"JC," said Brooke, smiling. There was a dark haired baby resting on her shoulder.
"Hey Brooke. Long time no see."
"Come in." That's when JC picked up on her accent.
'Duh,' he told himself. 'She's been living in England for six years.'
"Sit down on the couch," she said. "I'll be back after I put Jonah down."
JC surveyed the apartment which had baby toys strewn all over. JC figured Brooke was babysitting. And that's what he said when she came back out.
"So…you're babysitting Jonah?"
"No. JC, Jonah's my son."
JC was, well, shocked by the news and glad he was sitting down.
"How old is he?"
"Almost a year."
JC glanced at her left hand.
'She's not married?' This shocked JC the most. He would have never thought that Brooke would…you know.
"Are you still painting?"
"Yeah. Do you want to see some?"
JC nodded and followed Brooke down a short hallway and into the bedroom.
There were over a half a dozen paintings all around the room. Brooke loved to paint. She did every style. She had even done a portrait of JC that hung in his parents' house. The first painting that JC looked at was of the ocean. It was absolutely breathtaking.
"Wow," he said. "What's this one called?"
"Serenity."
"It's beautiful."
JC looked at another one that was lying on the bed. He didn't know what he found more interesting: the painting or the single bed.
"Single bed?"
He hadn't realized he had said it out loud until Brooke responded.
"I though you knew me better than that! I would never ever have sex with someone at my own free will before I'm married! You should know that!"
JC was surprised at Brooke's outburst. Then he figured it out.
"Brooke, I'm sorry. I didn't know."
He walked up behind her and put his arms around her.
"I'm sorry," he repeated. He hugged her close. He rocked her back and forth and inhaled the fresh scent of her shampoo. He could feel Brooke shaking. JC turned Brooke around so she was facing him. He wiped the tears away.
"Look, I'm really, really sorry. I had no idea."
He looked into her eyes. They were still watery, which made her irises look like a pair of glassy oceans. JC brought he lips to his and kissed her gently.
Brooke kissed him back and the kiss lengthened. That was when JC stopped it.
"We can't do this," he said. JC walked around the room. He didn't even look at Brooke.
"Why?"
"I'm leaving again in three weeks! It just wouldn't work out!"
"JC," Brooke said. She walked up to him and grabbed him by the belt loops on his jeans. She pulled him against her.
"JC," she repeated. "Listen to me. I lost you before and I'm not going to make the same mistake again."
"Lost me? We just went different ways."
"But we didn't have to. I could have gone to school in Florida. JC, I loved you. And I still do. If you don't, fine. Then you should leave right now and never, ever come back. But you should know that you're missing a lot. And when you're old and gray, you can look back and you'll know that you had something good and just let it go. So, LEAVE!"
Brooke yelled the last part and as soon as she was finished, Jonah started to cry in the other room. Brooke left to comfort him.
Chapter 5
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