I managed to resist messaging Brooke until about halfway through the movie. When I absolutely couldn’t take it anymore, I whispered, “Will I miss much if I run to the bathroom?”

“Nah, you’re good, go.”

I had my phone whipped out before I’d even reached the room. I probably could’ve checked during the film, but Ainsley hated people going on their phones during movies, to the point where physical violence wasn’t out of the question from her to get the phones put away. Now I’d learned that lesson the hard way, I couldn’t really unlearn it.

Two messages from Brooke.

I feel like absolute shit.

Wanna do something tomorrow?
Sushi or an escape room or literally
anything?

Did I want to? After two months of scrounging around for any free scrap of time Brooke had left over, this was the most beautiful text I’d ever seen.

But, man, it felt really fucking dirty.

Hear me out: Sushi AND escape room?

I love you so much. Yes please. 12?

How was it possible to be both filled with remorse and simultaneously happier than you’ve ever been regarding a decision? It wasn’t possible. And yet, here I was. I felt like I’d finally defeated the boss in a game I’d been playing for months. Ray was gone and Brooke was back and why did I sound like a psychopath—it wasn’t okay to be so self-satisfied after doing a shitty thing.

But it wasn’t super shitty, right? I mean, I was just looking out for her.

Wasn’t I?

Brougham’s comment earlier today about gut feelings popped into my mind. Something told me he was right. If I’d done it for the right reasons, I wouldn’t feel so terrible about it all. I might as well be honest with myself.

Brougham had thoughtfully paused the movie when I left the room, so I hadn’t missed anything. I sat back down in my warm spot, and my shoulder bumped against Brougham’s. Had he been sitting this close to me before? No way, there’d been like five inches between us. He must have readjusted his blanket while I was gone. To my surprise, even though our arms were all but mashed together now, he didn’t make any move to pull away. He must have been as cold as I was.

He stayed right where he was for the rest of the movie, in fact. The warmth of his body made me feel snuggly and cozy, even with the light drizzle outside. Every now and then he glanced sideways at me with a funny expression, like he was expecting me to do or say something, but god only knew what.

When the movie finished, he stretched out like a cat, then climbed to his feet. “I hope I didn’t overstay my welcome.”

“What? No, not at all.”