Brooke lingered in the doorway, watching as Fallon crossed to the wooden crib and slowly placed Gabbi on her back.Turning on the mobile, which had bunnies hanging down over her, Fallon silently tiptoed back to Brooke and slowly closed the door behind them.
A pang of longing hit her unexpectedly.In all her musings, she’d never thought about wanting kids.Of course she did, someday, but this was the first time she felt that biological urge.Did she see herself having a family or did the specter of Aiden linger and shut down that hope?Because she couldn’t envision the scenario with anyone else.
Once back in the hallway, Fallon let out a relieved breath.“Let’s go to the living room.”They settled side by side on the comfortable sofa.“Thank God she’s finally getting used to sleeping in the crib,” Fallon said.
“I bet.”
Fallon met her gaze.“I’m so glad you came to visit.I’ve missed you.Besides, I have something to ask.I don’t know if you’ll agree but now that you’ve admitted you’re not interested in anyone, I hope you’ll keep an open mind.”
“About what?”Brooke asked warily.
Pulling her phone out of her back pocket, Fallon opened her photo gallery and held it out for Brooke to see.A man with dark eyes and dirty blond hair cut short on the sides and longer on top stared back.He had a clean-shaven jaw and a dimple in his chin.
“He’s cute, right?”Fallon asked.
Brooke raised one eyebrow.“You do remember that you’re married, right?”
Fallon slapped her arm playfully.“He’s for you.His name is Mark and he’s a lawyer from Noah’s firm.I want to set you up with him.”
Oh, no.But before Brooke could reply, the front door opened, and Fallon’s husband, Noah, walked inside.The twins weren’t with him, so Brooke figured they’d been dropped off at Charlie and Jared’s house.
“Hey, sweetheart,” he said, coming into the living room and going straight to Fallon.He pressed a kiss to her lips before turning.“Hi, Brooke.How are you?”
She smiled.“I’m good, thanks.And you?”
His grin told the story.“Great.Is Gabbi napping?”he asked his wife.
“Yeah, she just went down,” Fallon said.“And I was showing Brooke a picture of Mark.”
Noah glanced at the screen and shook his head, a frown on his handsome face.“I don’t like that you have his picture on your phone.”
Fallen rolled her eyes.“Maybe I’ll make it my wallpaper so that I have something pretty to look at.”
He let out a growl-like noise, and Brooke snickered.These two had the kind of teasing relationship anyone would aspire to.
While Fallon and Noah talked, Brooke thought about Fallon’s suggestion.She’d been planning on turning down the blind date, hating the idea of an awkward night full of forced small talk.But watching her friend and her husband, Brooke decided to take a chance and say yes instead.
What harm could it do?Maybe it wouldn’t work out, butmaybeit would.Maybe she’d end up with their kind of relationship, one full of love and respect.She wanted a man to look at her the way Noah looked at Fallon.She wanted to glow with happiness the way her friend did.
For that to happen, she had to put herself out there.She had to forget about the infuriating man she’d loved for what seemed like forever.She’d been comparing every guy she dated to Aiden since even before they got together.It wasn’t fair to her potential boyfriendsorto her.
Nor did it help that Aiden had returned and she was forced to see him at work.That he’d cornered her outside her home and brought up the night they’d slept together.She wanted him so much that her entire body had tingled at the memory, but she couldn’t go there again.
She had to move on.
“Okay,” Brooke said.“I’ll go on a date with him.”
Fallon’s jaw dropped, her mouth open wide.“You will?”
Brooke couldn’t help but laugh.“You seem surprised.”
“I am.I thought I’d have to try harder to talk you into it.”
Noah listened to them, his smile wide.“I’m going to check on the baby.Good to see you, Brooke.”Noah started for the hallway.
“Don’t you dare pick her up!”Fallon called after him, but she immediately turned back to Brooke.“So, what changed your mind?I know you were going to say no.”
“I guess I’m ready to try something new.”Brooke shrugged like it was no big deal, but she knew it was.“When can I meet him?”
