—Fragile Moments
➳ Brooklyn Brody
I slipped quietly out of bed, careful not to wake Dylan as I eased myself out of his grasp. His face was peaceful in the dim glow coming through the curtains, so different from his usual composed and businesslike expression. Seeing him like this—soft, unguarded—was a reminder of why I was here, why I had started falling for the man beneath the CEO exterior. I leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead before making my way to the kitchen.
The cabin was silent, wrapped in the muffled quiet of the snowy forest outside. Moonlight filtered through the large windows, casting a soft, bluish glow over the rustic wood and stone interior. I moved quietly to the kitchen and grabbed a glass, filling it with water as I absentmindedly reached for my phone on the counter. I shouldn't have checked it; I knew the articles and comments were still there, but my fingers were scrolling almost instinctively.
The first article was front and center, a tabloid-style headline practically screaming about the "mystery college student" who had captured the attention of New York's most eligible CEO. It was quickly followed by hundreds of comments that stung more than I wanted to admit.
"She's too young for him," one of them read, blunt and almost indifferent.
"Who even is she?" another chimed in. And then, "Just a college student?" The scoffs were practically dripping off the screen.
The more I scrolled, the harsher the comments became, "Typical gold digger, going for a rich guy like him."
I took a shaky breath, locking my phone and setting it down, but the words lingered, twisting my stomach in knots. I knew what I'd signed up for, being with someone like Dylan, but reading strangers' opinions on us, on me, cut deeper than I wanted to admit. I wasn't looking for his wealth, but it felt impossible to prove that to people who only saw the surface.
"Couldn't sleep?"
I jumped slightly, turning to see Mason standing in the kitchen doorway, his face half-shadowed but unmistakably awake. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you," he added, walking over to join me by the counter.
"Light sleeper?" I asked, trying to keep my tone casual.
He grinned. "Yeah, it's a curse. I could hear you tiptoeing around like a ghost."
We stood there in comfortable silence for a moment, the moonlight casting long shadows across the room. I glanced down, feeling like I should say something to break the tension of my swirling thoughts. But before I could find the words, Mason spoke up.
"You know," he began, his voice low but sincere, "I don't think I've ever seen Dylan this happy. In... well, a long time. Probably ever."
I blinked, taken aback by the honesty in his tone. "Really?"
He nodded, smiling a little. "He's usually so closed-off, even with me, and we've known each other since forever. But you've changed something in him."
I felt a warmth rise to my cheeks and looked away, trying to downplay the weight of his words. "I don't know if it's me, Mason. Maybe he's just finding himself after the divorce."
"Maybe," he replied, leaning against the counter with a smirk. "But I don't think that's the case. You've brought out a side of him I thought he'd buried a long time ago."
We both laughed softly, and a memory of our first meeting at that party flickered in my mind. "God, remember how we met? At the party?"
Mason's grin widened. "Oh, I remember. You were standing at the balcony and trying to avoid eye contact with everyone. It was like you were telepathically begging for me to come talk to you."
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Fading Lines | (Line Series, Book 1) ✔️
Roman d'amourLife was never easy for Brooklyn. Having started a new chapter of her life in college with the help of her best friend, Brooklyn is coping well to shake off her past. But when she comes across a prestigious entrepreneur who desires her, Brooklyn's l...