When (he)arts Prevail

14

Brian and Kaylee arrived at Mike's at the exact same time that Denny, Alyssa and her boyfriend did. Their friends had just parked their car and were heading towards the front door, when Brian's car arrival stopped them.

Alyssa immediately waved at them, yet it was her boyfriend who caught Kaylee's attention the most. He was so tall! Due to his height, he seemed a bit lanky and awkward, hands in his pockets, his posture slightly hunched over.

Kaylee got out of the car, after Brian parked it behind what Kaylee assumed was Mateo's car, and went to greet her friends. She hugged Alyssa first, putting behind her the discomfort she felt all afternoon. "Hey, chica."

Alyssa quickly grabbed onto Mateo's arm, pulling him closer. "Mateo, this is my best friend, Kaylee. Kaylee, this is Mateo, my boyfriend." She finished that sentence with the biggest smile Kaylee had ever seen, her eyes sparkling with pure joy.

Mateo drew out his hand with a soft smile, his eyes drooping to the side a bit at it. "Nice to meet you, Kaylee," he said, his voice sounding like one of those radio hosts that presented late night sessions, with calm, relaxing music. Kaylee immediately felt safe and at peace next to him. Her lips widened in a broader grin and she decided to knock his hand aside to hug him properly.

"Me, too, Mateo. Me, too."

He was so different from Alyssa's ex-boyfriends, which was an amazing sign given her taste was often terrible. Except, probably, when she dated Brian.

Kaylee was delighted to see her friend so happy, and she suddenly felt embarrassed by her behavior this afternoon. Clearly, Alyssa was head over heels in love with this guy. She hadn't needed to worry about her and Brian. Not that it mattered. Did it?

They all headed inside after greetings were in order.

Kaylee could sense some discomfort coming from Brian, the way his shoulders tensed and how he masked it by sticking next to Denny a few steps back from Alyssa and Mateo. Kaylee felt sympathetic toward Brian. None of them knew if Alyssa had told Mateo about their relationship or not, yet it made sense for Brian to feel uncomfortable regardless of it.

Mike and Johanna's house was of fair size. They were the only ones not living in a small apartment like the rest of the group, so whenever there was a gathering, the chosen place was always their house. Despite the trouble of having everyone around, Johanna loved cooking, so she usually insisted and didn't mind having her place full of people. That's how she had grown up — with a big family packed up in a small space surrounded by food — and love, she would often add.

Kaylee went straight to the kitchen once she stepped in, greeted by Mike, to ask Johanna if she needed any help. Kaylee wasn't much of a cook, yet she could help in any other way if necessary.

Johanna had prepared some appetizers, so Kaylee took them all out to the dinner table, distributing them fairly. Brian, watching food pass by, immediately bee-lined toward her and snatched one homemade chip from a bowl she was still holding. Kaylee slapped his hand away when he went in for more and received a cheeky grin in return.

"Wait for everybody else," she chastised.

"But I'm not everybody else," Brian replied in a lower tone, meant only for her to hear.

Kaylee stopped, looking up at his innocent face before rolling her eyes and trying not to let the smile desperately fighting its way to her lips make her lose her ground. However, the glint of amusement still in Brian's eyes and the smirk slowly curling the corner of his mouth was enough to crack her. Kaylee chortled, elbowing him lightly on the side. "You're impossible."

"Want anything to drink, Kayls?" Mike cut in from the other side of the table, holding two bottles, one of red wine and one of white. He knew Kaylee's taste had evolved over the years and beer wouldn't cut it.

"Red is fine, thanks," she smiled back.

Brian took the opportunity to snack away while Kaylee was distracted, until she pushed him away from the table and toward their friends on the couches.

Kaylee went up to Alyssa and Mateo, who were chatting with Mike. "My red wine partner," she said as a way of jumping into conversation with her best friend. Alyssa grinned and clicked her cup with hers.

"You know it."

"Alyssa told me you were a designer in an IT Company."

It was Mateo addressing her. Kaylee nodded with a smile. "That's right."

"He's a developer," Alyssa said, her own face lighting up.

"Oh, awesome. Finally I'm not the only one doing a boring ass job, uh?"

"I do like what I do," he said with a sheepish chuckle, although his cheeks reddened a little in embarrassment.

First time speaking with the guy and Kaylee had already put her foot in. "I just meant that these guys all have non-traditional jobs..." It was a poor explanation and Kaylee felt like hiding herself in a hole and never getting out again.

"Kaylee is only saying that because her talent is being wasted in that Company," Alyssa said, at the same time saving her and digging an ever deeper hole. "She used to do some amazing art. I think I have a few pictures of my favorites back in the day."

"Alyssa—"

"Seriously, look," she continued, unaware of Kaylee's discomfort. She brought out her phone and swiped up and down, back and forth. "I'm sure I have it here."

Kaylee gave her a twisted smile, hoping she wouldn't find anything. "It's really okay, you don't have to show it."

Alyssa's eyebrows knitted together at that, her eyes still glued to the screen. "But it was amazing work, Kayls." A second later, "Oh, look, here they are."

Kaylee's stomach dropped.

Alyssa showed Mateo her phone and Kaylee peeked over. It was some of her latest works before Nate had passed away, and seeing them after all this time made her feel like throwing up.

"These are sick!" Mateo laughed, sounding truly impressed. "Wow."

At this point, Mike, Denny and Brian all came to see what the commotion was about and Kaylee just stood still, unable to move or utter a word. She grasped the glass of wine tightly in her hands, her head spinning.

Brian approached her, pulling her aside. "You okay there?"

She just offered the smallest shake of her head, afraid the movement would make her even dizzier. Brian waited a moment, probably trying to think of what to do next, until he came up with, "Some hot chick brought the greatest snacks to the table. I'm gonna go grab them all. You should really stop me."

Kaylee didn't know if it was what he said, so out of place, or the way he said it, so serious and staring straight at her, but a chuckle bubbled out of her lips.

Relief washed over Brian's face for a second, almost imperceptible over the quick smile that grew right after, and she followed him to the table, leaving her friends to discuss her past work.