Part 21 (1/2)
”Don't tell her I said that.”
”I think you need to tell her.”
I gulp. That's a really big deal. The biggest.
”Let me deal with this house thing first,” I tell her.
”There are some real estate agents listed on this website. Do you want me to write down the names and numbers?”
I nod. ”Thanks.”
Fifteen.
Brooke ”How's the rehab going?” Harper asks as she enters my bedroom.
”You mean the torture?” I reply as I get up from the exercise ball. I've been forcing myself to do all of the exercises my physical therapist recommended because I really want to get back to normal as quickly as possible. Well, as normal as I can be anyway.
”You seem to be getting around better.”
”I'm still walking like someone who's a hundred years old and just p.o.o.ped her pants.”
”It's better than not walking at all,” she offers.
”Harper and her silver lining for every s.h.i.+tty cloud. I knew you wouldn't be able to resist.”
”We're packing up and getting ready to leave for the charity concerts.”
I heave a sigh. ”I still feel guilty about Leo not going because of me. It's not right...”
She places a hand on my shoulder and to my surprise I don't flinch. Maybe I'm getting used to people really caring about me, even if I'm still not sure if I deserve it. ”Leo cares about you. He wants to be there for you. Let him do that.”
”But the band is his life,” I protest.
I can see in her eyes she's holding something back. ”Tell me what's going on,” I urge.
”Even though you're both too stubborn to admit it I know the two of you love each other.”
”And that's the problem isn't it?”
She laughs. ”Why is that a problem?”
”How are two broken and damaged people like us supposed to make a relations.h.i.+p work?”
When she rolls her eyes at me I'm actually a little insulted.
”I'm being serious.”
Her eyes soften. ”I know you are. But what you don't seem to realize it that everyone is broken and damaged in some way. It's one of the hazards of being human.”
”You and Nic aren't. You're both perfect.”
She scrunches up her little nose. ”Far from it. We deal with issues like everyone else. Nothing is ever going to be perfect. You just have to do the best with what you've got. And you, Brooke Rhodes, have got Leo. You can try to push him away all you want, but he's not going anywhere.”
I grin. ”I guess I am stuck with him.”
”For the long haul.”
I find Leo in the guesthouse studio with the guys and Raven. It's a frenzy of packing various pieces of equipment and instruments.
As soon as Leo spots me his eyes go wide and he practically leaps over to me. ”Where's your walker?”
”I decided to start moving around without it.”
”You should be using your cane then.” His voice actually sounds panicked.
”I'm fine,” I insist.
”You're not fine. You just started moving around without it. You should have called me so I could walk with you. To make sure you don't fall.”
”It took some effort, but I made it here.”
He kisses my cheek. ”Don't even think you're walking back without me.”
”It looks like you're busy helping the guys.”
He shakes his head. ”They've got Darrow to help. You need me more than they do.”
”Did someone say my name?” Darrow gives me a huge, fake grin. The guy's teeth are so white I practically need sungla.s.ses when he opens his mouth. ”How's it going, lovely lady?”
I don't want to be rude, but the guy gives me the creeps. There's no doubt he's good looking in a politician sort of way. If he ever ran for office he would easily win on looks alone. The guys said he's from a very wealthy family and that he graduated from Julliard. He definitely looks like a spoiled rich guy who's always had everything handed to him on a silver platter.
Leo is shooting daggers at him with his eyes. ”She's fine.”
Completely ignoring Leo, Darrow has his full attention on my body. Even impaired he's looking me up and down like a hungry lion. It makes me want to vomit.
”I heard you're a Friend of Bill W.”
Leo's eyes turn to angry slits. ”Where'd you hear that?”
”I told him.” Raven sidles up to Darrow and snakes her arm under his.
Leo and I glance at each other. Clearly we're both wondering the same thing: what in the world is going on between them.