“Why not?” Ally said as the stylist combed through her hair, making her grimace every time she hit a knot.
“Because it’s too soon. And it’s too messy. I haven’t even told Nick we’re seeing each other, and I haven’t told my parents that Aiden’s Nick’s uncle. It doesn’t feel right saying those three words until everything is out in the open.”
“Then you better start talking to people.”
All three stylists nodded in agreement. If she wasn’t feeling so nervous, Brooke would have laughed.
“I tried. I called my mom, remember?” Brooke sighed. “I’ll call her again after the gala. That’s not a conversation to have at the event.”
“And you’ll tell Nick about the two of you being a couple?”
Brooke met Ember’s gaze in the reflection of the mirror. “Yeah, that’s the plan.”
“The plan?” Ally asked, her voice rising up an octave. “You have a plan?”
“Aiden and I talked about it. He wants us to tell Nick together. It’ll be a lot for him to take in, and we want him to be able to ask Aiden anything he wants to.”
“Oh my God, why didn’t you say so?” This time Ally was definitely squealing. Her stylist wisely put the scissors she’d been holding on the little shelf in front of the mirror. “That’s better than an ‘I love you’ by far. It means he’s serious about you.”
“You think?”
“He wants to tell Nick about you being together, and we all know how much he cares about Nick, so yeah, I really do think.”
The hope budding inside of her began to bloom in her chest. Yes, her life was complicated, and getting more so by the minute, but whenever Aiden was around everything felt so good. As though she could conquer any mountain she tried to climb.
“That’s fantastic,” Ember said, giving her a warm smile. “If anybody deserves a happily-ever-after it’s you.”
24
Brooke stared at herself in the small bathroom mirror as she combed the mascara wand through her lashes, her mouth forming an ‘o’ as she concentrated on not smudging it everywhere. When she was happy with the effect, she slid the tube back into her cosmetic case and grabbed the MAC lipstick she’d worn to a stump, this time spreading the dark pink hue across her mouth.
“You make strange faces when you put on make up,” Nick said, peeking around the door.
She turned to him and stuck out her tongue. “I didn’t know anybody was watching.”
“You look pretty,” he said, taking in her long silver dress. Her hair was swept into the messy updo her stylist had created earlier. All she needed were her earrings and her evening purse and the look would be complete.
“Thank you, darling.”
“And Cora is here. She told me to tell you.”
“You opened the door?” Brooke’s good humor disappeared. “What have I told you about that? If the doorbell rings you call me.”
He blinked, as though he was holding back tears and she immediately felt bad. “I knew you were busy. I was trying to help.”
Her hands shook as she put the lipstick down on the ceramic sink and turned to look at him. Her beautiful boy, with his dark hair and whiskey eyes. Growing to look more and more like a Black every day.
“I’m sorry, honey,” she said softly. “I know you were. There are some bad people out there and it’s my job to protect you from them. I can’t do that if you’re opening the door without my knowledge.”
He nodded, his expression serious. “I only opened it because I could see Cora. I wouldn’t have done it otherwise.” His bottom lip was still trembling. Picking up the hem of her skirt to stop it from getting caught under her feet, she walked over to him and squatted down, reaching out to brush the hair from his face. He was already dressed in plaid pajamas. Beneath his nose was a hint of a milk moustache. Her heart clenched at the sight of him.
Her son. Her love. The thought of anybody hurting him made her fists want to curl up. It was her job to protect him, always.
“Will Uncle Aiden be at the gala?” Nick asked.
She took another ragged breath in. Secrets and lies – she hated them all. They were ropes binding her up until she couldn’t move a muscle. She was going to cut them off her, one by one, and break free.
“Yes, he’s taking me.”