Although they'd taken different paths--Spence dropping out, Brian on the fast track to an MBA--they still saw each other regularly for beer and football and shooting the shit. Often enough, in fact, that Brooke had come to know Brian well, and for the most part, she liked him.
Of course, there'd been a few awkward moments. Brian made no secret that he was attracted to her. And although she was totally devoted to Spencer, she had to admit that he was easy on the eyes. In a world without Spence, she might have willingly caught one of his passes. But in the world as it was, he was just another pretty piece of scenery on the fringes of her life.
"Is he getting ready?" she asked Brian, who nodded.
"Rough night. He kept talking about how if things were different, Richie would be his best man. Not that he begrudges me the job, but--"
"Yeah. I know."
"You okay?" Brian peered at her.
"Of course. Just not enough sleep. Typical for a bride, right?"
"Mmm." He studied her a moment longer, his frown deepening. "You're not upset about the honeymoon, are you? Or the lack of a honeymoon."
"Are you kidding?" For over a year, Spencer had been pulling strings to land a network real estate flipping program. He'd finally--finally--got a contract with The Design and Destination Channel for a show called Spencer's Place. The producers had even committed to an unprecedented five-season run. But the kicker was that the producers wanted to start filming right away, and for that to happen, Spencer and Brooke had to cancel their honeymoon.
"We can take a trip anytime," Brooke said honestly. "This opportunity is way too important."
"I thought that's how you felt. But I wanted to make sure. You look a little off."
She forced a grin. "Exactly what a bride wants to hear."
"Wanna tell me?"
She sighed. Since Brian had a thing for her, she generally tried to keep her distance simply because she didn't want him to feel awkward when his interest wasn't returned.
So normally, she would have brushed off his comment, not wanting to get too down in the weeds with him. But today, with her heart hurting and her head confused, she accepted the offer to unburden herself, at least a little. "It's Richie," she said. "I feel so bad about Richie."
"Yeah, it's pretty much killing Spencer. And it's only gonna get worse."
"What do you mean?"
"It's a total fluke, but there's nothing he can do about it. Except Spencer says he can't handle it, and the network says that they can't reschedule. So they're at an impasse. I think Spencer's afraid they're going to throw up their hands and pull the plug."
Alarm bells clanged in her head. "Brian. What are you talking about?"
"The first day of filming. It's the day of Richie's execution."
She shuddered, then closed her eyes, opening them only when she felt Brian take her hand. "He's refusing to show up for filming, isn't he?" She knew the answer. He'd never abandon Richie, and certainly not at the end.
Brian squeezed her hand, and she clung to him, craving comfort.
"Those bastards," she said. "They can't bump it one fucking day?"
"You need to tell him, Brooke," Brian said. "Tell him that Richie wouldn't want him to lose this chance."
She couldn't tell him that. He'd never listen, and she didn't believe it, anyway.
But there was still something she could do. A way to make it better. To save Richie, and to save the show.
And all it would cost was her happiness. And Spencer's.
Chapter Seven
The feel and scent of Spencer stayed with Brooke for days. The way he'd pressed her into that alcove in The Fix. The way his skin had felt against hers. The roughness in his voice. The low, ominous promise of retribution.
And though she tried to concentrate on her work and on her business, it was Spencer--always Spencer--who filled her thoughts.