chapter 9

A nervous laugh escaped her lips before she could stop it. She was hoping they hadn't figured her out.

Keren waved off awkwardly with a nervous chuckle. "Oh I doubt that. My first time here was when I came with Nathan after college. Now that I returned, a year ago."

Both Ryan and Matt only nodded.

"Maybe it's your look alike." Matt reasoned.

"Is that..." Ryan began, looking at the bar area with squinted eyes. The bar area is at the other end of where they were sitting. "Is that Brooke?" He finally asked.

The attention of the friends turned to the direction of where Ryan was looking at.

"That is definitely Brooke." Matt confirmed.

"Jeez! I know she is way hotter than she lets on." Ryan said with a smirk. "Hiding it under all those long dresses and kaftan tops." He added.

Nathan couldn't take his eyes off of her. He gritted his teeth at the comments Ryan was making. He has already made it clear that he is interested in Brooke. That made Nathan feel even more angry.

Keren, on the other hand, saw the way Nathan fixed his gaze on Brooke's back. She felt a knot in her throat as she also gazed at the sexy lady.

Brooke was in a short red dress that hugged her body. It displayed every curve on her body, making her look sexier than ever. She is standing with her two friends, Kate and Nichole.

Nichole left the group despite the protest of Brooke. She went up to the DJ and asked for the microphone.

"Heyyy… announcement everyone. Tonight we are here to celebrate my friend, Brooke Turner. Who is officially divorced and ready to mingle." Nichole announced, pointing towards Brooke.

People in the club cheered and continued dancing. While some men began to check Brooke out from all angles.

Nathan made sure to capture the gaze of any man that landed on Brooke. His fits turned into a ball and he gritted his teeth in anger.

***

*Earlier that day*

After Brooke was delivered her divorce certificate, she had a video call with her girls. They said it calls for celebration that their friend is officially single.

She was leaving their town, Silverbrook, to a new city, Emberwood. The friends decided she needs to go out and mingle. Maybe even get hooked up for the night.

That evening, they all met at Kate's place. They all got dressed and picked an outfit for Brooke. It was very revealing of her beauty curves.

"Perfect! This is going to get the attention required, sooner than expected." Said Nicole.

They got their makeup done and left for the club. They were there a bit early. So they sat at a table and had drinks.

Brooke, who was not much of a drinker, tried to minimize her drinking. But her friends wouldn't hear of it. They claimed she had to loosen up.

"Here is to being single again." Kate said, raising a glass. They all cheered together before donning the content.

"Now, we need to get you a young, handsome and hot hookup. Someone younger than your ex-husband." Nicole said with excitement as she looked around. They finally got up from the table and went to the dance floor.

When the club began to get crowded, that was when Nicole decided to go on stage and announce Brooke being single. Brooke tried to stop her but she refused to listen.

Brooke chuckled at the announcement and shook her head. She is beginning to feel a little tipsy.

"Ohh.... Some hotties are eyeing your way already." Kate said.

Brooke looked at the half full glass in her hand. If she is going to do this, then she needs to drink more. She quickly gulped down the content of her glass. She turned to settle the glass on a table nearby when a husky voice spoke.

"Hey, beautiful. Mind if I have a dance?"

Brooke turned to the man. She chuckled lightly.

"Hi Ryan. Sure." Brooke agreed to dance with him.

When Nicole sighted them, she came closer.

"Hey.... Hey. What happened to finding someone younger. He is hot and all, but he looks older."

Brooke chuckled. "Of course he looks older. He is Nathan's friend."

"Oh come on. I am not that old. I look younger than your ex-husband." Ryan defended with a smirk.

"That is how you feel about yourself. Is that why you choose to be a playboy?" Brooke asked, teasingly.

Ryan shook his head before speaking. "When you are left with not much choice, you have to settle for what you get."

Brooke was not sure she understood what Ryan meant by his words. But before she could ask any further, he continued to speak as they danced slowly on the dancefloor.

"Now that you are single, we should go out." Ryan suggested.

Brooke chuckled at his suggestion. "That would be a scandal. Dating my ex-husband's friend."

"Yeah. Why not?" Ryan asked. His gaze turned in a certain direction. "Nathan has obviously moved on. You should do the same."

Brooke followed Ryan's gaze. There he was and his girlfriend, Keren sitting next to him. Keren inched closer to him and wrapped her hand around his.

"Eyes on me, beautiful." Ryan called her attention back to him. "Don't give him the satisfaction to think he has moved on and you haven't."

Brooke looked away and sighed.

"You should start getting used to seeing my face instead." Ryan said with a grin.

"Why is that?" Brooke asked.

"Because you will be seeing a lot of me in Emberwood."

"How did you know?" Brooke asked. Surprised how he knew she was leaving and also the town they are moving to.

"Who do you think recommended Mr Turner on his new appointment at Emberwood hospital?" Ryan asked, feeling proud of himself.

"Oh yeah. Your family is into the health insurance business." Brooke recalled.

"Right." Ryan confirmed.

"Does he know?" Brooke asked with a long face.

"Your ex-husband you mean?" Ryan asked.

"Yeah." Brooke confirmed.

"Nope. He doesn't." Ryan confirmed.

"I would like for it to remain that way." Brooke said with a pleading look.

Ryan looked at her eyes to confirm if she was being serious or joking. But she was in fact serious.

Ryan gave a small smile. "Your secret is safe with me."