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The weekend was an utter drag. Brooke had gone out with Luma again and attempted getting back on track with her exercise routine but eventually lost the motivation to do either, so she'd been in bed, her mind eating at itself until Monday evening arrived.

Brooke was at work but wasn't in the best mood as she was running on only a few hours of sleep, and her mind wasn't entirely on the job. She had left Luma with berries as usual but felt awful having her stuck in the bedroom for most of the weekend, and she was now alone for hours.

Brooke stood in the kitchen leaning against a wall, awaiting another order to bring to a table when she felt someone tap her shoulder and turned around to see a female co-worker.

"There's one irritated customer out there saying someone forgot his drink," she chuckled.

Brooke shut her eyes for a second. "Oh... shit, I think I forgot to relay it." She brought up her notepad and scanned the order she'd written. This wasn't the first time she'd screwed up tonight. She had also forgotten someone's side dish.

She eyed Brooke and studied her noticeably worn appearance and posture. "What's up with you tonight?"

"I don't know..." She did know. "Let me go handle this."

"Just be careful. Might get chewed out by Barry if you keep it up."

Barry was the manager, and fortunately, he hadn't been involved tonight, or else it would be a lot more stressful. Brooke watched her walk back into the dining area and rubbed her eyes. "Have to get it together." She sighed, went into the diner, and approached the table an older male sat at. How embarrassing. "Uh, I apologize, sir. You wanted the lemonade, right?"

He put his hand up. "Yeah, the one I've been waiting for for over ten minutes. You forgot?"

He had every right to be aggravated. Brooke was just relieved that was all he was. "Yes, very sorry. I'll get it to you right away. Is everything else okay?"

He nodded, barely.

She walked briskly to the kitchen and told them a customer had ordered a lemonade, hoping it'd be poured quickly. They didn't need to know the details. From this moment on, Brooke would clear her mind as best she could before it got her in trouble. She had to keep this job.

After a minute or so, she got the drink to the customer, who thanked her and seemed willing to look past her error without asking for the manager. She went to the restroom and stood over one of the sinks, throwing water over her face. Brooke had to talk to Parker after work. Pushing it aside wouldn't make this go away, and her state would only get worse.

---

She wasted not a moment staying behind after her shift other than to log out and exited the restaurant. While on break, she called Parker and told him she wanted to meet after work if he wasn't too tired, giving him no details besides it being important, which he agreed to.

Brooke saw him waiting across the road on a bench and took a breath while approaching. She didn't want to have this talk, especially when she was beyond exhausted with a headache due to lack of sleep, but it was more than necessary.

Parker stood and met her halfway, hugging her waist. "How are you feeling, babe?" She'd never asked him to meet her at work, so he hoped everything was all right.

"Tired. I just wanted to talk." Brooke pulled away and sat on the bench, which her legs needed.

He sat beside her. "That's all? You could have just come over. What about?"

How to approach. "The... thing you told me some days ago about you wanting to stay here in Malie. You meant that, right?"

He looked at her and would choose his next words carefully. It must have been bothering her. "Well... Yeah, I love it here. It's where I grew up. It's what I know, has all of my memories." Perhaps he shouldn't have tried covering it up that morning. Parker had been thinking about the subject but figured they'd work through it when it came time.

However, Brooke knew she needed to settle this now. "I'm..." She struggled, but this had to be said. "I'm telling you now that my goal is to be out of here in the next year or two."

Parker didn't know what to say, but he could choke hearing it. "How long has it been on your mind?"

"It's fairly recent. I thought I could be happy here, and I was, but..." Malie grew old fast. It was always to and from work, visiting small markets, and occasionally the garden. Brooke was through with such a slow lifestyle, and Parker wasn't enough of a reason for her, which she had to come to terms with.

"But?..."

"That's not important yet. I need to know one thing first, and I need for you to be honest."

"Go ahead."

She looked at him. "Would you be willing to relocate for me... Us?"

Parker could ask something similar of her. Why couldn't she stay? She'd met him here and decided to be with him. However, that was unfair. Brooke was allowed to change her mind or feel differently over time, and he wasn't forced to agree. "Brooke... This is my city. It's nothing close to massive, but I love what I have and don't see the appeal in the bustle of a major one."

"So, no?" She would understand if so, but it would definitely hurt.

Parker couldn't lie. It'd be pointless and come back to light later down the line regardless. "I don't know... I really don't want to lose you."

There was silence, and Brooke stood. "Why don't you think about it overnight? But please... Give me something by morning." She couldn't have this on her mind as much as it's been. Not when it was affecting her job.

"Sure."

"Thanks for coming. Talk then," she said before walking away, taking a deep breath. She wasn't getting much sleep tonight and wouldn't tomorrow, depending on Parker's decision.

Brooke was content with how she handled the situation, though, and would accept either outcome no matter how much it broke her. They either were or weren't meant to be.