Brooks sucked in his breath as she came close. Too close. He ought to take a step back, but he didn't. This was his house, she was intruding and he didn't want her to see that she was getting to him. She didn't belong here anymore. "As I am is not good enough for her," Brooks truly believed that. Effie deserved someone better than him. That he hoped to propose in the next few days didn't line up with those thoughts, but he was going to do it anyway. They'd been courting for a while. Brooks was ready to move on from these games and try to make himself into someone worthy.

"So I'm going to be better." And that meant things like not accepting inappropriate gifts from his ex-fiancée.