Unveiled (Torn #6)(17)

Glancing back towards Brody, I gave him a tight smile before pressing the unlock button of my car. “What’s up?” I hoped he wouldn’t bring up the heart to heart talk he wanted.

He made a lop-sided grin, one I used to die and swoon on the spot for because it made him look downright lethal. Though I admitted he was still disarmingly good-looking, his good looks palled in comparison to Dimitris. It was bad to compare current and past lovers; however, I couldn’t help it. I truly felt lucky to have Dimi as mine.

“I was wondering if you’ve decided on that talk I’ve been meaning to have with you,” His cheeks were bright red, as if he was shy and embarrassed to ask me.

Wow, look at that! I mused as I inwardly giggled at the thought of him blushing and nervous from only talking to me. How times had truly changed. I couldn’t help it; it was just too adorable.

Biting my lip, I contemplated his invitation then made a quick glance at my phone, very well knowing the Greek hadn’t made any attempts at contacting me. Giving him an encouraging nod, I cocked my head to the side and shrugged before grinning. “Sure, why the heck not?”

“Awesome!” He beamed before winking at me. “Want to hop in my bat mobile, or you wanna drive in separate cars and meet somewhere?”

“Bat mobile, you said?” I quipped back.

Like I’d pass up the chance. It was hilarious since he had a serious fixation on Batman when we were younger. Every year, he would be Batman during Halloween. He collected all different types of costumes, the cooler ones after he and Carter were in middle school, before finally retiring the idea.

I did have a lot of memories of old times with Brody. Just as I had stated before, he was family to me.





Chapter 9


Lindsey


Trying to squash my disappointment from not hearing anything from Dimitris, I eventually put my phone on silent mode. I had to stop taking it out of my purse? double and triple checking it every other minute or so, hoping he had thawed out and considered last night’s events to be just one of the things we would slowly discuss together without trying to hurt or insult my past actions.

I knew he was thinking level-headedly, and I couldn’t put the blame on him for being sensible. Regardless, if we were to work this complicated relationship out, he and I had to find a common ground, one that would work for both of us in regards to the future and not something that would suit his needs and compromise mine.

On our drive from the hospital to a local coffee shop, he was uplifting, easing the mood by making silly jokes while rehashing the past with enthusiasm. Most of them were of me making a fool of myself, though at that time, he had no idea those “funny incidents” were to get his undivided attention. They were desperate juvenile attempts, but looking back at them, I could laugh it off without feeling offended. I could fully see them for what they were—childish and comical.

Once we got to the cozy coffee shop, Brody ordered for us while I went to go find us a spot all the way in the back where they tucked away comfortable couches with a lot of board games, books people left here and there, magazines, crosswords, word puzzles, and whatever fun stuff most college students adored. It had its own charming, comforting style, which was probably the very reason we all hung out there in between classes. It was where we indulged in gossip, poured our hearts out when frustrated after boyfriend fights, or when our hearts were cracking in two—this was where it all happened. Therefore, it felt like it was a good place to put an end—a closure—to my past with Brody. It was also a good place to begin a bright road for renewed friendship.

Brody came to find me about five minutes later, carrying a small tray of two hot cappuccinos sprinkled with chocolate dust atop the frothy cream and a plate that consisted of cheese danish, mini blueberry muffins, chocolate chip cookies, brownies, and apple strudels.

“Will this do?” he enthusiastically asked as he set the tray on the distressed-looking coffee table before taking the chair across from me.

Pretty much. I grinned at him. “This will do mighty fine. I skipped lunch—well, forgot about it more like—so I’m crazy starved.”

“So did I,” he murmured as he took the coffee off the tray and handed it to me.

We sipped our hot beverages in comfortable silence while I focused on not getting scalded by its hotness. Brody, on the other hand,, busied himself sipping his drink with his eyes fully glued on me. It would have been fine under normal circumstances, but things had changed.

“You need to stop doing that, you know. We’re not together anymore,” I cautioned him before meeting his eyes. Longing was etched in them, as was regret.

“It’s the first thing that enters my mind every time I wake up in bed without you in it, Linds. I know. There’s no need to rub it in.”

“Crap. I didn’t want to be insensitive about it. This—everything’s been rather hard.” Hurting him wasn’t part of my agenda; however, for me to be able to have my own happiness, I had to.

Brody sounded truly wounded, and I couldn’t help feeling its sting. Since when did I become so f*uking sensitive? Today of all days, me mellowing down for Amber, then this. Sigh. Was I losing my bitchy touch these days? Damn. The idea of shedding my signature personality was downright depressing.

No wonder people hated falling in love. It made the stronger population pansies who cried during sickeningly sweet love songs. Yes, a tear or two had rolled down my face when I had been driving from my house to the hospital earlier that morning from hearing Bruno Mars’s heart-wrenching ballads. I was pathetic, and I was hesitant in owning it. Emma might fit into the mold since she had a flare for those singsong you-and-I-will-forever-be-together kind of crap. Not that it was bad, but this, the mopey side of me? It sure as hell irritated me deeply because I wasn’t like this. It was like I couldn’t help becoming pathetic, and I had no idea how to stop it.