Chapter 6
I'm pulled out of a very pleasant dream involving Brooke Davis and a jacuzzi tub by the phone ringing. The clock shows a bit past two in the morning. I grab the phone. It's an upset Brooke, with a baby crying in the background. "Hello?"
"She won't stop crying. I've tried everything. I mean, everything!" By the tone of voice, Angie is not the only one who's been crying.
"Just hang in there I'm coming... no." It's early Saturday. Taylor is not coming home for another couple of hours. "Sorry. I don't have a car. Can you drive?"
"Sure."
"Come over."
"We'll be there in twenty."
"Drive safely, Pretty Girl." She growls and hangs up.
She gets in, wearing a dirty t-shirt over exercise shorts, flip-flops, bed hair and no make-up, eyes red with lack of sleep and crying. Still, she looks stunning. Damn. I embrace her coming out of the car, and she melts in my arms. I give her a kiss on top of her head and push her away, holding her shoulders. "Hey."
"Hi."
I decide to get right down to business. "When was the last time she ate?"
"She had half a bottle around ten. Then she started pushing it away. She's been crying since."
I take Angie out of the car seat, and try to comfort her. Angie is whimpering weakly, clearly very uncomfortable. We walk inside, Brooke carrying Angie's bag. I set Angie down on a changing mat on top of my bed, Brooke looking anxiously over my shoulder. I change her diaper, not that she needed it. It's more of an excuse for a thorough inspection. No visible rashes. Also no fever. Her breathing appears normal. It could be an ear infection, but that would need a doctor's visit to check. I try to give her a bottle, but she refuses, clearly too wound up to eat. I'm beginning to think Emergency Room when, in a sudden flash of inspiration, I decide to put my finger in her mouth. Centered in her lower gum, two small, hard bumps. I can't help it. I laugh. Two girls frown at me, both offended.
"She's teething, Pretty Girl."
Brooke turns her frown to Angie. "Teething? Couldn't you just tell me, you little bitch?"
She looks so upset, I laugh again. So, her annoyance turns to me. "So, baby oracle, what do we do?"
"Grab me a bowl with ice water and a dish cloth."
"Right away, o great, wise one."
She is still tense when she comes back with the water and the cloth. Angie is restless, whimpering in my lap. I dip a corner of cloth in the ice water and wrap my little finger around it, sticking it in her mouth and massaging her sore gum a little. Brooke keeps watching us like a hawk. "Is that it?"
"This is just a stopgap. Hopefully it will allow her to relax and sleep a bit. Tomorrow we can go to a pharmacy and but some numbing ointment and a couple of teething rings."
After a couple of minutes, both girls seem to relax a bit. Brooke lets a thin smile show, and Angie closes her eyes. Brooke speaks in a thin, plaintive voice. "Can I do it?"
"Of course. Sit on the couch." Brooke sits and I hand her Angie and the cloth. I warm up a bottle and bring it over. "Try offering her the bottle." Angie suckles for a while, still uncomfortable, but calm enough to let hunger win. After taking about half the bottle, she starts spitting the nipple and whimpering. Brooke goes back to the cold wet cloth. I sit next to them, with a hand under Angie, and an arm across Brooke's shoulders. Brooke cuddles up, leaning her head against my chest. I feel both Angie and Brooke surrendering to sleep, while I struggle to keep awake.
I wake up to a caress on my neck, sending a shiver down my spine. I open my eyes to a pair of merry brown eyes and a smile. My arms and my back hurt, but the weight of two sleeping girls keeps me from any sudden movement. Taylor picks up Angie and I get up, carefully letting Brooke lie on the sofa. She murmurs something and goes on sleeping. I stretch, trying to iron out the kinks.
In Angie's bag there's a port-a-crib, a bit too small for her, but suitable on a pinch. I set it up in my bedroom, and tuck her in. Back in the living room, Taylor is staring at Brooke's sleeping form, with a crooked smile on her face.
She whispers. "Are you leaving her there?"
"Nah. She's exhausted. They both are. Do you mind sharing a bed with her?"
Taylor laughs a bit. "If she doesn't get handsy or something."
"I think she is pretty straight. I'd be more worried about you trying something..."
She looks at me sideways. "Well... I'm knackered, but she is damn cute."
"That she is. Almost as cute as you."
Taylor bumps me on the way to her bedroom. "I'm smoking hot, squirt. Cute is for princesses." She disappears into her room, but peeks out a few seconds later. "Don't worry. Her virtue is safe with me. "
I pick Brooke up and carry her slowly to Taylor's bedroom, trying not to laugh. After we tuck her, we go back to the living room. "Cold one before hitting the sack?"
"Sure." I open the fridge and grab two bottles, throwing her one.
"How was the movement today?"
She takes a pull. "It was kinda slow. Someone said it's finals at the U. DJ was fine, though."
"Tips?"
"Not bad. Playboy got shitfaced and tried to get on my case. Had to show him the error of his ways. No cops or hospital stay required."
"Such a meek, gentle soul."
She flips me the bird. "Very sweet, by the way. Three angels sleeping together."
"Little one is teething. They were both pretty worked up."
"Ouch."
"Right. Sleep in tomorrow?" Although interrupted, I did sleep for a few hours already. "I'll go for a run around eight."
"I'll be up at noon. I'll do a quick run and we'll do weights. Maybe take the cuties out for brunch afterwards, what do you say?"
"Sounds good to me."
We finish the beer and head to bed. Taylor turns around before the door. "I almost forgot. Got a line on some cheap wheels. Mind coming with me? It's on the way to Charlotte, about forty minutes."
"Does it run?"
"Dunno. Don't think so."
"No problem. I'll borrow a tow truck. Tomorrow afternoon?" Deb owns Keith's old shop, and I got privileges.
"Fine. Make it a flatbed."
"Sure." I wonder what crazy pile of junk needs a flatbed to tow. Before I can ask, she gives me a peck on the cheek and closes the door behind her.
I check on Angie, who is totally out, and hit the pillow. My mind goes straight back to that jacuzzi dream.
Brooke awakens after the best night of sleep she's had in a long while. She stretches slowly, looking around. An unfamiliar smell, jasmine and sweat snaps her attention, and she recalls the previous night. Falling asleep in Lucas' arms? This is not Lucas' bed. Brooke is wearing a large sports t-shirt, and nothing else. Ah, of course! Taylor's bed. Brooke gets up and hunts around, finding her blue lace undies and a pretty yellow sundress hanging on the back of a chair and her flip-flops under the same chair. After getting dressed, Brooke uses the ensuite, splashing some water on her face, brushing and tying up her hair. Feeling more-or-less presentable, she goes in search of Angie and her hosts.
Taylor is in the kitchen, drinking a tall glass of water. She's in exercise clothes, tight shorts, exercise bra, running shoes and her hair tied in a high ponytail. She is sweaty and smiling. "Hey, princess. Good afternoon. Sleep well?"
Brooke smiles back. "Very well, Thanks." She points at the dress. "And thanks for the loaner."
Taylor waves dismissively. "Not mine. Either Karen's or the big-eyed idiot's, not sure. The clothes you were using last night are in the dryer, probably ready by now."
"It's Karen's. Too small for Bookgirl." Brooke looks around. "Where are Lucas and Angie?"
"Backporch."
"Thanks."
Past the dining room and the laundry, there used to be a back porch, open to the backyard. Lucas and Lindsay enclosed it, making it into a long room, about thirty feet by eight, which is mostly an exercise room now. Apparently, Lucas found a circular kiddie pool somewhere, about six feet across, where he improvised a playpen for Angie. She is wearing just her diapers, sitting down and happily playing with some plastic rings. On the other side of the room, Lucas is lying down on an exercise bench, working his arms and chest with a pair of dumbbells. Brooke stands there, entranced. He is shirtless, sweat dripping from his forehead, shoulders and down his chest, his legs bent and planted on the floor. She stands there, breathing through her mouth, speechless.
Taylor comes from behind and whispers to her, in a light mocking tone. "Bet he didn't look like that in high school."
As Brooke recalls, shirtless Lucas was always yummy. But he had this scrawny thing going. Not anymore. Broad shoulders, thick ropy muscles, pecs and a mouthwatering washboard. A faded Chinese character on his shoulder, her mark. A sense of controlled strength. She shakes her head, in silent answer to Taylor's question. She imagines herself, running long red fingernails down those muscles, just short of scratching...
Lucas notices her standing there. "Brooke?"
She snaps out of her trance, and Taylor giggles. "Yes?"
"Good morning. Did you sleep well?"
Brooke smiles uncertainly, still distracted by those pecs... "Huh, what? Yes. Like an angel. You? Angie?"
"Fine." He puts the dumbbells away and wipes the bench. "Angie woke up around seven. The teeth came out, so she is peachy now. I gave her a bath, and another bottle around noon."
Brooke nods, turns around and kneels beside Angie, using a finger to check her new teeth. Angie wiggles, complaining a bit. Two little pearly buttons grace her lower gum. "Oh, these are so cute, baby! Good job!" Brooke refuses to use babytalk with Angie, and always speaks to her like she speaks to anyone else. Lucas finds both this habit and the shapely bottom wiggling in the air rather captivating.
Taylor follows Lucas eyes to Brooke's backside and smiles. "Will you two just quit it! Go to the bedroom and get this out of your system! I'll watch the baby and we can go for brunch afterwards." Taylor ends the sentence with her fists planted on her hips.
Brooke grabs Angie and stands up, exchanging a glance with Lucas. They both know exactly what Taylor is talking about. Wordlessly, they agree to ignore her. A little silence follows, which Brooke gamely breaks. "Did you say brunch?"
"If that's what you caught out of what I said, Princess..."
Lucas interrupts Taylor's tirade. "Riverwalk diner?"
Brooke gives him a thankful look. "Oh, that's fine, Broody."
Taylor gets next to Lucas and gives him a one-armed hug, leaning her face against his chest. "Twenty minutes for a shower?"
Brooke is aware that Taylor is pushing them together. Explicit suggestions aside, some of her blatant flirting looks like provocation too. Not that Lucas seems to mind... Brooke suddenly realizes something she has more-or-less known for a long time. Lucas really enjoys giving and receiving simple physical affection. Son of a single mother, best friend of a sweet bookish girl growing up. He's always been comfortable around women. He probably doesn't really get that women are not very innocent about such things, though. Maybe some of her hard core certainties about him aren't really that clear-cut. "Fine. I'll gather mine and Angie's stuff and wait for you guys in the living room."
"You should keep the dress. Looks pretty on you."
She's right about that, in an old-fashioned, mommy track sort of way. "Thanks."
The Riverwalk Diner is one of a row of restaurants with outdoors patio seating facing the river. In terms of decor and ambiance, it's the poor cousin of the bunch, The kitchen is another story. After Karen's Cafe closed, you can't get better brunch in Tree Hill. The blueberry pancakes, for one, are legendary. Despite the late hour, there's still a ten minute wait for patio seating.
A hostess leads them to their table. Along the way, several acquaintances greet them, reminding all three of them of how deep their connection with this place and its people really are. This is immediately reinforced, as their waitress approaches. She's a middle age woman, bottle blonde, with washed out blue eyes, tall and a little overweight, with a tired smile and a heavy southern accent. "Hi! How can I help y'all this mornin'?"
Taylor lifts her head and looks at the woman. "Milly?"
The woman gawks at Taylor. "Li'l T? Oh my gawd, it is you! Get up, you thing, let me look at ya."
Taylor gets up and takes a wirl. "Wow! You're looking mighty good, girl."
Taylor gives the woman a hug. "You're looking pretty good too, Mills. How are Howard and Lindy?"
"Howard passed three years ago, and I still miss his sorry ass ev'ry night, I'll tell you. Lindy moved to California with her boyfriend, oh, it's been five years. She's got a salon up near Sacramento, and the useless boy turned out all right. He's into roofing, I think. Got a couple of grandkids, now. What about Lyd and Jamie? Still going around on that RV?"
"Oh, yeah. They're fine. Last I knew, They were spending some time in South Dakota."
"That sounds nice."
"Guys, this is Mildred Stoker, mum's best friend when I was growing up. These are my friends..."
"Oh, my gawd! You're Lucas Scott, aren't ya?"
Lucas stands up and extends a hand. "Err..." The waitress grabs Lucas in an expected hug. For a second, Lucas stiffens up, surprised, but soon he smiles, relaxes and gamely returns the surprise hug.
"I can't believe it! Lucas Scott!" Taylor and Brooke are laughing softly. "I was there, you know? Mah husband and I, we were both there. Charlotte. That three pointer! I'll never forget. "I screamed so much, I spent two days mute."
Brooke's mind goes back to that day, that moment. Everybody went crazy. Peyton was there, Karen and Haley too. But when the team finally let Lucas down, he searches for her first. Their eyes meet, pain and joy. He walks towards her. He almost embraces her... She nearly jumps in his arms. Something stops them. He belongs to Peyton, her fucking mantra. She pushes him, away from herself, towards her friend. Hoping against hope he'll refuse. He doesn't. Breaking her heart again. Shit. So simple. She was so blind. He went to her first.
Suddenly, several people who were also there start talking about it, and a little group surrounds Lucas. Taylor is the one that notices the tears threatening to spill on Brooke's eyes. She squeezes Brooke's hand and whispers. "Hey."
Brooke pulls her hand away and wipes her eyes. "It's nothing. I'm fine."
"Sure." Taylor checks on Lucas, sees he's still distracted with his fans. "I read the book. They kissed, right? First time after you broke up?" Brooke nods. "That must have stung."
Brooke stiffens. "He came to me first. I pushed him to her."
Taylor frowns "Why? You're supposed to hold onto the good ones, you know?"
Brooke shakes her head. It's complicated. And hurtful. There were many reasons. But now, in retrospect, after years of therapy, she knew. There was only one reason that mattered. At the time, she was absolutely sure, one hundred percent certain. She just wasn't good enough.
