The first place it took her was to what could turn out to be a cringingly embarrassing night sharing a room with him after all that had happened. Given the choice, it might have been easier to spend a few hours away from him, to take it all in and think about what was happening.
But maybe, if she'd believed in fate, she might have thought it was a good thing they had to share. Because that way she couldn't run – couldn't take a moment to step back and over think. And even though she's told him she wanted to see what com next, there was no guaranteeing that a little time away from him wouldn't have sent her back to thinking the same insecure thoughts that had had her running from him before. After all, she was working against years of old habits. She could hardly be expected to change overnight.
By sharing she didn't have time to over-think, in the way he had so rightly accused her of doing once before. She just had to live for the moment. Experience it as it happened, without tearing it to shreds.
And even though that decision stopped her cringing, she was most definitely embarrassed. And self-conscious. And nervous. And filled with anticipation.
A lot of conflicting emotions to feel while standing in a tiny bathroom.
She finished brushing her teeth, smoothed her hands down over her stripped pyjamas. And took a deep breath.
"Have you fallen in?"
A smile crossed her face as his voice sounded from the other side of the door.
"I promise not to peek if you're wearing something sexy."
Liar. She laughed softly.
"Though, just out of curiosity, are you?"
She laughed louder, the sound echoing off the tiled walls. "I could just sleep in here, you know."
There was a 'click' from just past the door, and then his voice sounded in a low grumble. 'Lights off. Come to bed."
Oh, and just who was flirting now? After a moment's worth of calming thoughts, she opened the door and used the light from the small bathroom to give her her bearings. She could see the dark shape of Lucas lying in the narrow bed furthest from her, but because the small arc of light fell on the foot of his bed, she couldn't make quite make out what side he was lying on, or whether or not his eyes were open. Until his voice sounded again, husky in the dim light.
"You know, my switching off the light would have worked if you hadn't left that light on behind you. I can see lots with that light in."
Brooke's eyes widened as she realised she was lit from behind. How much could her see? He hand reached for the pull string as she simultaneously launched herself at the nearer bed.
He chuckled beside her.
After some shuffling beneath the covers the room become silent and she held her breath, listening for him. She couldn't even hear him breathing. And then he laughed as they both exhaled in unison.
"Well, this isn't at all awkward." She whispered across at him, turning in his direction.
His bed creaked as he moved. "It's been an eventful day, one way or another."
"Yes, it has."
"We should do something fun tomorrow, to balance it out, don't you think?"
The reasoning brought a smile to her face. She was almost certain he had a smile on his face. As she closed her eyes she could almost see it. The sparkle in his dark eyes, the laughter lines creasing on either side. His face was indelibly pained on her brain.
"You asleep?"
She continued smiling. "No."
"So tell me something I don't know."
"You need more already? You've got more in a few days than most people ever get."
His voice was laced with affection. "I know. So let's try something simpler. Something that no one else knows about you."
Sharing simple details. Was this another example of the intimacy he had talked about? Her heart fluttered. Lying in the darkness with Lucas, talking about things that no one else knew, was intimate. It was sharing. It was trusting someone else. It was another validation of the things that were already there between them. The fact that he was still validating it for them both touched her.
"I brush my hair one hundred times before I go to bed."
His laughter was throaty this time, and sounded so close that it was almost as if his head was on a pillow next to hers. "No wonder you were in the bathroom so long."
She laughed back. "I read once that it was good for the scalp."
"Mmm, a girl thing."
"Like throw cushions?"
"Exactly like throw cushions."
Their breathing filled the silence again. Then Brooke spoke. "Your turn."
"I like chocolate milk on my cereal."
"Oh, so that's were Jamie got that. Or did you get that from him."
"I prefer to think of it as a joint discovery that we will not be telling Haley about." He rustled his covers as he moved again. "Your turn."
She hesitated for a moment. "I'm glad you came with me today. It's the first time I've felt truly connected to someone in a long time."
The confession was met with another rustle. "Give me your hand."
She reached out in the darkness until his warm fingers caught her and held on. He wrapped their fingers together and ran his thumb over the sensitive skin where her pulse was beating.
"I'm glad I was here too."
Her thumb echoed the movement against his wrist. It was enough. Just those simple words and the holding of hands. It was enough after all she'd been through in less than twenty-four hours. And for the first time in years she felt safe.
Lucas heard her breathing deepen, felt her hand getting heavier. And he smiled again in the darkness, more hopeful than he'd felt in years.
"Brooke?" He whispered her name.
"Yes?" she whispered back, in a sleepy voice.
"If you'd worn something sexy I'd have peeked."
She sighed, with a smile in her voice. "I know you would have. I might even have wanted you to."
