The Secrets That Bind Us

Chapter 20

BROOKE POV

I wake up the next morning and Joey is still sleeping soundly, I can’t help but feel hurt at what he was doing last night, am I not desirable anymore to him? Does he prefer touching himself to me touching him? I get out of bed with a groan and go to pee since my baby thinks my bladder is a squeeze toy.

I try to forget about last night but I just can't. I don’t want to talk to Joey about it because he was clearly embarrassed, which is actually very un Joey like. I want him to know he doesn’t need to be embarrassed but I just need to know why. So I think of the only logical thing I can, I pull up my girls group text. Now I know two out of three of the people on this message chat are his sisters but they all have no idea what boundaries are anyway so I figure they won’t mind.

Girls

Brooke – okay I have a situation and I could use some advice. Its about Joey and its sensitive so I will only tell you if you are all okay with hearing this.
Chloe – I’m good.

Mia – dude, nothing he does surprises me

Grace – it’s Joey, nothing shocks me.

Brooke – okay so, last night we went to bed, I woke up a couple hours later because I couldn’t sleep. Found him in Nates old room in a let’s say, compromising position.

Chloe – oh.

Mia – yeah, I’ve been in that situation, at least he isn’t your brother, that makes it a lot more awkward.

Chloe – I mean, I have caught Parker before.

Mia. – I’ve walked in on Nate beating his own meat more times than I can count.

Brooke – what if he doesn’t find me attractive any more?

Chloe – did you actually see him, you know?

Brooke – no, but I walked in and he couldn’t of shut his laptop any quicker. He was still fully clothed so obviously hadn’t gotten to the good part. He didn’t come to bed for another 2 hours!

Mia – jeez, that long?

Chloe – maybe it’s not what you think?

Grace – he was watching vampire diaries.

Mia – sorry, what?

Brooke – that wouldn’t surprise me to be honest, but how do you know that and why did he have a box of tissues next to him

Grace – we share a Netflix account, and he’s almost at the episode we’re elena and Damon say goodbye when he goes to the prison World.

Mia – that actually makes a lot of sense, he is a massive delana fan

Chloe – that would account for the time period too

Brooke – well, I feel better about myself anyway, thanks guys it means a lot I can talk to you, gonna talk to Joey, I’ll let you all know how it goes.

I put my phone away as I hear Joey come into the kitchen, “morning beautiful” he kisses my cheek. “Joey we need to talk, no embarrassment necessary, just answer the question” he looks at me worriedly, “oh.. May?”

“did I walk in on you.. Um.. Pleasuring yourself last night? He looks at me confused for a moment, then bursts into a fit of laughter, “you thought?” laugh. “that I” laugh. “no.” I give him a pointed look at he sobers himself but the grin on his face is still trying to break through until I burst into tears.

He comes straight over to me and puts his hands on my cheeks, “heyy, whats wrong?” Im sobbing now, “I’m sorry I know this is ridiculous, but I walked in on you last night and I don’t know, I felt unattractive, like you would rather do that than sleep with me. Then this morning I text the girls for advice, please don’t be mad about that, and Grace said you were watching vampire diaries instead.”

He looks embarrassed then confused, “I’m going to pretend you didn’t tell my sisters and my brothers girlfriend you thought you caught me about to give Joe Jr a handshake, because well I would tell them too, and you couldn’t be further from the truth, I find you so attractive I sometimes think my pants will rip. Especially more so now your carrying our child, but are you crying because I watch vampire diaries because that is a deal breaker for me”

I look at him and the tears come even harder, I can’t stop them at this point. “I’m crying because I’m pregnant and hormonal, and your sweet, but you watched vampire diaries without me”

He gives a slight chuckle and hugs me, “I’m sorry, promise to always watch it with you in future.”

I calm myself down, straighten myself up and look him in the eye, “thank you, but I can’t believe you’re a delana fan, stelana all the way” he has never looked as serious as he was does in this moment, “I can’t have a baby with a woman who choses stefan over Damon, you need to move out” he smiles and kisses me on the forehead, “I’m joking, but our son will be team delana.”