“Yeah, they’re early,” Ronnie said, opening the door. All eyes turned to us once we walked in. I held my head high and spoke to everyone around the table. I refused to show nerves.
When I sat down, I clasped my hands together and sat there, waiting. “We’re a little early, Dr. Powers. We wanted this to be fairly quick since we don’t have much to say.”
That shit was never good so I braced myself for the worse. “Well, thank you for taking the time to see me face to face. I really appreciate it.” I nodded at them and Dr. Owens smiled in return.
“We’ve reviewed Dr. Hollow’s research and deem your case to be within the spectrum. Ethically and legally, however, we must insist that you stop any inappropriate relationship with Brooklyn Powers. If you don’t, we’ll have to involve the authorities, Caesar.” Owens’ eyes softened when she regarded me and I appreciated the small show of compassion.
“As far as your license goes, you can still practice at your discretion. This matter is settled and as far as I’m concerned, you’re free to go on about the rest of your day.” She reached out and shook my hand then Ronnie’s.
An involuntary smile stretched my face the moment the board members left. Ronnie and I slapped hands and he shook his head in disbelief. “We did it,” he said.
“We did. I wouldn’t have been able to do shit without your expertise though. Thank you, man.” I meant that from the bottom of my heart too. Ronnie was an amazing friend.
“No problem. I told you from the beginning that I wasn’t out to hurt or expose. Only help. Now, I know damn well you don’t have any patients to see today because you were suspended so that means, you’re itching to get out of here and go see Brook. Go tell her the good news.” He knew me well. I didn’t want to waste time.
We were so close to everything we wanted that I could fucking taste it.
**
I knew Brook was still in class when I got done with hearing the board’s decision but it was her last day and I needed to see her. I went straight from my job to San Marino High School and pulled her out of class.
I stood in the main office waiting for her nervously like I didn’t have great news to share with her. My muscles tensed when I saw her walk around the corner, scanning for me. When she finally saw me, her hazel eyes jumped to life. It was a struggle for us not to collide in a hug and tangle together in a kiss.
“Hey, Uncle Cease,” she nodded nonchalantly before strolling out of the school’s doors.
“Hey, Kiddo.” I winked at her. The moment we were in the parking lot she pelted me with punches. I laughed and grabbed her in my arms before backing her against the car.
It was reckless but I needed to kiss her. My lips found hers and her hands slid through my hair. “I get to keep my license,” I spoke against her mouth and watched her eyes get big.
“Are you serious, Caesar?!”
“Yup,” I nodded. “Now all you have to do is graduate.”
“Oh my god. We’re so close,” she said breaking into a smile. “Let’s go home and celebrate.” She followed me home in her car and we barely hit the door before we were stripping each other out of our clothes.
We landed on the floor of our room in a circle of cassette tapes and 80’s pop music. We were surrounded by happiness for once. After all the bullshit that went wrong, we finally had a string of things that went right.
**
Brooklyn…
One year later
I paced the floor of the tattoo shop over and over, wringing my hands trying to figure out how to tell Cease when he got there that we couldn’t keep our appointment. I looked down at my forearms and my stomach lurched. I wanted to cover those scars so badly and we’d finally found a place willing to do an amazing tattoo for me. Cease even said he’d get tattoos matching mine. Bonus points for it being in the Bay area where we’d moved at the beginning of the year.
Now here I was bitching out. I would have stopped him before he got here to tell him we’d have to call it off but he was already on his way to the shop when his phone died. I couldn’t text or call to tell him to go back home.
When I saw his car pull up I thought I would throw up right on the shiny floor.
You better fucking not, Brooke.
“Hey, baby. You okay? You’re not punking out on me, are you, Brooke?” I looked into his cashmere brown eyes and melted a little like I always did.
“Well, not exactly but…we can’t get them done wight now.” I forced a smile but he frowned at me.
“You’re nervous. Why?” He asked, lifting a thick brow. “See, I told you I should have gone first. You wanted to be so bold though,” he teased.
“Brooke Anthony?” The tatted guy behind the counter called my name and I failed to turn around. Getting used to everyone calling me Brooke instead of only Cease would take lots of getting used to.
I loved my new name though. I just had to turn the hell around when people actually used it. I’d become Brooke Andrea Anthony right after I graduated. I had a new social security number and thanks to some connections Cease had at vital records…a new birth certificate too. I was a whole new woman.
“Um hi, is thewe a late cancellation fee?” I asked quietly. I pulled in a deep breath and tried to overlook the way I messed up on my R. The guy behind the counter didn’t seem to care so neither did I.
Cease gripped my bicep. “Can you give us a moment?” He asked the tatted guy before pulling me off to the side. “Brooke, are you really canceling? You’ve been cut free for one year. Not only that but this is the one year anniversary of when you…Of when I…”
“I know, Cease,” I said, frowning. I tried to kill myself one year ago to the day and I was flaking on my celebratory tattoos.
“What the hell could be more important than that? You’ve faced so much yet a tattoo is freaking you out?”
Frustrated, I balled my fists up tight at my side. “It’s not that I’m scared of getting a tattoo,” I said through clenched teeth.
“Then what is it?” Cease asked, waiting for my answer.
“I can’t get one while I’m pregnant. I found out this afternoon while you were at work.” I sniffled and looked up at him with tears in my eyes.
“Pregnant? Brooke, are you serious?” He bent his tall frame down and placed a palm on my belly.
“Yeah…the test said six to eight weeks,” I laughed through the happy tears. Caesar swept me off my feet and pressed his lips against mine in a kiss that made me feel like I was floating.
“Holy shit. You’re having my baby?” I nodded and he hugged me all over again. “Yeah, we’re gonna have to reschedule that tattoo in about nine months. I’m gonna be a dad,” Cease told the man behind the counter before carrying me out of there.
“So, I’m calling Ronnie and telling him I won’t be in tomorrow. We need to celebrate all fucking day.” He said kissing me much slower. That time, it made me smolder down to my toes.
“He’s going to curse you out,” I smirked. Ronnie opened up another practice in San Francisco and asked Caesar to run it for him. They’d prepared for months to get it going and it happened to be their opening week.
“You think so?” Cease laughed.
“Um yeah. I do…”
“Eh, he’ll be okay,” he shrugged happily. I loved that peaceful happy look on him. It was my favorite.
“I can’t believe you were so mad over me canceling a tattoo,” I mused as we walked to our cars hand in hand. Cease looked over at me and sighed.
“It was going to be a special tattoo, Brooke.”
“I know. It can wait though,” I reasoned.
“That’s true,” he said rubbing my stomach. “I think I was more upset because after we were all tatted up, I was going to do this…” He lowered to one knee in the middle of a full parking lot complete with onlookers and pulled out a black box. My heart thundered to life at the sight of an engagement ring nestled safely inside.
“Brooke, we’ve been through hell and back and now it
looks a lot like we’ve finally reached heaven. I want it to be like this forever. Will you marry me?” He asked, his voice full of emotion.
Knots.
Dozens of thick knots occupied my stomach.
I don’t remember actually saying yes. I kind of cried and babbled like an idiot but Caesar got the message. He always did.
No matter what I was trying to say, Caesar understood. No matter where I was on earth or in my head, he made me feel like I was safe and at home. I’d never have to worry about drowning again. He was my oxygen and with him, I’d be able to breathe easy forever.
The end.
If you managed to make it to the end of this book without turning away from Brooklyn and Caesar’s story, thank you. This book wasn’t an easy one to write but their story was unique and deep and it begged to be told. It is quite possibly the most haunting thing I’ve written so far and I hope that these characters have touched you the same way they touched me.
I know and understand that this book isn’t for everyone and that’s okay.
To those of you that were brave like lions, I appreciate you for taking a chance.
**
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http://www.missdaniellejames.com
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Other books by Danielle James
Twisted
The Twisted Series (Books 1-6)
Flowers Behind the Gates Series:
Flowers Behind the Gates
Sleeping Monsters
Power Trip
Death of a Rose
Garden of Secrets
LUCY Duet (Books 1&2)
Naughty R&B (A six story anthology)
Have Mercy
Dangerous Territory
The Monarch Room
Tortured Whispers Page 20