𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 |𝟏𝟖+|

3. I'll wait like spring flowers

Brooks' pov

I was not expecting to see her when that door opened. I mean, obviously I was hoping to see her but when the hell did she get the confidence to answer the front door? My sprite was always so timid and scared of the world?

The oversized clothes she wore drowned her slim body but she looked beautiful as ever. I missed her so much, I can't actually believe she's in front of me after a painfully long 386 days apart.

"Hey sprite." I didn't know what else to say as I nervously scratched the back of my neck. Her glistening smile dropped as she was clearly expecting someone who wasn't me.

But something flashed through me. She was expecting someone else?

Before any words could leave her precious mouth, the door slammed shut. I mean, I should've been expecting that, but still.

I went to turn the handle but she'd already locked the door. I'd only ever seen my sprite angry once before, and that was when her brother stole her secret stash of Cheetos. But something tells me that I'm gonna be seeing a lot more of her angry side before our relationship starts to heal. And that's ok. I'm ready to put in the effort.

I rang the doorbell again, but to no avail, she didn't answer. So I rang it again and waited before someone else came and answered it a second time. Seb. Sprites dad. My father in law. Ok, maybe I was thinking a little ahead of myself, but then again, I did say she was my forever.

Sebs face was stoic and unreadable as he folded his arms, staring at me as I felt my body temperature rise. "Hi?" I awkwardly coughed out as he tucked his lip into his mouth.

"Brooks." He nodded at me in acknowledgment, the air between us tensely silent before he surprised me by stepping forward and wrapping me in a hug. It took me a moment to process his action, but as soon as I did, I relaxed and hugged him back. "Don't think everything's alright just because I'm hugging you. You're still the asshole who hurt my daughter."

He pulled away as his words sent daggers through my heart. "Is she ok? Like, honestly?" My voice lowered an octave as regret ran me over like a semi truck.

My pulse sped up as he sent me a look. A look that said too much and not enough. "You'll just have to see for yourself. But between me and you, she's changed." My sprite has changed? But she was more than perfect the way she was?

"Well don't just stand there all day, get your ass in here and face the music." Seb clapped my back as I stumbled over the threshold, anxiety filling my bones as I followed him through to the dining room.

I felt like a deer in headlights as so many pairs of eyes fell upon me when I appeared in the room. Cutlery dropped as the only noise that followed, was the quiet humming of background jazz music playing from a speaker. My eyes did a quick scan, spotting her empty seat between my best friend and. Hang on a second. Him?

"Brooks?" My attention was pulled away as my mother untucked herself from the table and rushed over to me with tears in her eyes. "My baby, why didn't you tell us you were coming home?" I thought it would be easier. "Never mind, you're here now and that's all that matters."

"I missed you." I whispered into her chestnut brown hair, feeling a tear prick in my eye as I squeezed her tighter.

More chairs untucked as Margot, dad and my sisters took turns to hug me. My sisters cussed me out in whisper form whilst Margot clipped me round the ear before kissing my forehead. She was always like my second mother.

Dad stood in line, as my body stiffening as he hugged me. He sensed my tension, "Give your old man a hug, we can talk later." I did miss him, I really did. But some things can't be forgotten.