Page 150 of I Choose You

She’d scooted too close to the edge and slipped off, and I caught her. I sat with her on my lap as she giggled.

She sighed, not kissing me again. That drop had broken the moment, but it hadn’t changed the mood. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she nestled closer and rested her forehead on mine for a moment as we caught our breath after making out.

“Have you talked to your dad since that fight with Kody?”

I shook my head.

The tilt of her head amused me, but the knowing smirk on her face made me want to groan. “You have to talk to him.”

It was inevitable. Kody and I both wanted Dad to be happy. And us fighting and glaring at each other at the wedding would not be a great situation. Knowing Kody, it would be up to me to reach out to him and make amends.

“I know.”

She pecked my lips. “Before the wedding.”

I nodded, hating that she was right.

“You have to make peace with him.” She hugged me. “And I’ll be right there with you to support you through it.”

It was the sweetest offer, but since she was the object of what had spawned such a gap between me and my brother, it would be best if I tackled this on my own.

“I know.”

I could face him. I could swallow my pride and face him because knowing Brooke would be waiting for me afterward was all the incentive I needed.

Kody and I might never get along for long.

But so long as all was right with Brooke, life would be good.

50

BROOKE

“God.” The stylist shook her head and scowled at me. She lifted my hair, fluffing the long black strands as she examined them.

I raised my brows, watching her expression in the mirror. Rena swore by this woman. She claimed she was a goddess of everything to do with hair, wigs, and scalps. A master of anything that adorned a human head, this stylist was the best.

She leaned closer, wincing as she rubbed a few tresses between her finger and thumb, then scoffed. “I would cut a bitch to have hair like this.”

My eyes went wide. She’d come highly recommended, but she was gruff.

“You, quiet girl of a million tats, have the best hair I have ever laid my hands on.”

I smiled quickly. She was dry and blunt, her facial reactions more like something I’d expect to see if I had lice and rats burrowing up there. She looked disgusted, but I relaxed, understanding she was only annoyed in a jealous way.

“You hear me?” She patted my shoulder. “The prettiest fucking head of gorgeous locks I’ve ever seen.” Spinning me around to face her, she plastered on a bright smile that made her look more like Harley Quinn than a strip mall hairdresser. “It would be a delight to work with your hair.”

I wasn’t so sure now. She kind of creeped me out. And I bet I could style it enough myself and wear it down. Kaden sure liked access to it, especially when I sucked him off and he wrapped the long locks around his fist.

“Okie dokie.” I hopped off, unsure if I’d stick with the appointment I’d set with her.

The wedding was just a week away, and I’d made sure to speak with this so-called genius of hair well in advance with a basic consultation.

Rena had just flown home late last night. I was on my way to meet her for lunch, and I would seek a second opinion from her in person.

At the café we frequented near my office, she came inside as a jet-lagged but smiling woman laden with a lot of bags.

“Rena!” I got up to hug her, careful of her bags. “I’m so glad you’re back.”