Chapter Eighty-Eight: You Can't Take The Sky From Me
"Wow. Eve and Nina are actually napping at the same time," said Haley in disbelief, descending the main stairs.
"Ryan and Leigh are taking care of Devon and Hayden." Brooke glanced at Haley and raised her eyebrows.
"Okay, this is just weird," said Haley finally, after the four of them had sat together in silence for a time.
"I know. No kids, no pregnancies, no angst. Just... us," said Brooke finally.
"What did we do before the summer of 2006?" asked Haley in wonder. Nathan looped an arm around her shoulders.
"Come on. I have a plan."
"This is your plan?" asked Haley, glancing around in mild disgust. They were in the indoor basketball court of the gym they all belonged to.
"Come on, live a little. Yo, Luke!" said Nathan, holding out his hands. Lucas passed him the basketball.
"I haven't been at a game since senior year," said Haley to Brooke.
"Hey, pass," she said to her husband, who obediently tossed her the ball. She swung it down between her legs and then back up again, missing the net by several feet.
"Don't show me that. If that's your best shot, I might have to divorce you. Come here," said Lucas. He bent down and she sat on his shoulders. He stood, and Brooke smirked down at Haley from her added height.
"Not fair. Nate..."
Nathan passed the ball to Haley once she'd climbed onto his shoulders, and she made a slam dunk.
"Ha, in your face," she said, smirking at her best friend.
Lucas made a noise of alarm as Brooke leaned forward and grabbed the ball. She handed it down to him and cheered as he made a perfect three pointer.
"And that's how it's done," she said dramatically.
"Yes, dazzle them with your athleticism," said Haley. Nathan glanced at Lucas.
"I guess it's better than them comparing our kids," he said, shrugging.
"Please, like it's a contest," said Brooke, from her position on Lucas' shoulders.
"Ha ha. You're freaking hilarious," said Haley dryly.
"She knows," said Lucas confidently.
"But I have to admit, Evie's going to be gorgeous when she grows up. Like her daddy," said Brooke.
"And not remotely like her mommy. That's where Nina comes in," said Haley philosphically.
"Probably. Hey, I think we've excercised enough. Want to go for a steam, Hales?" asked Brooke, sliding down from Lucas' shoulders. Haley joined her.
"Definitely. You boys go drink beer and watch football. Or whatever it is that boys do in their spare time," said Brooke, following Haley to the locker room.
"So, how are things going with you two?" asked Haley, once they were inside the steam room.
"Honestly? Depends on the hour. Sometimes we're totally good, and then other times it's like we speak a completely different language," said Brooke.
"I know what you mean. Like when I got pregnant with Nina, our relationship was nothing more than angry sex and taking care of Eve. But since she was born we've gotten all tender," said Haley.
"And since you told him you loved him," said Brooke. Haley glanced at her in surprise. "Lucas told me."
"I was going to tell you. I was just so surprised to hear myself saying it," she said.
"My God you're delusional. You thought you were in love with Chris for years, and Seamus after that but you never realized you were in love with Nathan Scott? The man you haven't been able to stop thinking about since high school?" asked Brooke in amazement.
"I still haven't admitted to being in love with him since then, so shut up. And weren't you the one who cheated on the only boyfriend you ever cared about?" asked Haley.
"God, don't even talk to it. It still affects us, you know? You can spend your life running for it. You can build the life you've always wanted. But you can never really escape," said Brooke, looking down to her hands to hide the embarrassment in her eyes from baring her soul.
"So is it wrong that I'm totally picturing Haley and Brooke steaming together?" asked Lucas.
"Dude, Haley's my wife," said Nathan.
"Possessive much? I thought you guys were all better," he said.
"We are. Better than you two, by the sound of it. I thought you two would have had another kid by now," said Nathan.
"I guess we haven't gotten around to it," he said, lying badly.
"That's BS," he said simply.
"Yeah, it is. She's not telling me something," he said slowly.
"I don't see how it matters, seeing as you obviously know what it is," said Nathan.
"Yeah. Chris Keller," he said bitterly. Nathan frowned.
"Want me to kick his ass? I have some experience at it," he said.
"No, I don't want you dragged in to this. If you ever want to get some, ever again, you've got to stop punching out the other men in Haley's life," he said.
"You don't get it," he said.
"Don't I? Do you know badly I would have killed that kid, if I'd ever the chance? He's just lucky he was five feet tall, and dying," said Lucas.
"We've kind of grown up. Guess we can't anymore," said Nathan.
"Have you really always loved her?" asked Lucas suddenly.
"When? When I took her to LA to show her off to the world, even when she wasn't mine? When I made out with Davis the day I asked her out for the first time? The day I shot her down when she finally barred her soul to me? Of course," he said.
"You had a pretty bad way of showing it," said Lucas.
"I'd never wanted anyone like I wanted her. I didn't know how to show her," said Nathan. He looked away from his brother. "I still don't."
"You're just lucky you found a woman as clueless as you. Haley has no idea of the depth of what she feels for you," said Lucas.
Nathan frowned. The moment had become too personal.
"The "depth of her feelings for me"? Damn, living with a chick for too long has gotten to you. Pansy."
Lucas shoved Nathan's shoulder. They pulled apart as their wives approached.
After all, they were grown ups now.
On the surface, at least.