Nathan was equal parts nervous and excited. Brooke was finally coming over to his house. He wasn't sure how Brooke would take to him cooking for her but he knew he liked her enough to not like hiding things from her. For instance, his cooking skills. And also the fact that he wanted to come clean to her about the fake girlfriend issue. Even though Brooke might not understand everything, he hoped she would understand enough to forgive him or understand the reasons behind his actions.Even though Nathan was nervous he found himself relaxing when he started preparing the dinner. There was something about chopping up onions and mushrooms that just calmed his nerves and soon he was smiling, humming low to himself. The smell of garlic and tomatoes filled the kitchen and Nathan poured himself a glass of red wine while he continued to put his lasagna together, stirring his pots carefully while the oven heated up. He had promised Brooke a great dinner after all. Initially he was just going to

Nathan found Brooke’s behavior quite odd. It was unlike her to get away in such a hurry. Something was not right. He figured whatever it was that Brooke was dealing with, he’d give her the night to calm herself and he’d go guns blazing the next day. Because he couldn't stand to watch her in a disturbed state. Besides there was also the fact that he wanted to tell her the truth about his girlfriend. He wanted to come clean with her and tell her that he loved her. There was no doubt in his mind that Brooke would get upset with him, she may get angry at him, lash out at him and do everything that a woman would do if she was lied to. But he was also sure she would understand him and forgive him because deep down in his heart he knew she had a big heart. He just hoped she’d understand and eventually fall in love with him. The next morning as soon as he woke up he dialed Brooke’s number. It took a few rings for her to answer her phone all the while it ade Nathan nervous. “Hey, are you ok?”

After that eventful call, Brooke and Nathan became best of friends.They had lunch together and sometimes even dinner. The progress of the renovation was going at a good pace. The library and the office section at the mansion were almost done. Brooke was healing and enjoyed Nathan's company, genuinely believing that the man only wanted to be friends with her and there could be nothing more in between them. Slowly but steadily Brooke accepted that maybe she was reading too much into this girlfriend scenario. But her brain constantly reminded her that if Nathan claimed to be her best friend, then why wouldn’t he talk about his girlfriend with her. Just normal things like when did they meet? Where did they meet? How many years into the relationship? And so on. It all came to a head when Brooke directly questioned him at a lunch date. “How come your girlfriend never visits you?” She asked as they were having lunch at the Taco Joint. Nathan flustered. He had no genuine answer to that que

Brooke spent the next few days thinking and rethinking about what Steve and Alaina had said. She finally decided that she needed to ask Nathan to come clean about the girlfriend situation because she needed to know what was going on. Alaina seemed to be convinced that Nathan was into her, but Brooke wasn’t so sure. Because she had heard Nathan talk about his girlfriend like he loved her with everything he had. But like Alaina said, everything that she knew about this girlfriend was a bit fishy and too perfect to believe. So, she decided to confront Nathan. She called Nathan to see where he was, and to her relief, her friend was at the house he had stationed himself at. When Brooke reached Nathan’s house, she ran in with one of the maids who took care of the cleaning and dusting stuff at the house. As expected Brooke got looks from the maid at the house, but she simply ignored her. Ever since Greg had visited the brewery and had that fight with Nathan, the rumor mill had started churn

Nathan continued when Brooke didn’t speak. “Because I was so upset about everything that happened, I didn’t get back to Noah and he, like the crazy guy that he is, barged into my room this morning, demanding I take a look at the set of models that he had flown in specifically for me to see. He has a deadline, and he’d planned to do the photoshoot at the mansion ever since I told him that I’d bought it. “ “Yeah, it has this unique antiquated look, and what else is better than half-naked women spread out on the couch for people to look at?” Noah cackled, butting in between Nathan and Brooke. He could feel the tension in the room. “Shut up, Noah,” Nathan yelled at his brother. “And since when have you become such a pervert, Noah?” “Hey, don’t judge me. I appreciate all forms of beauty, no matter the size and shape they come in. I don’t discriminate on any basis. And appreciating beauty doesn’t make me a pervert.” Noah shrugged, admitting he was comfortable with all - with clothes or