When (he)arts Prevail

13

By the time the sun started to set, Kaylee felt a bit better and rested. Staying home, curled up on the couch had helped after all.

With shower taken, Kaylee applied only the simplest of make-ups to give herself a bit of glow, and was ready to leave to Mike's. She was wearing a long loose dress, as the days were getting warmer. Grabbing her denim jacket from the coat rack at the entrance and her apartment keys, Kaylee went out.

She halted at the doorstep of the building, her eyebrows rising in her forehead at the sight of Brian waiting for her inside his car. She walked down the front steps and towards him, tapping on the window on the passenger side. He looked up from the phone in his hands at her, dumbstruck for a moment, as if he wasn't the one expecting her. He unlocked the doors and Kaylee opened the one on her side. "What're you doing here?" she queried, her tone hinting at confusion.

His features softened with a smile. "I thought I'd pick you up. It doesn't make sense for everyone to bring their cars."

Kaylee wasn't going to refuse a ride, so she hopped in. "You could've taken Aly."

She regretted it as soon as the words left her mouth.

Brian blinked at her for a moment, before warning, "Buckle up."

Kaylee quickly fastened her seat belt, knowing Brian wouldn't move the car until she did so.

"About Aly," he stated, somehow emphasizing her name, "she was already planning to go with Denny and Mateo."

He put the car into motion.

"Mateo, the boyfriend?"

"Mateo, the boyfriend."

Kaylee rested against her seat, hands in her lap. "Oh, wow."

"Yup," Brian popped and Kaylee felt like an idiot. Again.

Trying to cover her embarrassment, she asked, "Uh— have you met him?"

"Nope."

"Will it be weird?"

Brian frowned at that. "Why would it be weird?"

"You know..."

"Come on, Kaylee. How many times must I tell you? It's been over two years."

Kaylee didn't say anything else, but she could feel Brian peeking over at her every two seconds. She caught his gaze on one of those times and playfully squinted her eyes in a glare. Brian's face broke with a heartwarming smile before he turned his attention back on the road.

She didn't look away, however.

He looked handsome, his hair knitted in a natural mess, his black shirt enhancing the full sleeve of tattoos on his right arm, some still looking fresh and new against his tanned skin. She felt like touching them and tracing each one with her finger, but upon grasping the path her thoughts were taking, Kaylee immediately looked away. She felt her neck and face heating a little bit, so she opened the window on her side to let the wind cool her skin.

"So, are you feeling better?" Brian inquired after a while.

"Yeah. I'm good now."

"Everything okay?"

Kaylee threw him a brief look, taking a breath and letting it out in a sigh. "Just work. It's been a bit chaotic."

Brian hummed in understanding. "Are you no longer happy there?"

Kaylee chuckled dryly. "Was I ever?"

Her own realization made her groan inwardly. When was the last time she was truly happy?