A Few Days Later
Zack
With two bags of groceries in my arms, I push open the door and carry them to the kitchen. At nine in the morning, I’m sure Brylee is still asleep.
She doesn’t know that I drive to town once a week and call Tyler to find out what’s happening with the case.
They stepped up the timetable, and the trial begins next month. Luca Damonte has been calling Tyler regularly, demanding to know what’s going on, when the case will go to trial, and when Brylee will return. But he doesn’t call her Brylee. To him, she’s still Ariel.
I put the milk in the refrigerator, grab the bacon—
“Where did you go?”
I turn around and see Brylee standing with her arms crossed. “I made a quick run to the store while I could. Look.” I point to the window.
She heads over with a childlike expression. “It’s snowing!” She looks over her shoulder at me with a grin. “I knew it would.”
“You act like you haven’t seen snow before.”
“I have, but not like this. Not in the mountains.” She giggles. “Can we go for a walk later?”
“If you want to, but—”
“But what?”
“You don’t have snow boots so we’ll need to go before the snow gets too deep.”
Her face twists in distaste. “Never mind. The thought of cold wet feet doesn’t appeal to me. Maybe we can light the gas logs, fix some tea, and find a good movie to watch.”
“How about we go buy you some snow boots and a sled, and see if we can find a gentle slope.”
“No riding down the mountain?”
“Uh, no.”
“And then tonight we can watch a movie.”
“Now that sounds like a plan.”
After breakfast, we wash the dishes and then head into town.
Brylee picks out some pink snow boots while I browse the sleds.
She looks doubtfully at the one I’m holding. “You think that will hold us?”
“Why not?” I say and give her a cheeky grin. We pay for the items and then head back to the cabin.
“Are you sure this will work?” Brylee asks. She’s sitting between my legs on the sled, and it’s pointed down a hill. It’s steeper than I want, but it’s the only one that looks somewhat safe.
“No.” Using my hands, I push off. The sled flies down the hill.
“I’m gonna killll youu. . . . !” she yells as the sled turns up on the right side, then violently turns up on the left. It feels like riding a twisted waterslide.
We’re heading straight for a mature oak tree. “Lean left!” I yell. We barely miss it. “Right! Lean right!” We miss another tree, but then crash into a low bush.
We both go flying through the air while the sled keeps going. I land with a thud. “Umph,” I groan. I look over at Brylee. “Are you alright?”
“No! Whose idea was it to go sledding?” She’s slowly getting to her feet. When I finally stand, I help her up. “I’m not doing that anymore.”
“What, you didn’t enjoy it?”
“Everything but the crashing.” With a mischievous grin, she says, “Let’s do it again.”
Chuckling, I shake my head.
After a few more rides down the hill, we head back to the cabin. While she takes a hot shower, I change clothes and make some hot chocolate.
The gas logs are lit and I’m sitting on the couch with the TV on when she walks though. She’s wearing her favorite boy shorts and a pink sweatshirt.
“I made you some hot chocolate.” I nod to the coffee table.
“Thanks.” She plops down, grabs her cup, and takes a sip. “Indiana Jones? Really?” she whines.
“Yes, really. You can choose the next one.”
I wrap my arm around her, letting her snuggle up to my side. I’m so comfortable with her here with me. I enjoy her company, the way she’s becoming more confident. It’s an extraordinary transformation from the scared girl I talked to on the computer, to who she is now.
Three movies later, her stomach growls.
“I need to fix something for dinner.”
She extracts herself from my arms. “Yeah, I’m hungry. Why don’t we just fix the frozen pizza?”
“Fine by me.” I head over and pull the pepperoni pizza from the freezer, preheat the oven, and then turn back to face Brylee. “I talked to Tyler today.”
“You did?” With a solemn look, she walks over and stands in front of me. “What did he say?”
“He says the trial will start next month.”
“Really?”
I nod.
“That’s great!”
“I knew you’d be happy.”
“I am.” She chews on her lower lip. “How long does a trial last?”
“Anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.”
“So, six more weeks at the most?”
“Probably, but the court system is fickle and that could change at any time.” Brylee launches herself at me. Her arms circle my neck while her legs wrap around my waist. The mood instantly changes, and when she leans back in my arms, I kiss her. Tentatively at first, then with more force as my tongue seeks hers and she’s kissing me back. Her hands squeeze my shoulders. Without breaking the kiss, I walk her over and sit her on the counter.
Still kissing her luscious lips, my fingers skim the inside of her thighs, pushing them apart.
Brylee breaks the kiss, and with labored breathing, she says, “I’m sorry, Zack. I can’t.” She rests her forehead against my shoulder.
“It’s okay.”
“It’s not. I got caught up in the moment and let things go too far.”
I try to will my erection down and think clearly. Swallowing hard, I ask, “You still have feelings for Luca?”
“I don’t think that matters. I’m sure he’s moved on by now.”
I know that Luca calls Tyler every week and asks about her. I also know that I’m a bastard for not telling her, but I wanted a chance.
“It’s okay, Brylee.”
A sad smile graces her face. “You were my first friend, and I love you for that. And then you rushed to my rescue. But I can’t sleep with you while I still think about someone else.”
“You sleep with me all the time.”
She laughs and swats my arm. “You know what I mean.”
“It’s alright, really. It would probably never work anyway.”
“Because of your job?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve already thought about that. If I was waiting on you at home while you were shacked up with some girl for a few months, I’d be pissed.”
I laugh, hoping to lighten the mood. I’m disappointed but not surprised. My job does keep me away for long periods of time, but I wonder what it would be like to take a desk job, come home to her every evening. For Brylee, I would be willing to try. But not until she’s sure and I’m the only one she has feelings for. So I’ll keep it to myself, and if going back to Luca makes her happy, I’ll let her go. Until then . . .
The stove beeps, alerting me that the oven has preheated.