[2022 Watty's Shortlist]
*SEQUEL*
Crash & Burn Together
Emmy and Brooks made it work One More Time. Sure, it was messy and not always sexy but that's what their love is about. It's low key unhealthy and high key relatable.
Dealing with Trix and T...
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We slept in all morning and most of the afternoon. Well, is it really sleeping in when you go to bed at 7 AM? Misty purple light filters into my room through the speckled curtains. I can tell it's not sunny outside because it's more of an overcast light. A mystic and magical overcast light that makes my room hazy and dazey.
Brooks walks around my loft, bragging in all his bare-chested glory. I slip into jeans and a sweater before joining him in the kitchen.
"Why the clothes?" He frowns.
"It's called starting my day." I roll my eyes.
Brooks's eyes flicker to his phone on the counter and a grin spreads across his lips. "It's 4 o'clock. PM."
"Sorry. Some bro kept me up all night," I tease.
Brooks walks up behind me, throwing his arms over my shoulder and backing me up into him. I lean my head back into his chest and look up at his chiseled jaw.
"Dinner?"
His whispered voice tickles my ear.
"Mhm," I nod. "You need a shirt."
///
Brooks picks the restaurant –a small organic place closer to downtown. I select a fresh salad to pair with my glass of white wine. Staring at Brooks across the table, I'm flashing back to Corbel Finn. Aka our official first date. A month's worth of dates, I think he called it.
"So," Brooks says mischievously, his fingers pinching his own wine glass.
"So," I echo.
"Should we address the obvious?" He asks seriously, like we're at some business meeting over dinner.
"Yes. We are exclusive," I tease, sipping my white.
"Cheers." Brooks raises his glass to mine.
Clink.
"What else is obvious?" I ask, intrigued by his mood, by his mind and where it's at right now.
"While I will visit you every month forever, I'm just wondering what we should do. Long-term." Brooks leans across the table, smiling.
I study his eyes, trying hard to emulate his soul-gazing ability. His face is still, hard to read, but damn his smile. That ain't hard to read. Open book.
"Rack up miles?" I joke.
"Come on, Ems. What do you see the next year being like? How's this play out?" Brooks asks.
"Well, if we're still on the same page by New Years then I'll consider it a win," I say. I hide my quivering lips behind my wine glass.
