“We’re still new at this,” she says, putting her hands on my chest. I’m still not breathing. “And I don’t want it to end yet.”
“Thank fuck.” I reach for her then, and we come together like an explosion. My mouth covers hers and my hands are in her hair. I’m crushing myself against her so that I can feel every inch of her body. The need for Brooke is stronger than my need to breathe.
“Malcolm, I need to tell you something.”
“Anything.” But I don’t let her speak. I’m too busy kissing her senseless.
When we break apart, we’re somehow pressed against the wall of my office, and I don’t remember how we got there. “You were saying?”
She’s breathless and looking at me in that way that I crave. The way that makes me want to strip off her clothes and make it clear exactly how I feel about her.
“I love you,” she says. “I don’t care that it’s fast, and I don’t care that everyone will say that we’re crazy. I love you.”
Shock rolls through me, and I freeze in place for a moment. “When I was looking for you, I went everywhere. Your place and mine. Hell, I even went to Le Outre out of desperation. But it was when I walked into this building that I realized that I’m completely fucking in love with you and that I should have seen it sooner.”
There are happy tears in her eyes. I brush the hair back from her face. “But before I take you home and make that incredibly clear, I want to apologize again, and ask for your forgiveness.”
“You have it,” she breathes. “You absolutely have it.”
I don’t bother to wait. I sweep her into my arms and head for the elevator. For what’s about to happen, we need privacy.
9
Brooke
The lights fade on the stage and there’s a chorus of roaring applause. It’s opening night and I’m so emotional that I could cry. Everything went perfectly.
It’s been so long since I truly performed like that—I feel electric and alive. With such a small cast, the curtain call is short, but I want it to go on forever. I could start the whole show over again right now. But it’s over.
Amy hugs me, and I let my happy tears overflow now that I can. “You were so good.”
“You too,” I tell her. “I just can’t believe that it’s real.”
“I know right?” She laughs. “Are you going to come out? Or do you have other plans?”
I smile. Amy is now used to the fact that I basically don’t live in our apartment anymore. If I come back at all, it’s to pick up something that I forgot or to grab more clothes. Because I’ve been staying with Malcolm. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
After that night in his office, it’s only gotten better. I know Malcolm so well now. He knows me too, and we fit together like a dream. I’ve been meaning to send flowers to the HR person who hired me, because without her, I never would have met him. And if I could find that guy who nearly ran into me with all the coffee, I would thank him, too.
Malcolm hired the temp who was always filling in between secretaries, and she’s awesome. Angela is a little older, married with three kids, and has no problem kicking Malcolm’s ass out of the office if he stays too late. I miss working with him, but I’m a lot less exhausted without my day job, which is good, because even after these couple of months, we’re not tired of each other. And the sex is impossibly better than it was because now we know what makes the other person tick.
“I’m not sure yet, but I’m guessing that I’ll have other plans.”
She smirks at me. “When I need to get another roommate, tell me. Please.”
“You mean you’re not happy having the place all to yourself?”
“Are you kidding? It’s fabulous.” She laughs. “Not that I hated living with you. But sooner or later you’re going to get tired of paying for an apartment that you’re not actually living in.”
“True.”
We’re near the dressing rooms now, and Amy gives me another hug. “Tell him hello for me, and I’ll be sure to tell the entire cast that you’re getting laid.”
“Oh my God.” I roll my eyes. “Please don’t. But also it’s not like they don’t already know.”
Once I came back to the play, there was really no hiding my relationship with Malcolm. And to my relief, the producers and directors made it clear to the entire cast that his involvement was not the reason for my casting.
“See you later,” Amy says, pushing into her dressing room.
I close the door behind me in my own room and start changing out of my costume. Everything is set for the next day, and I’m not quite dressed in my own clothes when the door opens behind me. “You know, you’re supposed to knock first.”