. “I’ve got patrol tonight, but how about tomorrow?”
She nods. “Sure, sounds good.”
I grin smugly, maintaining my composure- but in my head I’m practically doing a victory dance.
“Cool.”
“But it’s not a date,” she clarifies.
I throw up my hands. “No, not a date. An anti-date.”
I have no fucking idea where I’m gonna take her or what we’re gonna do. All I know is that whatever it is, it has to blow Connor’s stupid ass dinner date out of the water.
I bring a hand up to my chin, rubbing my thumb against my stubbly beard. “How about a motorcycle ride?” I waggle my eyebrows.
