Surrounded (Unsettled Series Book 2) by S.C. Ellington Read Free Book Online

has weaseled his way over here too. I told him he had to go before curfew though. I hope you don’t mind that he’s at your place too.” I could hear the remorse in her voice.
    “Don’t worry about it. They’re both welcome. Tell Alex I said that no matter how much she may want to, she absolutely cannot move in.” Brooklyn laughed and I grinned back at her, glad that I could make her smile.
    “Yeah, she was sold the minute she saw the soaking tub in the guest bath.”
    “What are you thinking about?” I asked, as the spark in her eyes dimmed.
    “I miss you…like really miss you—which is weird.”
    “What do you miss?”
    “Well…I miss your kisses and all the other stuff we do. It’s hard that you’re 3,000 miles away. That’s all.” My heart soared at her words. There was something about knowing she was missing me and wanting me as badly as I wanted her right that moment. Even more than this morning, I couldn’t wait to head back home.
    “Well I won’t be gone long, babe. If you want I can text Alex so she can run you ragged shopping again. Just let me know.” I was rewarded with her happy laugh and an infectious smile.
    “No, please don’t do me any favors” she said, still laughing.
    I traced my finger over her smile on my screen. “I better hurry up and get back before someone else steals that smile away from me.”
    “Nobody’s stealing me away, Logan. You don’t need to worry about that” she said, leaning her head to the side. She brushed back the piece of hair that escaped her bun. “I even brought Herman with me.”
    I laughed, thinking of the starfish I’d bought her during our trip to the aquarium. “So Herman is taking his act on the road?” I asked. “Herman, the traveling starfish…nice ring to it.”
    “Don’t laugh! Gaah! I shouldn’t have told you.”
    “No, I’m not laughing at you” I said, trying to show some restraint. “I’m glad you brought him. It’s nice to know you liked my present.” It was very nice to know that she appreciated something so small.
    “I did. It was very thoughtful. But there was something I wanted to ask you about that.”
    “Shoot” I said.
    “Why’d you give him to me?” She played with a candy wrapper in her hand, waiting for me to answer.
    “Why?” I repeated. I knew why I’d really given Herman to her, but for some reason I was nervous to tell her. I took a deep breath and then answered her question.
    “Do you remember what the sign next to Herman’s tank said?” I asked.
    “A little, not all of it though.”
    “It said that Starfish have an inexplicable ability to regenerate. If they’re cut in half, two grow.… And that they represent infinite and divine love.” I rushed through the last sentence, not wanting to scare her off.
    “Yeah?” She said breathlessly.
    “Well I can’t tell you that I love you at this moment, but in some ways I think we’re both starfish. We’ve been cut by people and different experiences. Somehow though, we’re still here. For whatever reason, we’ve survived and we’re still here. I don’t know about you, but I feel like what we have could...regenerate. Both of us. But even if we don’t work Brooklyn, I want you to hold onto Herman and know that even if it isn’t me, you deserve a divine and infinite love like no other.” I hoped she could see how honest I was being. Everything I said was the complete truth, even if I felt a little weird saying it.
    Silence fell between us as we looked at one another on screen. Brooklyn took a deep breath, “I seriously think you just turned my heart to mush” she said with a small laugh. “I want that too, Logan. I want it to be you, too. I want you to be that person that I don’t get used to, that keeps me on my toes, but most importantly, I want you to be the person that keeps a smile on my face and…and keeps my heart open. Because that’s what’s the hardest for me to do.”
    We sat quietly for another moment, things getting a