To Brooklyn, With Love (Completed) - Finding You Book 2

Brooklyn

A knock wakes me. My eyes shift around until I get my bearings and remember that I'm not in my shitty little apartment. I've been here for a month, but it still doesn't feel real.

His home is beautiful and it makes me feel like I'm living someone else's life.

The sun is bright, even through the blinds, and I squint toward the small nightstand on my right to grab my phone.

It's 6 a.m. and there's no way in hell I should be awake. I set my phone down, close my eyes and pull the blanket over my head. If I don't answer, they'll go away. Right?

He knocks again and I whip the blankets down to my waist in frustration, staring up at the ceiling.

It's not like he needs me for anything.

He definitely doesn't need me more than I need sleep.

I've made it clear since the day he insisted I stay at his home that I would stay out of his way. While he's invited me to dinners and to watch television with he and Sophie, I've declined every time. But I've found notes on the kitchen table telling me to eat leftovers, and not a dinner has gone by without him asking me to come.

The truth is, I want to.  Truth is, one of these days I'm going to say yes. 

He's kind and Sophie is adorable, and I wouldn't mind having people to spend time with, but I'm scared of fucking something up. My past is haunting me, and I think about it too much.

They've opened their home to me, and I could never say thank you enough, but I'm not here to butt into their lives or to play house. I'm already worried about confusing Sophie.

Harrison keeps telling me he likes me around, and I just keep telling him I'm only here until I know it's safe to go home. 

We're pretending. He reminds me nearly every day. We're pretending we're dating so his parents get off his back. We're pretending it's getting so serious I moved in, even though the real reason is to keep me safe from those out to destroy Nick. I can only imagine what we might up pretending next, but it's working.

I haven't heard a word from Nick yet. Harrison's family seems through the moon about us every time he talks to them, but we haven't been out together since. 

It's almost too easy. Something's got to give. Nothing ever goes my way for very long.

My gratefulness and appreciation for Harrison is real. The way I look at him is real; I just can't let him know how much I sometimes with we didn't have to just pretend. But he still wears his wedding ring as if Lindsey will walk through the front door at any given moment, and the beautiful photographs of her on the walls are a constant reminder that I don't really belong. 

Another knock. This man will be the death of me.

"Brooklyn," he says just barely loud enough for me to hear.

"She's. Not Here," I say, robotically. "Please. Check. Back. Later,"

"C'mon, Brook," I can hear the smile in his voice and I cave. "I need to talk to you,"

I let out another long breath and sit up, eyeing the teal hoodie slung over the foot of my bed. I tug it over my head. It's so long it completely covers my short shorts. I run my fingers through my hair before opening the door.

"Morning," he says with a big smile and my eyes immediately find the mug of coffee in his hand. It smells like heaven, and I wrap my hands around the mug and bring it to my lips without hesitation. 

"Coffee thief," he says, and I lower the mug and look up at his eyes. His playfulness is sexy. He is sexy.

"I thought it was a peace offering, you know, because you woke me at 6 a.m. on a Sunday," I say, raising my eyebrows as I take another sip. "What's the emergency?"