Then There Was You

by Candace Shaw

“I remember when we used to come here for our childhood pictures because Mom never liked the school pictures’ plain backgrounds. She wanted something more elaborate yet personal.”

  “Yeah, that’s where you get your creative side from. Always thinking outside of the box.”

  “Remember the time we posed with Bonnie, our rabbit?” Brooklyn asked, reminiscing about the Easter when she was eight years old and her parents had given her a pet rabbit. “I still have the picture in a frame. You were fly in your pastel blue suit,” she teased, knowing her brother hated the three-piece suit their mother thought he looked adorable in.

  Rasheed stepped next to his sister and squeezed her hand. “Mom wanted everything to be perfect.”

  “Because she is … was perfect.” Brooklyn’s voice cracked as Rasheed placed his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close to him.

  “Yes, she is, baby sis. I miss her every day. Dad as well.”

  “Me too.” She swiped away a tear that formed in the corner of her eye.

  “We can go put flowers on their graves before you leave like we always do when you come home.”

  “I’d love to go.”

  “Great. Let me know if you can steal away from the shoot at the garden tomorrow.”

  “Of course.”

  “Now. Our next stop before heading home is …” Rasheed’s lips broke into a wide smile across his face and his eyebrows perked up waiting for her answer.

  “It better be Ollie’s Sweets,” she exclaimed, grabbing Bria and Rasheed’s hands and pulling them toward the trolley which had stopped a few feet in front of them. “A huge slice of her Memphis Mud Pie is what I need before tomorrow’s long day.” Brooklyn glanced back at the vacant building one last time as she stepped onto the trolley.

  Chapter Eleven

  Brooklyn tapped her fingers on the kitchen counter next to the stove as she contemplated zooming out onto the patio like the DC Comic’s character The Flash to snip a few sprigs of rosemary and basil for the cavity of the chicken she was preparing to roast. However, she’d noticed Chase’s BMW drive up moments before, and she’d caught him scurrying into the tiny house with a take-out bag. She returned late last night from Memphis and hadn’t had the daunting pleasure to run into him. Brooklyn hoped they wouldn’t have an encounter for the rest of the week until he would be on his merry way to Jacksonville for the remainder of the semester. A piercing jolt pinched her heart every time she thought about him during what little free time she had when she was out of town. The session lasted for two days thanks to unexpected thunderstorms which placed a damper on capturing photos of the glass art flowers that were mostly outside in the garden areas. Brooklyn was also disappointed for not being able to visit her parents’ gravesite before leaving Memphis.

  Sighing, she grabbed the kitchen shears from the knife holder and headed toward the backdoor.

  This will only take a moment. Besides, he’s inside eating his food.

  Upon opening the door, she spotted Chase sitting in one of the red Adirondack chairs outside of the tiny house. Their eyes caught each other’s in an instant and stayed captured like a fly in a sticky spider web. He’d been in the process of taking a swig of his water and the bottle stayed midair before he placed it in the cup holder of the chair.

  A smidge of a smirk displayed on his face. “Hi,” he said after a few moments of the uneasy silence. “How was Memphis?”

  Okay. He’s being cordial even though the smug expression says he’s definitely upset with me. Brushing her hair back behind her ears, Brooklyn tried to shut down the stammer rising in her throat. “Good. It was cool seeing my family, and of course the botanical garden shoot.” Okay, that wasn’t so bad. Now clip the dang herbs and go back inside. Oh wait, my feet are glued to the patio. “How was the surprise visit with Zoe and Hunter?”

  “It was great catching up with them. Made me homesick for Memphis, though, but I’ll be back there soon.”

  More uneasy silence filled the atmosphere as she remembered his leaving soon was one of the reasons she felt there was no point in starting a serious relationship with him.

  “Were you able to see Addison before she left?” he asked, swirling his fork around in the take-out box with a slight grimace.

  “Yes. I took her to pick up the RV van this morning. It was very nice inside. Cute little kitchen, a full bathroom, seating area, and a Murphy bed. Flat screen.” Why am I rambling? Clip the damn herbs and go!

  “I know she’ll enjoy herself … well, except for seeing Langston Graham.”

  Brooklyn shook her head in puzzlement at the name. “Wait, not the professional golfer …”

  “Yep, he’s her ex. The ex.”

  That explains the flowers, ignored phone calls, and text messages, Brooklyn thought. “Oh … he’ll be there?”

  “The groom is his cousin so more than likely.”

  “Bless her heart. Now I know why she’s been on edge lately. Running into someone who you used to date can be uncomfortable if it didn’t end on good terms.”

  He raised an arrogant eyebrow along with a swished-to-the-side grin. “Yep, it sure can be,” Chase said sarcastically.

  “Insert foot in mouth right now. I’m so sorry.”

  “No need to apologize.” He lightly shrugged. “I mean, we weren’t a couple like them, but we’ve known each other just as long, and I thought we were finally taking a step to another level. You know … something I thought we’d both wanted not a one-night stand.”

  “I just—”

  “Stop.” He held up his hand in a halting gesture. “You don’t need to explain anything to me.” He paused, glancing at the scissors in her hand.

  Feeling as if it was a silent reminder as to why she was out there in the first place and his way of ending the conversation, Brooklyn walked over to the herb stand where eight flower pots contained different herbs. She clipped a few sprigs of what she needed and headed back in the house without glancing his way even though she felt his stare singeing her back the entire time.

  After cleaning the kitchen from the chicken, mashed sweet potatoes, and collard green dinner she barely ate, a flicker of light caught her attention from the back window of the keeping room. The sun had set moments ago and Addison’s timed lights would automatically turn on above the porch along with the two spotlights resting in each top corner of her tiny home. However, they were noticeably not on and a light continued to move back and forth. Brooklyn peeped through the shutter blinds and noticed Chase outside again. This time he was tinkering with the solar generator on the side of Addison’s home. The panel door was open as he knelt in front of it using his cellphone as a flashlight.

  Sighing, Brooklyn headed to the kitchen junk drawer, grabbed the flashlight, flicked it on to make sure the batteries worked before she strolled along the paved path from her patio to the tiny house.

  “I believe it has a reset button,” she said in a quiet manner, while Chase looked up in surprise as she handed him the flashlight. The thought of resetting their relationship crossed her mind as soon as she said it. “It’s happened before. You’re running too many … electrical things at the same time … perhaps.” Brooklyn silently scolded herself for stumbling over her words in front of him. She’d decided to assist on an impulse and now the same smug expression he wore earlier caused her to regret the decision to help.

  Standing, he wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead. “Yeah. I called Addi and she said the same but it isn’t turning back on. Maybe a blown fuse or something. I don’t know. She said it’s never done this before and what’s in storage is almost gone.”

  “Oh, no. She upgraded to this generator and solar panels at the beginning of the summer.”

  “It’s still under warranty, and I have the number to call in the morning. Hopefully they can come out soon,” he said, his tone laced with agitation.

  “Let me know, and I can be here just in case you’re in class,” she offered. “I’ll be in my home studio most of the day finishing up
some projects.”

  “No,” Chase said without hesitation, “I got it.”

  She didn’t believe him as frustration tensed his usually calm features. But she had an inkling his frustration wasn’t focused on the generator anymore.

  “Thank you.” Handing her the flashlight, he closed the panel and glanced at the time on his cellphone. “Anyway, I need to finish grading research papers that my students emailed me and my laptop’s battery is on fifty percent.” He took a step backwards as if he was going to leave.

  “Well, you can sit at my kitchen table if you need to and bring whatever is in the fridge over that may spoil.”

  “I’m good, but thank you. It’s only a few more papers. However, I will bring the fish over from the freezer, though. Addison would be pissed if it went bad.”

  Brooklyn was somewhat taken aback by his refusal, but she understood. “Chase … I know you’re upset with me, but you have work to do and your laptop will be dead soon.”

  “I’m not upset with you.”

  “But you’re trying to avoid me.”

  “Isn’t that what you wanted?” he questioned. His tone rose into a deep baritone and this time his full attention was on her as he stepped into her personal space. “Giving you what you want, sweetheart.”

  Luckily, the two houses on either side of her were vacation rentals and were currently empty because she was sure his sarcastic statement was heard past her property.

  Deep down, no. It’s not what I want at all. Brooklyn couldn’t tell him she regretted the moment she suggested they stop seeing each other. He was standing too close as if he was purposely tempting her with his seductive stare and a slight lick of his bottom lip as she rested her gaze on it for a moment. A sly fox grin slid across his face as if he knew she would take the bait he’d casted out.

  Brooklyn smacked her mouth with a slight eye roll. “Whatever,” she answered, turning on her heel toward her home. “I’ll make room in the freezer for Addison’s fish.”

  “Brooklyn, wait,” he called out, sliding his hand around her arm in a soft grip.

  She yanked her head sharply over her shoulder. “What?” she questioned, her tone transformed to a curt one but only to hide the regret rising in her chest and to extinguish the tears needing to fall. “Changed your mind about bringing the fish, too?”

  “Wow,” he said with a taken aback scoff. “No, I was going to say I’ll take you up on your offer so I can finish grading the papers, but now you’re the one with the attitude. I swear it should be the other way around.”

  “I don’t have an attitude,” she stated through clenched teeth. “And you’ve been quite smug, mister.”

  “You’re the one wanting to end things before they even began which I respect, but why are you so frustrated over it?” he asked as sarcasm filled his tone.

  “I’m not,” she replied in a calm manner. “You’re the one being all nonchalant and can barely look at me. I’m going off your vibe.”

  Sighing, he ran a hand over his bald head. “You know what? I was simply doing as you asked before you left. It’s hard because the woman I want is less than two-hundred feet away from me and acts like she doesn’t know what she wants when in actuality she knows exactly what she wants. It’s in every single action you’ve taken.”

  “I’m sorry, Chase. I thought it would be better that way so we … so I wouldn’t keep changing my mind and having the urge to … kiss you … or something every time I see you.” Of course it hasn’t helped. He’s sexy as hell when he’s mad.

  “The something was quite amazing.”

  They both laughed, and for a moment it was if they were back to normal, but she had to maintain her distance.

  “I’m sorry for being snappy. Bring the fish and the laptop when you’re ready.”

  “And I’m sorry as well. I’ll see you in a few moments, but only to bring the fish. I think the laptop has enough battery for the five or six papers I have left.”

  “No problem.”

  “Besides, if you’re in my presence for too long, you may decide to act on whatever you’re thinking at this moment.” Winking, he pivoted on his heel and headed inside.

  Sighing, Brooklyn knew he was right and wasn’t sure how much longer she could hold out. It had been on the tip of her tongue to invite him to stay with her until the generator was fixed but she knew that would be pure torture.

  *****

  Brooklyn sat at the table on her patio the next afternoon while the repairman from the solar company accessed the issue with the generator. Addison had called her earlier in the day to see if she was available during the given time window. While Chase stated he didn’t need her help, Brooklyn wasn’t doing it for him but for her friend so it would be fixed before she returned from Hamilton Island.

  She had a stack of photography magazines on the table to keep her busy, but her thoughts kept swinging back to last night. She hated Chase could see right through her, and he seemed determined to change her mind. Deep down, she’d almost wanted him to. In the period of time they’d spent together, her attraction for him sprouted into more. A part of her wanted to say forget the nonsense of being scared and enjoy his company while he’s here, have a short fling and keep living life after he left. However, her heart contracted every time she thought of the idea because she would be miserable once he moved back to Memphis. She’d had harmless flings in the past and a couple of friends-with-benefits relationships, but they never transpired into anything real and it never bothered her. That’s not what she wanted with Chase, and from his words and actions that’s not what he wanted either. But she didn’t see how they could have a meaningful relationship once he left.

  When he returned with the fish last night, she busied herself by chatting on the phone with Reagan about an upcoming winter wedding. He’d mouthed thank you and quickly left even though deep down she wanted him to stay. The temptation to be in his arms and feel his passionate kisses on her body scorched every inch on her body. She didn’t know how she was going to survive with him living directly behind her without crashing through the door and saying ignore everything I said. Of course if last night’s insomnia persisted thanks to him, she’d never fall asleep. At the moment, she desired a much-needed nap as she felt and appeared like an extra in a zombie movie.

  “Ms. Vincent?” The repairman approached, pushing his hands into his hunter green slacks.

  Brooklyn glanced up from the unread page of the magazine with a slight jump. She forgot she wasn’t alone. “Yes?”

  “Well, I have good news and bad news. It can be repaired, but I’ll have to order the part. It may take a few days to arrive. I’ll call Ms. Arrington and let her know. Hopefully, I can come back this weekend.”

  “Wonderful. I’ll contact her as well.”

  Moments after he left, Brooklyn heard the click of Chase’s dress shoes on the pathway. She’d finished texting Addison who was relieved the generator could be fixed.

  “Hey. Did I miss the repairman?” Chase asked, standing at the edge of the patio dressed impeccably in a blue suit. “I got stuck in traffic.”

  “Yeah. You just missed him. He has to order the part. He’ll be back this weekend.”

  “Oh, mmm-hmm. I see …” His faced tensed for a moment as he tapped his chin in contemplation. “The storage is completely empty now.” He spoke out loud but it seemed more so to himself as he took off his suit jacket.

  “I guess you’re finally going to a hotel,” Brooklyn stated with pep in her tone, and the little sigh of relief had tried not to escape. Maybe now she wouldn’t toss and turn at night knowing he was a few feet away from her. Perhaps she could stop brooding over whatever the hell they’d had and move on.

  His eyebrows shot up like antennas. “Nah.” A mischievous grin spread across his face like smooth butter. “I’ll stay here.”

  Wait. What did he just say? “Um … there’s no electricity, which means there’s no AC.”

  “I opened the window last night, and I w
as fine. Plus, the cold water works.”

  “It was also cool last night which isn’t always the case during this time of year. It rarely gets cold here.” Standing, she swiped her magazines and cellphone from the table. “Suit yourself.” She walked toward the door but turned her head around with a sly smile. “If you get hot and bothered … just knock.”

  Chase chuckled. “I should be saying the same to you.”

  “Oh, please. You being behind me is no bother, but if you want to sweat like a pig going to a Hawaiian luau for the next week have fun. Hope you’ve stocked up on deodorant and you can borrow my ice chest.”

  “Ah, so you don’t mind me being behind you? Again? Good to know.”

  Screaming silently, Brooklyn cleared her throat and erased the image implanted in her brain of them in that sexual position. “I meant the fact the tiny house is in my back …You know what? I don’t have to explain myself to you. I’m going inside my nice air conditioned home. Good evening.” Twisting the door knob and stepping inside, she heard the same infectious laughter which had attracted her to him in the first place. Grinding her teeth, she shut the door along with his laugh, but she could still hear it ringing in her ears as she lay in bed later on that night once more in a state of insomnia.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Brooklyn, you’re a life saver. Thank you so much for squeezing me into your busy schedule for my engagement pictures,” Reagan said, perusing the proofs from her and Blake’s photo session that morning on the beach. “We still don’t have a wedding date, but we’re narrowing it down to sometime in the spring. Still trying to decide if I want it here or in Memphis. I’m leaning toward Memphis but the weather is so wedding perfect here. I don’t know …” Reagan contemplated, ending on a sigh.

  Zaria made a popping sound with her lips and took a swig of her water bottle. “Well, let us know as soon as you know so Brook and I can start planning your shower and bachelorette parties.”

  Reagan laughed and continued clicking through the pictures on Brooklyn’s laptop as the ladies gathered outside on her patio sipping peach margaritas and eating Reagan’s homemade guacamole with pita chips. There was a cool evening breeze from the Atlantic Ocean located a few blocks over. Brooklyn didn’t want to sit outside for the fear of seeing Chase, but Zaria had stated she needed some fresh air. For the past two days, Brooklyn tried to avoid him, but somehow he’d managed to see her coming and going. He would wave or wink with a naughty gaze, knowing it sent her blood rushing through her veins at autobahn speeds. The only reason why she felt somewhat safe at the moment was because Blake and Garrett had invited Chase to play pool that evening while their wives hung out with her. The men had hit it off at the deep sea fishing excursion, and she was relieved he wasn’t home. She still couldn’t believe he stayed in the tiny house to annoy her. The temperature had to be uncomfortable. She’d spotted him yesterday in his car talking on the phone with the motor running and no doubt with the air conditioner blasting. He’d stayed in there for at least an hour eating and making phone calls until the sun went down.