Forced Proximity (Bluebell House Duet Book 1)
Forced Proximity: Chapter 29

Brodie told me we needed to leave early in the afternoon for our date and had helpfully let himself into my room to browse my closet in order to choose a dress. The one he pulled out was short and silky, pale blue with a flirty skirt. Easy access kind of dress. He didn’t say that, but I definitely thought it.

I took my time getting ready, putting on makeup and curling my dark-purple-toned hair with butterflies wrecking mayhem inside my belly. I had no idea where he was taking me, only that it was a “work thing” in the closest bigger city, about an hour-and-a-half drive from Meadowridge.

When I was ready with glittery heels on and a coat draped over my shoulders, I left my room. Two steps down the hall, I heard the raised voices from downstairs. Most notably, Ethan’s raised voice.

“She is not going with you, Brodie, and that is final!” he bellowed with so much authority, I nearly scurried back to my room to change before remembering that I was a fucking grown-ass woman and Ethan did not control me or my actions. With that in mind, I threw my head back and strutted my primped ass right down the stairs and into the middle of their fight.

A fight that was cut off midsentence by my appearance, as both guys watched me like they’d never seen a dress or a pair of tits pushed up in said dress before.

Ethan’s eyes darkened, and Brodie’s went all dreamy as he took a step toward me. “Evie babe,” he breathed. “Holy—You look like a fucking dream.” He leaned down, his lips brushing my cheek. “A wet dream.”

That set Ethan off as he tore his gaze from me and rounded on Brodie. “You cannot take her out to one of your bullshit Hollywood parties looking like that. You’re asking for trouble, and Eve can replace that all on her own.”

Wait… “Are you referring to my little kidnapping incident? Because that could have happened to anyone.”

He stared at me, shaking his head. “So why does it always happen to you? You’ve been here for a few months and already got nearly blown up and kidnapped. For fuck’s sake, Eve.” He took a step closer as well, until I was nearly sandwiched between them. When he turned the full force of his gaze on me, I had to shore up my resolve again or I was about to blindly obey his command. Dominant Ethan did things to me that were downright depraved, and I lost every ounce of feminism in my body.

“I’m going to this event with Brodie.” A firm statement, and I would not waver, despite my own misgivings about it. “I need to know I can venture out into the real world and not lose my shit. My therapist was constantly encouraging me to get back to living as he called it, and until now, I’ve still been hiding.”

And I could have died in the trunk of a car without truly experiencing life; I’d been wasting time. Well, no fucking more.

“You can’t stop her, Eth,” Brodie reminded him quietly. “That’s not how this is going to work while we all live in Bluebell House. Here, Evie belongs to all of us, and you have to learn to share.”

Jesus. Fucking. Christ.

“Evie belongs to Evie.” My statement and tone were weak because his claiming only added to my current drought of feminism. The thought of belonging to them all—not Andrew—just about sent me to my knees.

“Right, babe,” Brodie confirmed. “You get a claim as well, but that doesn’t take away from my claim. And I have you tonight, which was booked many weeks ago.”

With that, he threaded his arm through mine and started to lead me away. My legs were a little wobbly after that claiming, but I managed not to fall.

Last second, Ethan reached out and grabbed me, dragging us both to a halt. “I’m the professor in charge here, and I’m saying that you can’t go, Eve.”

There was a sudden pain in my chest, like he’d stabbed me with his harsh command.

How dare he?

“You weren’t a professor when you were smashing me into library shelves,” I hissed at him, my temper rising with each word. “You don’t get to pick and choose, Professor Sullivan. And you don’t own or control me. If this is what happens when we spend time together, then you know what? Count me the fuck out. We’re done.”

I yanked my arm from his hold, and now I was the one hurrying through the house toward the front door. Before Ethan could respond and before I could analyze the slash of hurt I’d seen on his face.

“You okay?” Brodie asked as I dragged him down the stairs, suddenly able to run in heels when I could barely walk in them before. “Because I can go back in there and beat the fuck out of him if you’d like.”

“Nah,” I said, far more casually than I felt. “He’s not worth it. I want to go to this event with you and enjoy myself. It’s been too long since I’ve done anything for fun.” And forever since I went on a date.

Not like it was easy to date when you’d been the cause of a school shooting because a guy had grown a little too obsessed with you. Made it hard to venture into the dating world again, though I’d certainly been giving it a red-hot try here.

Speaking of. “Ethan isn’t going to do anything stupid, right? He doesn’t strike me as unstable, but his attitude right now felt a little extreme for the situation.”

Brodie looked uncomfortable as he led me over to his waiting Bugatti, the black car shiny in the early evening light. “He’s just worried about you, Eve. I’m not sure he knows how to express that, and the fact that he can’t just go out on dates with you probably bothers him as well. But I promise, he would never harm you; you are perfectly safe with all of us.”

As if to prove his point, as he opened the door for me, a large black SUV pulled in directly behind us. He leaned closer, his handsome face creasing into a grin. “I’ve got extra security for the night.”

Right. Of course he did. Because he was a freaking movie star, which I was replaceing harder and harder to remember.

As I settled into the leather seat, he closed my door and strolled around to his side. I glanced out the window to see that Ethan and Connor were on the steps, arguing away, though neither followed the path down to the car. It bothered me to see Ethan upset like that, even if it was all as Brodie said, over his concern for me.

When you were concerned, you discussed those concerns with the other person. Demanding I stay without even listening or talking to me about it was a whole other red flag. Maybe I had been crazy to think that I could have more than one relationship within the house, even though we were all just casual and no promises had been made.

It was naïve of me to hope that there wouldn’t be jealousy and other issues. Ethan had proved that tonight, and for once, I wanted to be away from him and the house.

“So…what is the event we’re going to?” I asked once we’d passed the front gate security and pulled onto the main road. “You haven’t told me anything except that it’s a ‘work thing’ and Ethan mentioned a Hollywood party?”

Brodie chuckled, shaking his head. “Don’t worry, Evie babe. We’re not flying to Hollywood. Eth was being way too dramatic. We’re just going to Arrowville…there’s a small film festival on this weekend and they’ll be showing a first cut of Bloodstone Sentinel: The Resurrection. I thought maybe you’d like to see it with me? Or…Jesus now I’m second-guessing that. Do you think I’m a narcissist for taking you to see me on screen for two hours?”

My jaw had dropped right to the floor. “Brodie Keller…are you kidding? I’d love to see it with you! Is this the first time you’ll see it, too?”

He nodded, seeming sheepish all of a sudden. “Yeah. They had some delays in post-production so I haven’t had a chance to get over to LA for a screening.”

“Well, shit. I’m honored. But aren’t these things a big deal? Like with, um, photographers and stuff?” I smoothed my hands over the silky skirt I wore. It was pretty, yes, but it was hardly a designer gown for walking the red carpet.

Brodie reached out and laced his fingers through mine, squeezing reassuringly. “Yes…and you look amazing. You don’t need custom couture to look breathtaking. Everyone will be asking who my gorgeous girlfriend is. I can’t wait.”

My mouth went dry. “Oh wow. Um, that’s a lot to unpack, Brodes. I don’t…okay I really don’t want to sound like I’m not crazy flattered, but I don’t think it’d be a good idea for me to be photographed with you. Is that… Would you be offended if I skipped that part and met you inside?” Because for all my big talk to Ethan about reclaiming my independence and not being scared to leave campus grounds, I wasn’t ready to see TMZ plastering my face—and my Target dress—all over the internet. Brodie was so famous that they’d have my entire life history detailed for the world to see in no time.

He glanced over at me, concern etched across his handsome face. “Yeah, of course. I mean no you can’t meet me inside but we can totally skip the red carpet shit. Done. I’ll contact the organizers and make sure we can enter through the back of the venue. Sorry, I should have⁠—”

“It’s not that I don’t want to be seen with you,” I quickly added, realizing how my reluctance might have come off. Drawing a deep breath, I decided to take a little leap of faith. “It’s a safety thing. Um, about six months ago, there was a shooting at my old college. Twenty-three people died and more were injured, but he wasn’t there for a random act of terror. He wanted to kill me.”

Cold sweat rolled down my spine as I gave Brodie the very abridged version of events. His fingers tightened around mine, and the strangest expression crossed his face, but then it was gone, and he was completely focused, showing only concern.

Making me think I’d imagined that slightly guilt-ridden expression. I was probably projecting my own trauma onto him..

“I would fucking love to be Brodie Keller’s girlfriend,” I continued, “but the guy was never caught and the idea that I might be putting a target on your back actually makes me feel sick.” I pursed my lips, uncomfortable as fuck. “Also…we should probably address the whole girlfriend label before Ethan has a nervous breakdown. Not that he’s particularly in my good books right now.”

Brodie said nothing for a moment, then flicked his indicator and pulled over onto the shoulder to stop the car.

“What are you—” I started to ask, but he cut me off by grabbing my face and kissing me hard.

“I’m sorry you went through that, babe, but I’m so happy you trusted me with your secrets. I want to say that you’re the bravest, kindest, prettiest woman I’ve ever known.” His voice was husky as our kiss eased. “You’re the most real thing in my life, and I never ever want to put you in an uncomfortable situation. We can skip the movie and just go to dinner, if you want?”

Brodie always had all the right words, and it was still hard for me to believe that this famous, gorgeous movie star took one look at me and decided I was the one he wanted. But that was how it had seemed to happen. From that first moment in class, when he’d ground to a halt when he saw me.

A feeling that was absolutely mutual.

I shook my head firmly, smacking another kiss on his lips. “No. Definitely not. I wanna see you as Bloodstone Sentinel dammit! And if I can sneak in the back door, I’m cool with that. But you should still do the famous-guy shit without me.”

“Not a chance,” he growled. “It’s our first date, Evie babe. I’m not letting you out of my sight for even a second.” He kissed me again, making me moan before shifting the car back into drive.

As he pulled out into the road once more, he linked our fingers back together, then kissed my knuckles. It was the sweetest gesture that said everything. I was safe with Brodie and more than just physically.

I was starting to believe that…maybe even my heart was safe.