Perfect Dream

Chapter 2

Joe's POV:

Brynlee Kate Whitlock was my best friend in this whole world. For as long as I can remember I've had a crush on her and if anything my crush has done nothing but flourish over the past few years. I thought of her any chance I got. When I was playing football? I was thinking of Brynlee. When I was dating Olivia? I was thinking of Brynlee. The day I left Ohio State for LSU was the saddest and scariest of my life because I didn't know when I'd see her again; if I would see her again. She was earning her Bachelors in Communications and I was aiming to be a quarterback in the NFL. Thankfully her and her parents were my biggest fans and came to every home LSU game with my parents. That summer night in 2019 when we went out for dinner and drinks, I had no recollection of, other than I remember spilling my guts to her that I loved her. I don't think she believed me though, we tell each other 'I love you' all the time, but I actually meant it. Not in a friend way, a relationship way. She had bro zoned me so many times, but I knew deep down she was just in love with me, like I was with her. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out, literally everyone thought we were dating. The thing that I still find weird to this day was how cold Brynlee was to me after that summer night in 2019. She was living in Iowa and then the next second my mom told me she was living in Cinicinnati, working for the Bengals.

The other thing I couldn't understand was why she was acting so weird when I said I wanted to come over and see momma Clara. I tried to shake the weird feeling but I just couldn't. Brynlee always had a reasoning behind something and that was something I always adored about her. Maybe her apartment was dirty and she was embarassed? No that doesn't sound like my Brynie. She's a neat freak and will clean the same spot multiple times, regardless if it was clean the first time or not. Maybe she was seeing someone and didn't want me to know? No, that also doesn't sound like her. We told each other everything. And I mean EVERYTHING. Then it hit me, she told me in the congratulatory text that she had something to tell me. She still hadn't told me. So I decided to text her again.

Joe Brrr
Hey missy! You were supposed to be telling me something? I totally forgot to ask when we were at dinner but I can't stop thinking what it could possibly be. Care to spill the beans? I'm worried.

Brynlee Kate
I know. And I owe you an explanation. I just don't want you to freak out or be disappointed in me Mom said breakfast is fine, here's my address. I promise I'll tell you tomorrow, come early.

*************
I got up early the next morning to go pick up Momma Clara for breakfast. I slept like shit last night because I couldn't stop thinking about what Brynlee was going to tell me. I decided to stop over thinking it and just man up and go over. Getting in the car and blasting the air conditioner, I typed in the address that Brynlee sent me last night. When she said we lived close, I didn't think we lived that close. The GPS said it was a 5 minute drive from my condo to hers.

When I arrived, I got out of my car and entered the building, riding the elevator up to the 3rd floor. I found Brynlee's apartment fairly quickly and softly knocked on the door. She opened the door with a smile on her face. Her hair was in a bun, she had leggings on, and she had a Bengals t-shirt on, with what looked like baby puke on the shoulder. Brynlee's brother and sister-in-law have a kid but the way it sounded it was only Momma Clara that was in town. Now I was just confused.

"Joey! Hi! Welcome to my humble abode," She said, opening the door wider so that I could come in. Her apartment was small, but not too small. The living room was near spotless, so my thought earlier on her apartment being dirty and her being embarrassed by it, was wrong.

"Bryn this is so you. It matches your aesthetic perfectly. I love it," I smiled, taking it all in. Her view had a perfect view of a pond and I could see children watching the ducks swim around, it was the cutest thing.