Accidentally in Love [Brett Hand x OC]

59

It was pouring outside, and Theodora sat on the couch watching the Twilight movies and eating an entire pint of ice cream when the doorbell rang. She wasn't expecting anyone so was tentative about answering. Maybe it was Reagan home early.

She answered anyway, and was met with a soaking wet Brett. He was holding a bouquet of flowers and a smile on his face.

"Brett? Oh my God it's pouring, come inside!" Theodora gasped, stepping aside so he could enter. She felt awkward, only wearing a baggy T-shirt and underwear.

"Theo are you alright? You look like you've been crying." Brett studied her face, his wet hair dripping droplets of water down his own.

"I ended things with Jasper." She avoided his eye, "Is that why you brought me flowers? I assume Reagan told you, or something." In truth, she hadn't been crying because she broke up with Jasper, she had been crying as she tried to figure out what to do. She knew the reason that she ended things with Jasper was because of her feelings for Brett, but she was just so scared of the prospect of telling him.

"Uh... no, actually. They're for your birthday. And, in case you've forgotten, it is Valentine's day." Brett handed her the flowers. He had no idea she had broken up with Jasper but his heart soared when he heard her say those words. He knew it was selfish, but this was the best piece of news he had ever heard in his life. Why did Reagan forget to tell him this important piece of information?

"Thank you. Do you want a towel or something?" She looked at his dripping wet hair and soaked suit jacket. She felt giddy, he had bought her flowers not just for her birthday, but for Valentine's day.

"Yeah, thanks."

As Theodora went to fetch a towel, he peeled off his suit jacket and laid it over a chair. His white collared shirt underneath was also a bit wet and therefore a bit see-through.

"Sit on the ground." Theodora ordered as she re-entered the room carrying a towel. Her eyes travelled down to his torso but they shot back up instantly. She could tell by the energy in the room that something had shifted. The room felt hot and heavy with tension all of a sudden.

Brett sat in front of the couch and she sat behind him, each of her thighs beside him and covering his head with the towel.

"Are you watching Twilight?" Brett asked, as Theodora began to dry his hair, slowly massaging his head. Brett closed his eyes and lent his head back into her.

Theodora's breath hitched in her throat, but she set her eyes hard on the movie. "Yeah. I know it's cringy but they're my comfort movies."

"No, it's not cringy. I love these movies." Brett said, unaware of how hot Theodora was becoming. His voice was lower than usual, and also quieter. The feeling of her fingers massaging his head relaxed Brett, he honestly felt at home.

"Team Edward, right?" Theodora asked quietly, Brett was so close to her that she felt lightheaded.  The feeling of his head on her thighs had her hot and bothered. She'd thought about him in that context before, but now it was the only thing plaguing her mind.

"Definitely."

They sat in silence for a while, and even when Theodora had stopped drying his hair, he stayed sitting between her legs. He liked being close to her.

"Theo, I need to apologise for yesterday." Brett started slowly.

"What happened?" She asked quietly, "You know that you're the one person I actually wanted there." His heart warmed at this, but he still felt guilty.

"I was there, but when I saw you with Jasper, I just felt..." jealous. "Uh, I don't know how to explain it."

"It's okay, you don't need to. I think I know what you mean." She answered gently, her hands on his head. "I was just really emotional that night and I just really needed one of my best friends."

Friends. The word rang around Brett's head. "I'm sorry, please forgive me." He murmured. "I swear I never intended to hurt you."

"We're good." Her voice was low and he could hear a smile in her voice. Theodora's hands stayed in his hair, running her fingers through it therapeutically as they watched the movie.

God, this is not what friends do, they both thought to themselves. At what point do you stop being friends and start being more? When her hands leave his head and start touching other places? How many times are they going to cuddle and gaze into each other's eyes until they come to terms with the fact that they are beyond friends.

"So uh, do you want to talk about Jasper? Are you okay?" Brett broke the silence.

"Oh, I'm fine." Theodora answered a little too quickly, "I don't even know why I kept him around. He was super annoying. I guess I was just confused about my feelings."

"He was annoying." Brett chuckled, "If you don't mind me saying." He added quickly.

"I don't mind," She laughed, too, moving her legs so she was cross legged. Brett took this as an invitation to sit on the couch next to her. His white shirt was now undone and he wore a matching white wife beater underneath that Theodora couldn't tear her eyes away from.

"What do you mean you were confused about your feelings?" Brett pressed, "Sorry if I'm prying." He added quickly, hopefully he wasn't being too forward.

"Don't worry, you're not prying." Theodora reassured him. Her heart beat rapidly, this was her chance to finally say what she had been feeling for a long time, something she had repressed. "And I was confused because... the whole time I was with Jasper I had feelings for someone else and I was too stupid to realise it."

"Oh." Brett's eyebrows shot up. He begged and prayed to God she was talking about him. "So Jasper didn't do anything bad to you? He didn't screw you over?"

"No." Theodora laughed, "You see, even he noticed that I liked this other guy."

"Cause if he hurt you, I would kill him." Brett almost sounded aggressive, an emotion he rarely felt.

"That's sweet Brett, but you know you couldn't actually kill someone."

"I know, but..." Brett looked at his lap, just tell her, just tell her. "I really do care about you, Theo."

It felt like her heart was in her throat, she watched as he struggled to meet her eye.

"I honestly would do anything for you." He continued, words coming out like vomit. "I mean it. Even kill Jasper from assassinations." He added with a chuckle, he could barely hear his own voice, his heart was beating so rapidly.

Theodora paused, there was something about the way he spoke and his nervousness that made everything fall into place.

"You really would, wouldn't you." Theodora whispered, moving his chin with her hand so he looked at her. He only nodded, his brows furrowed and his puppy-dog eyes gleaming.

"The real reason I came to your house tonight was because..." Brett felt words coming out uncontrollably. Her face was so close to his he could count her freckles and spot every single shade of brown in her eyes.

"I think I know why." Her voice wavered, her hand steady on his chin. Her heart pounded in her ears. "Brett, I have a feeling we were never really just friends."

"I was hoping you'd say that." He said with a small smile. "Theo, I have been head over heels since the first time I ever saw you."

She could only smile back, her heart felt like it was having palpitations.