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As she was about to respond with something along the lines of how at least she gives love a chance, unlike me, Matthew came back with the last box, informing us of the strange man he met downstairs.
“Brooke, you might have a brooding neighbor,” he warned, and I looked at him confused but nervous, as well. “But heck, he was handsome!”
I should prepare something and introduce myself to my neighbors.
“How handsome?” Marie asked as she leaned against the island top, and Matthew explained how the man was tall and had a dark expression but that something about his frown made him seem attractive.
He sounded just like any other man from Chicago to me.
“Hmm, maybe Brooke will like him,” Marie teased, and my eyes widened in shock. I quickly looked at Matthew, wanting to see his reaction, but he had the same friendly smile etched on his face as he unpacked my books.
“Yeah, they would actually make a pretty attractive couple together,” he said, and I pulled my eyebrows together. What the fuck? I wanted to be a pretty attractive couple with him!
“Oh, so you think Brooke is attractive?” Marie of course chose to focus on something he hadn’t said - typical Marie.
I called her “The Extractor,” because she always somehow knew how to get information from people that she had no business getting, but she somehow failed to access that skill when it came to her boyfriends.
“Yeah, Brooke is pretty,” Matthew nodded as he looked at me and smiled, but that smile didn’t say, “I want to be with you,” it said, “I will compliment my friend,” which meant I wasn’t as pretty as I wanted to be in his eyes.
“Ooh, then you should totally ask her out and see how gorgeous she is,” Marie pushed, and I tugged at her dress, trying to get her to stop her antics because she was clearly not reading the room.
“Aha ha! No, Matthew and I are just friends and work colleagues,” I waved my hand, and he nodded, agreeing with me almost too immediately. There was no hesitation in his actions, and that kind of hurt.
Marie stared at me, annoyed; I had just driven a bulldozer through the stack of cards she was strategically building. But I would honestly rather reject myself than be rejected!
“I mean, you would never know until you tr?—”
“Oh, we know!” I interrupted her again, and her shoulders slumped, her right eye twitching as she looked at me. “I’m sorry,” I mouthed, and she shook her head.
“Marie is funny,” Matthew chuckled as he looked at me, and I forced my laughter as I nodded. “Can you believe that Agent Brooke?” Matthew slapped my back, and I swallowed in my gasp as I nodded.
What was it with all of them slapping me today?
“Agent Brooke?” Marie whispered, confused, as she stared at me, and Matthew took the responsibility upon himself to explain how I had gotten my pretty nickname.
“Brooke can sell you about anything. At the center, she’s able to convince any veteran that walks in there to leave with a K9 under fifteen minutes,” he exaggerated excitedly, and I shook my head.
“When they walk in, they already have their minds made up.” I waved my hand, and he threw his arm around my shoulder, causing me to stiffen as his scent wafted through my nostrils, and my heart rate quickened as I held my breath.
This sucks.
“Come on, don’t downplay your skills, Brooke. Everybody wants to know how you do it.” His hearty laugh met my ears, and I nervously giggled, looking at Marie desperately, but she had a shit-eating grin pasted on her face.
She lifted her phone and took a quick picture as she shook her head. “That’s quite a skill you have, Brooke,” she goaded, and Matthew fed right into her schemes, gloating about my skills even more.
“She’s just so amazing! That’s why I would drop anything to help her if she ever called.” He pressed a soft kiss on my temple, and Marie tilted her head to the side, cooing, as she pressed her hands to her chest.
I subtly shook my head as I tried my hardest to tell her not to say what I knew was about to come out of her mouth. But, of course, when had she ever listened to me?
“Oh, you guys make such a cute couple! You complement each other,” she squealed, and I shut my eyes tightly as I heard Matthew’s deep chuckle. He didn’t think so. I knew it.
“The same way I complement you!” I interjected as I hugged Marie, before Matthew could reassure her that we were only friends. “Don’t you agree, Matthew? I make anyone look good,” I shrugged, and he chuckled as he nodded.
“Yes, you do; now, the two of you would make a cute couple!” he said, and I nodded, pinching Marie’s back before she could say anything else. He looked at his watch and sighed as he shook his head. “Well, I need to get going. I promise to bring you a housewarming gift once you’ve settled in, Brooke.”
“Oh, you don’t have to do that. You already helped me so much today.” I accepted his hug, and he clicked his tongue.
“Nonsense, expect a gift soon,” he told me, and I rolled my eyes. “Do you still need a ride back to your place, Marie, or will you be staying with Brooke?”
