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We had breakfast at Grace’s, across the street. I fully understood why. Her cook had prepared a small buffet.

I discovered something I’d never eaten before. The cook had split a cheese doughnut and made it into a sandwich filled with peanut butter, a soft Italian cream cheese called mascarpone, and banana, and then grilled it. I probably shouldn’t have eaten three of them, but they were too damned good to resist.

Over breakfast, I took advantage of the opportunity to watch Ian and Ava more closely. He was trying to mend fences, but she still wasn’t happy. If it ended up being anything like my parents’ case, they would have to work on building their trust back up.

After breakfast, Brook’s cousin Chelsea got my attention.

“Grab your coat. I want to show you something.”

Clearly, she wanted to talk, so I did as she asked. Brook eyed her but didn’t interfere. We stepped out the back, and I discovered how special Grace’s home really was.

It had been built on a bluff overlooking the Ohio River, with the courtyard and two-story section of the house on the same level as the road. When you walked out the back door, you stepped down a level to a semi-enclosed, covered patio that ran the length of the house. From there, you had a spectacular view of the river. From the terrace, you could walk down the hill to another level surrounded by trees and shrubs and sporting an at least ten-person in-ground hot tub. The next level down from that was the pool and the pool house.

“Gram’s confused as to why you and Brook broke up. She said you two were perfect for each other,” Chelsea said, getting right to the point.

I appreciated her direct approach, if only because the temperature hovered in the mid-30s today. That made it a little too cold for small talk.

“What did Brook say?” I asked to stall, and if need be, to back up Brook’s story.

“She’s not talking, which is unlike her. While we were growing up, we shared everything.”

I pondered what to say for a moment. It wasn’t my place to share Brook’s family business and the real reason they’d moved. I decided on the indirect approach and explain the breakup itself.

“I’ll make you a deal. First, you tell me about the girls bullying her, and then I’ll tell you what I know,” I said and looked around. “If I do tell you, you have to promise not to share it with anybody.”

I’d pulled out my acting skills and was playing the nervous teenage boy. I’d gotten better at acting and could do the drowning puppy and get sympathy. If Chelsea knew me better, the act would never have worked because she would have expected my usual confidence.

She shoved her hands into her pockets and got closer to me so we could be coconspirators.

“Kaia Chamberlin is the one who sets the tone at our school. She and Brook clashed when they first met because Brook didn’t realize she was supposed to kowtow to Kaia’s royal status.

“Kaia has nicknamed Brook ‘New Girl’ and gotten everyone to use it. She has also said some nasty things about you breaking up with Brook, and that Brook has loose morals,” Chelsea said to enlighten me.

Sometimes I forgot that I lived in a fishbowl, and people knew who I dated. One of the reasons I decided to pick Brook as my girlfriend was that she could handle the public scrutiny. Some tabloid must have said something unkind. Frankly, one reason I loved my hometown was that I never had to deal with that sort of BS.

“Brook and I knew that our relationship would change at the end of high school. We agreed that when she was off to college and I left to film movies, we would end it … for now. Brook’s a great girl, and I admit that I still love her, maybe even more than she loves me. If anything, she dumped me,” I said, telling her the truth.

Chelsea pondered what I said and nodded.

“So, you didn’t dump her?”

“No,” I said, and then Evil David appeared, and I put the insecure teen boy act into full swing. “There was one other problem.”

I nailed the little quiver in my voice and the darting eyes—there would be multiple Oscars in my future. I had Chelsea’s full attention.

“What happened?” she asked.

“I shouldn’t have said anything,” I said, shaking my head as if I’d changed my mind. “It’s too personal. I’ll let Brook tell you.”

Blood. Water. Teenage gossip-hound in the role of a shark.

“You have to tell me. I promise not to say anything,” she said, pouncing on the bait.

I bit my lower lip and looked at my shoes like Dare would have as I sucked in my breath. Then I let it out slowly, and our eyes locked. She reached out and grabbed my hand.

“Brook is hurting. I just want to be there for her,” Chelsea added.

I almost believed her. But she had a little quiver like Duke had when you put a treat on his nose and told him he couldn’t have it yet. If not for that, I might have fallen for it.

“Brook can’t be a slut because we’ve never had sex,” I blurted.

Chelsea blinked several times. I guess my declaration caused her brain to malfunction. She stepped to the edge of the balcony and looked up towards the sky.