Always Sometimes Never: Sometimes Brooke Part 21

"Don't tell her I said that."

"I think you need to tell her."

I gulp. That's a really big deal. The biggest.

"Let me deal with this house thing first," I tell her.

"There are some real estate agents listed on this website. Do you want me to write down the names and numbers?"

I nod. "Thanks."

Fifteen.

Brooke "How's the rehab going?" Harper asks as she enters my bedroom.

"You mean the torture?" I reply as I get up from the exercise ball. I've been forcing myself to do all of the exercises my physical therapist recommended because I really want to get back to normal as quickly as possible. Well, as normal as I can be anyway.

"You seem to be getting around better."

"I'm still walking like someone who's a hundred years old and just p.o.o.ped her pants."

"It's better than not walking at all," she offers.

"Harper and her silver lining for every s.h.i.tty cloud. I knew you wouldn't be able to resist."

"We're packing up and getting ready to leave for the charity concerts."

I heave a sigh. "I still feel guilty about Leo not going because of me. It's not right..."

She places a hand on my shoulder and to my surprise I don't flinch. Maybe I'm getting used to people really caring about me, even if I'm still not sure if I deserve it. "Leo cares about you. He wants to be there for you. Let him do that."

"But the band is his life," I protest.

I can see in her eyes she's holding something back. "Tell me what's going on," I urge.

"Even though you're both too stubborn to admit it I know the two of you love each other."

"And that's the problem isn't it?"

She laughs. "Why is that a problem?"

"How are two broken and damaged people like us supposed to make a relationship work?"

When she rolls her eyes at me I'm actually a little insulted.

"I'm being serious."

Her eyes soften. "I know you are. But what you don't seem to realize it that everyone is broken and damaged in some way. It's one of the hazards of being human."

"You and Nic aren't. You're both perfect."

She scrunches up her little nose. "Far from it. We deal with issues like everyone else. Nothing is ever going to be perfect. You just have to do the best with what you've got. And you, Brooke Rhodes, have got Leo. You can try to push him away all you want, but he's not going anywhere."

I grin. "I guess I am stuck with him."

"For the long haul."

I find Leo in the guesthouse studio with the guys and Raven. It's a frenzy of packing various pieces of equipment and instruments.

As soon as Leo spots me his eyes go wide and he practically leaps over to me. "Where's your walker?"

"I decided to start moving around without it."

"You should be using your cane then." His voice actually sounds panicked.

"I'm fine," I insist.

"You're not fine. You just started moving around without it. You should have called me so I could walk with you. To make sure you don't fall."

"It took some effort, but I made it here."

He kisses my cheek. "Don't even think you're walking back without me."

"It looks like you're busy helping the guys."

He shakes his head. "They've got Darrow to help. You need me more than they do."

"Did someone say my name?" Darrow gives me a huge, fake grin. The guy's teeth are so white I practically need sungla.s.ses when he opens his mouth. "How's it going, lovely lady?"

I don't want to be rude, but the guy gives me the creeps. There's no doubt he's good looking in a politician sort of way. If he ever ran for office he would easily win on looks alone. The guys said he's from a very wealthy family and that he graduated from Julliard. He definitely looks like a spoiled rich guy who's always had everything handed to him on a silver platter.

Leo is shooting daggers at him with his eyes. "She's fine."

Completely ignoring Leo, Darrow has his full attention on my body. Even impaired he's looking me up and down like a hungry lion. It makes me want to vomit.

"I heard you're a Friend of Bill W."

Leo's eyes turn to angry slits. "Where'd you hear that?"

"I told him." Raven sidles up to Darrow and snakes her arm under his.

Leo and I glance at each other. Clearly we're both wondering the same thing: what in the world is going on between them.

Then I turn my attention to Raven. Glaring at her I state, "I'm in recovery."

"Pretty ironic that you got hit by a drunk driver." She glares right back at me.

"Karma I guess."

Darrow gives a phony laugh. Everything about the guy is completely manufactured. I'm having a hard time believing that Raven is falling for his pretenses.

But when I look into her eyes I see something there that I've never seen before.

Fear.

When has Raven ever been afraid of anything? Is she afraid of this creep Darrow? Then why is she with him?

Something about the scene doesn't make sense.

When I scan the room to find Xander I see him watching Raven and Darrow like a hawk. And he looks pale, almost like he's sick to his stomach.

What in the world is going on?

When Nic joins us he looks oblivious to the tense undercurrent. It doesn't surprise me. He's got a lot more on his mind than some kind of love triangle between Raven, Darrow and Xander. He's trying to lead an entertainment empire.

"If you need anything, Brooke, just give us a call, okay?" Nic says.

"You mean give Harper a call," I joke.

I guess he's not in a joking mood because he doesn't even crack a smile. "Give us a call," he repeats.

When Nic is in one of his serious moods I should know better than to cross him.

"Okay," I mutter. "Thanks."

He pats Leo on the shoulder. "With this guy taking care of you I know you'll be in good hands."

"I know the shows will be great," Leo says.

"I'm sure we'll get by," Nic says. "But it won't be the same without you."

When I glance over at Darrow he looks p.i.s.sed. His mouth is set in an angry line and his face has turned to stone. What he doesn't seem to realize is that Leo, Nic and Xander are family. And they always will be. He's an outsider and a temporary replacement.

When Xander approaches he stands on the other side of Nic about as far away from Raven and Darrow as he can get. This might be the first time since I met the guys that Xander and Raven haven't been all over each other.

"Are you getting tired?" Leo asks me. "Without your walker or cane?"

"A little," I admit. Even though I've been exercising I still feel like I'm just learning to walk again. It is tiring, and I'm sure being out of shape when the accident happened didn't help.

"I'll help you back into the main house. We can sit down for a while."

I nod. As sure as I am that Leo is concerned about me, I also sense that he wants to let the guys leave without a lot of emotion.

Xander and Nic both give Leo a quick hug, but I notice Raven doesn't. Which I find odd until I see that Darrow has a firm grip on her. It's almost like he doesn't want her to touch Leo.

"I guess I'll see you when you get back," Leo tells the guys.

Nic and Xander both nod, but Raven looks pained. Something is definitely going on and it's not right.

"I can walk back to the house," I tell Leo, who seems to want to carry me back.

"I'm here if you need me," he replies anxiously.

"I know. You're always there for me."

"And I always will be," he adds.

His declaration tugs on my heartstrings. Harper was the only person I ever felt like I could count on. Now having Leo in my corner makes me feel like a very lucky woman.

"What's with the guy, Darrow?" I ask. "Is Raven with him now?"

"f.u.c.k if I know what's going on with those two. The only thing I'm worried about is you."

"I'm worried about Raven."

"You're worried about Raven?" He laughs. "That's a first."

"She doesn't look right. I think something's definitely wrong."

"They need to deal with that s.h.i.t," Leo says. "The only thing I care about right now is making sure my Wild Child is put back together again."

Sixteen.

Leo Four Weeks Later "Are you sure you want to do this?" I ask as I hand her a helmet.

"I'm fine, Leo," she repeats for what is probably the fiftieth time.

She's worked so hard at recovering from the accident I don't want to see her hurt again. "You'll let me know right away if something is wrong."

When she gives me her duck lips and frowns I know enough to change the subject. "This isn't the nicest neighborhood," I remind her.

"I want to see where you grew up. I want to know as much about you and your past as you're willing to share."

I give her a quick kiss on the nose. "Same goes for you."