𝐕𝐄𝐗𝐄𝐃 ❷

𝟓. ✭ 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐒 ✭

I got no sleep last night. Not a wink. Even after I'd exhausted myself in the pool, doing lap after lap, a good night's rest evaded me.

I'm currently perched on a stool while Denver makes breakfast. I miss cooking. I miss cooking for people even more. I miss having two specific people to cook for. I look down at the granite countertop of the breakfast bar I'm sat at like it's going to open up and swallow me into a pit of despair.

"Talked to the doctor this morning." Denver pipes up, trying to sound chipper. "Torey is doing good. Still stable."

"That's good." I know he still isn't in the clear though.

"Do you want to see him before we fly out?" I just keep looking down at the counter. I do and I don't. Seeing Torey lying near lifeless, knowing I can't do anything about it, makes me feel a bit hollow and useless. But I also don't want to not see him. "Brooks?"

"Yeah." I nod my head at the granite. "Sure, I'll see him.

"Oof you look like shiiit."

"Adri!" Denver reprimands.

"What? He does. Poor guy looks like he needs a week of sleep. You've got bags for days." I just let out a long sigh because that blunt-as-fuck personality definitely runs in the family. "Want some coffee?" That offer is a surprise.

I look up at her. "Yeah, I could use a cup." After a moment she sets it down in front of me. It's black, just how I like it. "Thanks."

"You seem like someone who isn't into messing around. Figured you'd take it plain." I'm not sure if that's a dig or a compliment. Adriana's words could be taken both ways.

"Morning sunshines." Malyssa says, walking into the kitchen wearing a smile with Luke trailing behind her.

"Yeah, you two took a while coming downstairs." Denver clips, throwing them a knowing look. "Wonder what kind of coming the two of you were up to."

"God ew, dad, stop." She scrunches her face as she looks at the two parents that'd just entered the room. "Anyway, I have a uh... question." The way she says the word with a face full of false innocence has me interested. "Soooo uhm, the guard guy thing posted outside of my room last night... what's, uhh, what's his deal, anyway?"

"Why?" Luke asks with an unreadable mask placing on his face. I don't think anyone caught the way his eyes slightly slid to Denver before it was there.

"Ooooh," she makes two fingers dance idly on the countertop, not looking at anyone in particular. "I don't know. I am just mildly curious about him, I guess."

Denver lets out a loud noise of irritation. "Here we fucking go." He throws a look at Luke that screams 'I told you so'. "What did I tell you?" Luke's face is still an unreadable mask, though his jaw is taught. "Hmm? I told you not to hire that fucking guy but you wanted your eye candy and now look." He waves his spatula in Adriana's direction. "What exactly do you think she's mildly curious about?"

"Den... I— I did not hire him for eye candy."

"Ho ho hoooookayyyy. Whatever you want to tell yourself." He's jealous. I have seen Denver a lot of ways but never jealous. He continues grumbling, "hiring an ex-sex-worker over here, covered in tattoos and is as big as a fucking house. Sure sure, Luke."

"I— I resent that. I hired him because he is physically suited for the job. That's it." Denver lets out an indignant snort at that. "Den..." He looks genuinely concerned now.

"So, what you're saying is..." Adriana interrupts their spat while continuing her little counter finger dance, feigning innocence, "that he is gifted... in the art... of sex?"