21. Brenna
21
brENNA
The loud, grating rattle of my phone against the old diner countertop startles me, stealing my attention from my flashcards. I’d managed to tune out the din of the Hickory Hills Romeos—Retired Old Men Eating Out—and the Sunshine Seekers in Dolly’s while Mell got us drinks and placed our orders, giving me a spare moment to sneak in some studying.
I glance down at my phone, almost doing a double take as I read my brother’s name across the screen. It’s early here in Georgia, which means the sun probably isn’t even up in Colorado. Then again, Brandt has always been an early riser. But more than that, we haven’t talked a whole lot over the last couple of weeks. Ever since the third date proclamation.
Which, if we’re honest, is probably more on me than it is on him.
He’s texted me a bunch—basic check-ins like “hope studying is going well!”—and I’ve only responded to maybe half of them. Okay, that’s a lie. Maybe a quarter of them. Why? Good question. I have no idea. I did answer his call this past weekend, although that got cut short because he ran into someone he wanted to talk to .
Usually I’m dying to tell him everything—errr, almost everything—about my life. That’s how we’ve remained so close. But something about this summer and the distance between us has, well, put a distance between us.
The fact that I’m dating his best friend may or may not be contributing to that.
Brandt
I know it’s early, so I hope I’m not waking you, but I got sidetracked this weekend and never called back, so wanted to make sure things are good. I’m sure you’re busy studying and I’m worrying for nothing, but you know me…
I do know him. And he’s not wrong to worry. I am studying. Lots. I’m also up to a lot of other things too.
“Lover boy?” Mell teases, setting a cup of coffee in front of me.
She waggles her brows and circles the counter, taking the last stool on the end so she can hop up and grab our food when ready.
“No, it’s Brandt.”
My thumbs hover over the screen, flexing, as if they were the ones thinking of how to respond rather than my brain.
Hi! Yes, everything is good. Studying every chance I get.
Hitting the camera icon, a snap a picture of the flash cards on Dolly’s counter, sending it along with the text.
I’m going to kick the NAPLEX ass!
That’s my girl!
And don’t worry about not calling back. I get it. Sorry I haven’t texted you back—it’s been really busy here too. Trying to study, and spend time with Mell, and the drugstore…
No apologies needed. I’m glad to see you having a life. You are having a life, right?
Oh, how do I answer that…
I look up at Mell, my eyes wide, silently pleading with the universe to provide an answer. She returns my look with a questioning one of her own, so I tilt my phone her way, allowing her to read the text.
“Yes, big brother, I am. Sleeping in the other bed in your apartment,” Mell comments, keeping her voice low enough so only I can hear. “Although I’m not sure how much sleeping is really going on.”
I elbow her, but she dodges it, cracking up. I don’t bother to hide my smile as she continues to laugh—or deny any of what she’s said. Because she’s not wrong. I haven’t returned to my room since the town movie night. At least not to sleep. Every night since has been spent in Milo’s bed, the two of us wrapped up in each other. We do sleep—both of us work jobs that require a good night’s rest—but there’s also plenty of fooling around. Of exploration. And orgasms.
“I’m not saying that to Brandt.”
I turn the phone back over in my hand, still trying to find the words.
“Soooooo, then he doesn’t know?”
“No.” I pause, second-guessing. “I don’t think. Milo hasn’t mentioned telling him.”
I swallow hard. Because of all the things Milo and I have talked about—which most days feels like everything under the sun—the one thing we haven’t talked about is Brandt. My older brother, his best friend, has been conspicuously absent from our conversations. Consciously or subconsciously, I’m not sure, but regardless, he hasn’t come up. And at this point, he probably won’t.
Not that I want to be the one to bring it up.
“Y’all haven’t exactly been secret. You’re not Willa and Nash making out all around town, but…he did kiss you at the farmers’ market, and made it pretty clear he was claiming you at movie night. Word travels fast around town. Maybe a little slower out to Colorado, but…”
But…yeah…
Yes, having a life lol
There, that should placate him. Except Brandt is quick on the draw.
No strange men have been in my bed, right? Lol
“Nope, just their own beds,” Mell snarks, leaning over.
My cheeks flush, heat and embarrassment instantly enveloping me. I’m glad that no one else is around to witness this.
No, no strange men. As promised.
Good. So, what’s this?
The swirling circle indicating that something is loading appears, holding its place for a second, before a photo appears. A photo of Milo and me. Hugging.
My heart stops. Where the hell did this come from?
Maybe word doesn’t travel that slow to Colorado after all…
I blink, trying to focus and figure out exactly which moment this was. We’re standing in front of the Hayes produce booth, Milo’s hand on my hip, very clearly holding tight. He’s staring at me intently, and I can still feel the heat from his blue eyes. Even now, the butterflies stir inside me from their intensity.
“Hey!”
Oh shit…
I spin on the stool, smiling brightly as Willa leans down to hug me. I return the gesture, the strange angle not helping the awkwardness that is washing over me. As she lets go, I see Kenzie, Sylvie, and Bronwyn slide into a booth out of the corner of my eye, my mind trying to figure out what they’re doing here this early. Or at all on a weekday.
“Didn’t expect to find you here this morning,” she says.
“I work here,” Mell tells her.
I choke on my exhale, taken aback by Mell’s bravery. Willa’s known for being sharp-tongued on a good day. Like razor sharp. She’ll cut you with her words so fast, she’ll be walking away before you realize you’re bleeding. And prior to being caffeinated? Well, she can be downright mean.
“Clearly not very hard, from what I can see.”
Yup, there it is.
“We’re squeezing in a quick breakfast before Mell starts her shift and I have to be over at the drugstore,” I jump in. “We haven’t gotten to spend as much time together this summer as we had planned.”
Willa’s face softens, a knowing grin taking over. But not just any knowing grin. That Hayes smirk. It’s slightly different than Milo’s and still, just the same. Like she sees right through what I’m saying and knows a secret no one else does.
“Plans have a way of changing like that, don’t they?” she quips.
I laugh. “Yeah…”
“Well, I better get. We’re on a timeline—it’s the first day of school for Sylvie, and it’s tradition that we take her to breakfast before class, but as the teacher, she can’t miss first bell. But I’ll see you Sunday for family dinner, right?”
“I’ll be there.”
“Good.”
Hugging me again, she gives Mell a curt nod, then gracefully slides between the closely placed tables to the booth that her friends are in. I breathe a sigh of relief, all my insides relaxing, muscles I didn’t realize I’d ever tensed letting up.
A bell dings, and Mell’s head perks up as two plates full of food slide into the window from the kitchen. She pops up, grabs them, and is back to our spot, handing me mine, before I can blink.
“Your future sister-in-law is scary.”
“She’s not my future sister-in-law.” I don’t think…
I laugh off the comment, like it’s the most ridiculous thing in the world. Because it is.
Sure, Mell was right when she said that Milo and I haven’t been hiding whatever this is between us, per se. We’re also not shouting anything from the rooftops, or talking about it with others. Because whatever this is doesn’t have a name. Or a definition. It…just is. That’s part of what makes it so wonderful. So magical. We’re letting it happen. Naturally. On its own.
Not having a name or a definition also makes it easier when it comes time for it to end. And it will end. I have no idea what my future holds. Where I’m going to end up. Even if I end up staying here, the little sister of his best friend and business partner is probably not who Milo sees spending the rest of his life with. Something I suspect is a major reason neither of us talked about—or really even considered—telling my brother about our…fling, for lack of a better world.
Even if my heart is a lot more than fling level invested.
Shit, my brother!
Safety check. Anton had just thrown a peach at my head.
ha ha, sounds like I missed a good time.
Go back to studying, or breakfast, or whatever I’m disturbing. Tell Mell I say hi. Love you.
Love you too.
Phew…bullet dodged…
“Everything okay?” Mell asks, mouth full of pancakes, her question pulling me back to the moment.
“Ummm, yeah. What were we talking about?”
“Willa Hayes being your future sister-in-law. Although by the time you’d be Brenna Hayes, I guess she’ll be Willa Keller.”
Brenna Hayes…that does have a nice ring to it…
“It’s not like that.”
Mell rolls her eyes. “It’s okay to admit that you like him. Like that. At least to me.”
“There is no denying that he will be the one that I compare all men to from here on out. But…” I trail off, wanting to choose my words carefully. “I’m also not looking to never be able to recover. You know?”
Mell nods, taking another bite of her pancakes. She reaches for my note cards, pointing them at me. “Totally fair, and I promise, as your BFF, I won’t let that happen. But for now, tell me about the uses of ciprofloxacin.”