Brooklyn
My alarm goes off and I groan as I force myself out of bed. I walk down stairs to the kitchen and make a quick breakfast. When I am finished, I go back upstairs and get ready. When I went shopping the other day, I got a new, blue, silk dress. I apply a little makeup and put it on. I curl my hair and pull it over to the side. Once I’m finished getting ready, I walk downstairs and head out the door.
After driving to work, I park and walk up to my office. When I unlock the door, there is a large bouquet of roses sitting on the table with a little white card beside them. I smell the roses and pick up the card.
It reads:
“I hope you have an amazing day, beautiful.
Love Luca.”
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A few seconds after I read the card, I hear a knock at the door.
“You like them?” Lucas voice echoes in my ears as I turn around to face him.
I walk up to him and kiss him.
“I love them, thanks” I respond.
“I’m glad. I came to ask you if you wanted to come over for diner tonight.”
“I would love too.” I say.
“Great, I’ll have John pick you up downstairs after work.” He says.
“Okay.” I say and kiss him one last time.
I watch him walk down the hall with a huge smile on my face. He’s so captivating, not only in his appearance, but in his personality. I’m excited to go to dinner with him tonight. I really want to get to know him better and I feel like tonight will be the perfect time to do so.
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After the day is over, I head downstairs and see that John is waiting for me just as Luca had said. John opens the door for me and starts the car. In no time, we arrive at Luca’s house. John helps me out of the car and I thank him. I knock on the door and I’m greeted by a tall man who I’ve now become to know as Justin, Luca’s doorman.
“Hello again, Brooklyn.” Justin says as he take my coat.
“Hello.” I politely say back.
“You can make your way into the dining room where Luca is waiting for you.” He commands.
“Okay, thanks.” I respond.
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I make my way into the dining room and see Luca sitting at the end of the table awaiting my arrival.
“Hey, Brooke, you look beautiful.” Luca says as he stands up to greet me.
“Thanks, but you just saw me at work and I looked exactly the same.” I respond.
“I know and you look just as beautiful now as you did then.” He says before kissing me.
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I sit down and the waitress brings out the food. It is magnificently prepared shrimp scampi.
“I’ve never actually has shrimp before, but this looks great.” I say.
“I’m sure that you will like it. It’s one of my favorite meals.” He responds.
I take my first bite and Luca was right, it’s amazing. We chat and laugh throughout dinner and then the waitress brings out desert, elegantly decorated cheesecake, which is also amazing.
“Can I ask you a question?” I say as I take a bite of my desert.
“Sure.” He says.
“What peaked you interest in publishing?” I question.
He doesn’t say anything for a moment, but then he says “When I was in England, around the age of 15, I decided it was time to clean up my act.” He continues by saying “I had been involved in various criminal activities in my early teens and I decided that I would clean myself up and do something great with my life. I’ve always liked reading and writing so i moved back to the U.S and went to college and opened my own publishing company.”
“Wow that’s amazing. I’m glad you turned out the way you did, I think I like this version of you better than any other.” I respond.
“Brooke, I’m glad I turned out the way I did too, but I’m still not the night and shining armor that you think I am.” He says.
“What does that mean?” I question.
“It’s too much to explain, Brooke, i was really messed up and to some degree, I still am.” He says and stands up.
“Luca” I say as I walk over to him. “I want to know everything about you even the broken parts.”
“Oh, Brooke now just really isn’t a good time.” He says and pushes me away.
“Is it ever going to be a good time, Luca? I feel like I don’t know anything about you and I want to know everything down to the tiny details.” I say angrily.
“No, Brooke, it’s probably never going to be a good time so just let it go would you. You can’t ask me these questions and expect for me to just spill everything to you. You know I don’t really know you that well either.” He says, now yelling.
“You know what, your right, I’m sorry for wanting to get to know you. I think it’s time for me to go.” I say and grab my things.
“Brooke, Brooke, don’t go.” Luca says from behind me.
“This was supposed to be a good evening, I was supposed to get to know you more and see if there is potential here, but that isn’t happening so I’m leaving.” I respond.
“I...I” Luca says at the door.
“You what, Luca? I don’t need anymore of your emotional abuse tonight.” I snap.
I turn around and walk to my car, but something I hear stops me dead in my tracks.
“I love you, Brooke” Luca says.
I turn around to see him standing in the doorway.
“How can you love me, you don’t know anything about me.” I respond.
“That’s not true, Brooke.” He says as he approaches me “I know how you obsess on the way your desk is organized, how you squint your nose when you are focused, how you care about everyone you meet, how you bite your lip when you get mad, how you are a perfectionist with your work, how you insist that it’s important to know everything about a person before you can really open up to them, and I also know that I love you and I’ve loved you since the first time I met you.” He says and I am left in tears.
“Do you really mean that or are you just saying that to keep me from leaving?” I respond weakly.
“Brooke” he says and hugs me “I meant all of it. I’ve never loved anyone before, but there’s also never been anyone like you Brooklyn Jennings.”
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By the time he is done speaking, I’m in a puddle of my own tears. No one has ever said anything like that to me and it was the last thing I expected him to say. This very moment, as crazy and unexpected as it was, was the moment I realized that I love him too. I love Luca James and it scares me to death.
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