Page 65 of I Choose You

She cleared her throat. “I don’t attend fancy shindigs like this often. So I can see now that while these shoes are pretty—”

“Mm-hmm.”

She giggled, putting the tablecloth back in place. “They are only to be appreciated when I’m seated, not walking all over.”

I grinned. “I can rub them for you.”

Her teasing expression fell. She didn’t frown, but it was impossible to miss the change on her features as she looked past me.

My offer to massage her aching feet was forgotten.

Kody strode up to the table, reaching for a chair to pull out. I’d spotted him throughout the night among the throngs of guests. Mercedes had too, asking me in passing if he’d brought a date. He hadn’t. Ever the rebel, Kody didn’t bother bringing someone to be his other half tonight.

He glanced at Brooke but didn’t speak.

Other guests around the table looked up, volleying their curious gazes between the woman who was pretending to be my date and my twin.

Don’t be an ass. Mere seconds had passed as Brooke and Kody looked at each other, but it felt like an hour of awkwardness. He sat, raising his brows at her but not speaking.

Silent treatment? I’d misjudged. I didn’t have to worry about Brooke causing a scene. I should have worried about him doing that.

“Kody, you remember Brooke,” I said, testing the waters as calmy and neutrally as I could think to.

He tilted his head to the side, opening his napkin to place on his lap. “Book?”

“Brooke,” I corrected through clenched teeth. You fucking know her name. I lowered my hand to set it on her thigh but hesitated. Tension radiated from her, and I wasn’t sure if contact would piss her off or comfort her.

His frown irritated me, even if he kept it polite. “I’m sorry, I don’t think we’ve ever met.”

Brooke slid her legs to the side, scooting her chair back.

“Excuse me.” She didn’t ask it. She hurried to stand and walk away.

“You fucking prick.” I whispered it so lowly I doubted any guest heard. But I made sure my brother saw my fury in the glare I gave him.

Then I set my napkin down and chased after her.

She hadn’t gone far. I guessed those sitting-down shoes were my saving grace, slowing her from a full-out run. I didn’t care who watched. My duties fell to the wayside.

I tempered my pace to a walk as I caught up to her in a quiet section of the gardens.

She sat on a bench, her hands closed in tight fists as she pressed them to the stone seat.

She dipped her chin to her chest. All that long, black hair fell forward, curtaining her from me.

I stepped closer, trying to figure out the best course of damage control.

“Brooke?”

22

BROOKE

I knew I shouldn’t have come. I fucking knew it.

It had taken everything in me not to snap at Kody at the table. The asshole thought he could pretend not to know me? What kind of fucked-up bullshit was that?

I’d almost lost my temper. Kaden tensed up, not missing the tension. It was only because of him that I’d kept a handle on myself and refrained from lashing out. We’d had such a good time until then. All evening, I felt like his date. I’d wanted to prolong the illusion for as long as possible.