Brandon
Lying there in his bed, reflecting on the day’s happenings, Brandon couldn’t decide if the turn of events had been a good thing or if he’d fucked up royally. He kept asking himself the same questions: What the hell was he thinking? What was he doing?
This went beyond wanting to help someone in need. He couldn’t hide what was happening behind that façade anymore. Taking the day off to help her out for the day was one thing, but offering to continue doing so for the rest of the weekend, especially knowing how impossible it would be to keep his lips off hers now, was a whole other monster.
He may as well toss his rulebook—the one he’d lived by for years—right out the window. So far he’d broken every last damn rule in that book. He’d gone back for more after last night’s kiss. He’d practically told her she’d been under his skin since the moment he’d laid eyes on her. If memorizing the way she’d ordered her salad way back at the airport didn’t say he’d been putting way too much thought into her, he didn’t know what did. Hell, he even told her about Sofie, something he hadn’t spoken to anyone about ever. This after spending a day and a half with her?
There was no way he could deny feeling an attachment to her already. When she’d brought up Lansing, reminding him of what she’d asked the guy at the ER, he’d been ready to spit nails. Why? Because just like seeing Rodriguez with her, the thought of her feeling anything for anyone else after just a few kisses had him burning up.
For someone who for years said he’d never show interest in anyone else’s personal life, he’d been utterly immersed when she’d brought her tablet out tonight to show him photos of her Grandpa Boot. She’d then proceeded to show him all her other photos on her tablet of her family, and he’d been equally engrossed. Seeing photos of her when she was a young high school girl fascinated him. He wouldn’t tell her, but she looked even more like Sofie than he first thought. That wasn’t the fascinating part. While he’d felt a bit envious of her normal and happy upbringing, the only photo he’d seen her in where she wasn’t smiling hugely was the one she didn’t know he’d seen in her wallet. Except for when she’d gotten a little emotional about her grandpa, the girl was nonstop sunshine and happiness. It was contagious, and after just spending a day and a half with her, he’d begun to smile and even laugh a lot more.
Once again, the sirens were going off, but unlike before, he was seriously considering silencing them. He had no idea where this might be going. Nor did he know where he wanted it to go.
They’d talked for hours tonight. She’d offered to turn on the television, but he passed, preferring instead to talk. He wanted to talk—get better acquainted with someone—something that had always made him so uncomfortable before, not because he was in anyway inept at holding a conversation but because he feared enjoying such conversations. That would mean enjoying said company, which in turn would lead to wanting to spend more time with anyone, which ultimately meant attachment. But tonight he’d wanted it, and he’d enjoyed every minute of it. It was insane. Though, in hindsight, she’d done most of the talking.
At one point, he’d been lying there in her bed with her snuggled up next to him, wondering what the hell he was doing there. How the hell did he let this happen? And then she’d kiss him, and all those doubts about whether or not he should get up and run from there as fast as he could, would go away.
He could no longer say he hardly knew her anymore. Tonight they’d talked in depth about her family, her career, and her friend Janecia, the one he’d seen her having dinner with at Gaslamp. The only significant part of her life she merely brushed over was her late husband, who’d passed away suddenly last year in a motorcycle accident. Brandon picked up on the fact that she hadn’t planned on talking about all that, until he asked her about the last relationship she’d been in.
Judging by how emotional she’d gotten when the subject of her grandpa was brought up and the fact that she’d admitted to not dealing well with loss, Brandon didn’t push. It was one thing to see her cry over her grandpa, but he wasn’t sure how he’d feel about seeing her cry over a guy she’d obviously been in love with, someone she’d likely still be with if he were still around. Brandon wasn’t ready to deal with something that heavy yet—he didn’t know if he ever would be. This whole attachment thing, to anyone, would be completely new to him. If he decided to let it happen, he wasn’t sure how good or bad he’d be at it. Already, he was beginning to feel an unreasonable sense of entitlement to her. Hearing her talk about her feelings for someone else, even if in the past, was not something he’d be looking forward to. So if she chose to never talk about her late husband again, he’d be just fine with it.
He too had been pretty short on subjects he’d rather not talk about. Keeping it as simple as possible, she now knew the basics about him. He had no siblings. Both his parents had died years ago, one of cancer and one in an accident. Regina was obviously as good as he was at picking up on sore subjects, because she’d let it go, not pushing for details.
Brandon’s phone buzzed, and he was almost afraid to check it. Regina had programmed her number into his phone tonight and texted herself so they’d now have each other’s numbers. He’d just spent the last six or seven hours straight with her and then came home only to think of her nonstop. This could very well be her because no one else ever called or texted this late. He was as afraid as he was anxious to see if it was.
He smiled at the envelope and caption: Text from Regina. Clicking on it, he opened and read it.
Just wondering if you’re having as hard a time as I am sleeping. I CANNOT stop thinking about you! =O
Feeling that now familiar smile spread across his face—the one that hadn’t made an appearance this often until Regina—he let out a small groan, closing his eyes. Okay, maybe this wasn’t such a bad thing. Having someone in your life that made you feel this good couldn’t be that bad, right?
He sat up and texted back.
Thanks for this. I was beginning to think maybe I was nuts. I’ve been lying here since I got home, thinking about everything we talked about today.
Waiting there in the dark, knowing he was smiling like an idiot, he thought about something. He was living proof that fate could very instantly and very drastically change whatever plans you’d made for your future. Could his life be taking a turn once again—this instantly? And was he really going to let this happen?
His phone buzzed, and he clicked on the envelope.
Well, since it is the weekend, and for the sake of us getting some rest before having to go back to work Monday, maybe tomorrow I can have a sleepover? Popcorn, movies, and junk food until we pass out? No sense in you leaving if you’re just gonna be back the next morning, right? Of course, you’re promise of being a complete gentleman will have to stand. You’re invited to sleep in my bed, nothing else, well, except for what we’ve done already. ;)
Groaning even louder, he brought the pillow over his face and did something even more foreign than his constant smiling now—he laughed out loud. Once again, his subconscious was already deciding for him. Even if he wanted to stop it, which he didn’t, this was already happening.
~~~
After Regina’s late texts last night, thoughts of seeing her again today had kept him awake into the wee hours of the morning. Then later in the morning when he’d woken, the second his brain was awake enough to remember everything that had happened yesterday, he hadn’t been able to go back to sleep.
Knowing the drugstore wouldn’t be open that early, he headed to Walmart for that shower chair, the wrap for her ankle, and the popcorn and junk food she mentioned for their sleepover. Among all the things Regina had shared with him yesterday about herself, she’d mentioned some of her guilty pleasures. Chocolate was on top of her list. She said it didn’t matter what shape or form. It was her ultimate weakness, so he grabbed plenty of things with chocolate as well. But there was one other very specific thing he’d immediately thought of when she told him, and with that in mind, he was now headed to the one place he’d vowed never step to foot in again—La Jolla.
It was early enough that he was fairly certain he wouldn’t have any uncomfortable run-ins with anyone from his past there. Still just being in his old neighborhood brought back the bad vibes—vibes he was certain Regina would easily chase away just as soon as he saw her. But he’d rethink doing something like this next time. He was pretty sure the chocolate-chocolate-chip waffles from the waffle house he grew up having breakfast at every Sunday were not the only good ones in the area.
As he jumped on the freeway, waffles on the passenger seat, he felt an immense relief wash over him. The further he drove away from that city, the better he felt. He made the same vow he’d made long ago, only this time he was sticking to it. He’d never step foot in that neighborhood again. Nothing was worth it. He’d find another damn waffle house.
Smiling the second he walked into Regina’s place, he was glad he’d been right. He hadn’t even seen her yet, and already being this near to her had snapped him right out of the weird mood going into La Jolla had put him in.
He started up the stairs, wondering if she was awake yet. It was early still.
“Is that you, Brandon?”
The question puzzled him again, but he didn’t respond because he was already at the top. She was just walking out of the bathroom, holding on to the wall, and the second she saw what he held, her eyes brightened. Starbucks was another of her guilty pleasures, and he’d made a stop there as well.
“Oh, yay!” she clapped her fingers together, wobbling a little, then stopped, her jaw dropping when she got a closer look at the coffee cup. “Don’t tell me,” she said, “you got me a Chocolate Dalmatian?”
He nodded but frowned. “You didn’t tell me it wasn’t on the regular menu. I froze when the guy asked how I wanted it.”
She brought her hand to her mouth and laughed unapologetically as she reached her bed then sat down.
“Lucky for you, the other barista knew what was in it, or you would’ve ended up with a plain coffee. Since I hate coffee, I wouldn’t have had any idea what to order you.”
He leaned over and kissed her softly before handing the cup to her then put the rest of the stuff down on the bed. Regina scooted back onto her stack of pillows, savoring the coffee, and Brandon sat down on the edge of the bed next to her. “How you feeling today?”
“Still sore but a little better than yesterday morning.”
He leaned into her and kissed her again a little deeper than he had the first time. He’d been right that first time back on the base when he’d guessed that tasting the coffee on her lips would be delicious. Her mouth tasted damn good. “I’m glad,” he said then bit her bottom lip before asking what he’d wanted to ask yesterday morning and now, only a day later, felt more entitled to. “You wanna tell me why you’ve asked if it’s me walking in here the past two mornings?” He pulled back and peered at her. “Who else would it be?”
She stared at him seriously for a moment then smirked and lifted a shoulder. “Oh, I don’t know. One of my other very sexy caretakers maybe.”
He knew she was kidding. Still he went serious, raising an eyebrow, because this was a good lead into something he’d begun to wonder yesterday and even more so after her late night text.
“I’m kidding!” she said suddenly with a laugh. “I don’t know. I guess because I know the door isn’t locked. I just want to make sure no one else has walked in.”
“I thought you said because this is a gated community you didn’t have to worry about that?”
“I don’t.” She shrugged, taking another sip of her coffee. “But sometimes I hear other things like the ice machine going off in the kitchen. Makes me wonder if maybe you’re already here and I didn’t hear you come in. So I call out for you.”
He stared at her with a suspicious but playful smirk. “So last night you said you haven’t been in a relationship in over a year.” The playfulness in her eyes seemed to wane a bit, so he hurried his point along and got past that part. “But are you seeing anyone else? Or is there anyone you go out with even casually?”
Lifting that cute little brow, her eyes challenged him now, confusing him. “You mean like you casually left the bar with that blonde?”
Okay, he walked right into that one. Damn it. “Well, yeah, something like that, only I’m not seeing her in any way.” He paused before saying what he wanted to say next, because it was a risk, but then just being here was a risk, so what the hell? He may as well get this straight now. “Until you, I didn’t do repeat visits, no matter what the circumstances. And I can’t even remember when the last time was that I spent the night with someone or had someone stay overnight at my place. Now I have an overnight bag in my Jeep outside.”
Her eyes widened a bit alarmed. “You do understand that tonight—”
“I got it,” he said with a smile. “I’m invited to sleep in your bed, nothing else, and that is definitively a first for me too, but I’m still looking forward to it.”
Her eyes went playful again, and she chewed her bottom lip. He did what he always wanted to do when he was distracted by her lips. He kissed her. Somehow, one day had changed everything, and he wasn’t holding back anymore.
The doorbell rang, and Brandon pulled away slowly. “You expecting someone else?”
From the puzzled look on her face, he already had his answer. “No.”
He got up then thought of his hermit parents and how they almost never got the door when someone knocked. He turned back to her. “You do want me to get it, right?”
“Yeah.” She nodded, the expression on her face as curious as he felt.
His insides tightened a little as he made it down the stairs. They definitely would be getting back to that conversation they’d started upstairs. Just the thought that he might be opening the door to a male friend of hers had him working his jaw already.
It was a dude at the door, but thankfully he was in an UPS uniform, holding a large square envelope with what felt like a book or something inside. Brandon took it from him, signing for it, and read who it was from: Chris Devereux MD. The originating address was from New York. He remembered her saying her mom used to have her meds delivered. Though he thought if that’s what this was it’d be coming from a pharmacy, not from what appeared to be a private address. He highly doubted any doctor’s office would be on Cherry Lane. Typically, it would have a suite or office number; this had neither. He shook it very subtly anyway as he walked up the stairs, but there was no noise.
Regina’s expression went as curious as he felt as soon as she saw him walk into the room with the package in his hand. “Hmm, I wasn’t expecting anything.”
“It’s from New York,” he said, handing it to her.
She read the return label, and the change in her demeanor was unmistakable. She even lost some color in her face.
“Your doctor?”
He pulled the tray with her waffles out of one of the bags on the bed, pretending not to notice her obvious sudden unease.
“No, um.” She glanced at him then put the package down next to her. “An old friend.” Bringing her attention to the tray he was now holding, with the see-through plastic cover, she smiled. “Are those chocolate waffles?”
“Chocolate chocolate chip, actually,” he said, pulling the lid off and handing them to her.
Her lips parted slightly in surprise as he sat down next to her and kissed her. She brought her hand to his face and kissed him deeper. “Thank you. These look delicious!”
Her reaction was pretty much what he’d expected, but something about it felt a bit forced. The package, or rather who it was from, had rattled her, and for as much as she tried bringing the focus onto her waffles and away from the package, he caught the struggle.
“Aren’t you curious?” he asked as she dug into the waffles.
She looked at him while chewing, her eyes nearly rolling back in ecstasy. “God, these are good,” she said, covering her mouth with her fingers.
Deciding to let it go—for now—Brandon pulled his steak and egg sandwich and orange juice out of the bag and joined her in eating breakfast. He told her about the shower chair he’d gotten from Walmart that morning and his history with the place he got the waffles from.
“Oh, one of my sisters lives near there. Wait.” She covered her mouth again as she finished chewing and thought about that. “Is Pacific Beach near La Jolla?”
“Yeah, that’s nearby there,” he said, crumpling up the wrap his sandwich had come in and throwing it in the bag.
“I thought so. I’ll have to tell her about this place. These waffles are to die for.”
Regina finished with her waffles, and Brandon gathered up the garbage in the bag.
“That was so good,” Regina said, tapping her belly. “And it was the perfect size, because I’m not overstuffed.”
“I thought you’d like them.” He smiled.
Seeing how content the waffles made her, Brandon was beginning to think maybe a drive out to La Jolla once in a while wouldn’t be so bad. Geez. Here he’d had the nerve to make fun of the other guys she very possibly had wrapped already. At least those guys had been around her for a few weeks.
Shaking his head, he stood. “I’ll go get the chair from my car.”
“Oh, yes!” she said with a big smile. “That’s gonna make showering so much easier. Thank you.”
He turned to her with a smirk, and she held her hands out. “Yes, I wanna thank you for it. Come here.”
She wiggled her fingers in front of her, and he was there in an instant, leaning over. Pulling him gently by his shirt, she gave him one of the deepest kisses yet, one that had parts of him shifting. He had to pull away before things got embarrassing. She’d already made it clear there’d be nothing more going on than what they’d already done, but if she kept this up, he may be tempted to try and change her mind.
“You’re welcome,” he said, pecking her one last time. “I’ll be back.”
The moment he was out of sight, he adjusted himself. As much as he avoided kissing in the past, he’d never let them get this frenzied, so while he had felt aroused by a single kiss before, he’d only felt the beginning of arousal. Never before had he gotten a full-blown erection from one kiss as he had now. This wasn’t just embarrassing. It was ridiculous.