When (he)arts Prevail

16

After dinner, Kaylee went up to Denny, scooting the closest chair over. She hadn't seen him for a long while now.

"Hey, Denny boy," Kaylee said, bumping her shoulder to his, which was at her level.

Denny smiled widely, wrapping his arm around her shoulders in a friendly manner. "Hey, girl friend! I missed you."

"Me, too, Denny. How is life treating you?"

"Oh, you know. Lots of work, but lots of fun."

Denny had bought a share of his brother's bar earlier this year. Since he spent most of his time there helping him out, he thought it would make sense to have part of the profits as well. The only downside was that the bar was in Santa Monica. It wasn't like they could go there every night.

"I'll need to pay you a visit one of these days, it's been so long," Kaylee told him, truthfully. She did have intentions to go there sometime. She could use some fun.

"Please, come. I've been trying to convince these dudes for ages but they always leave me hanging."

Kaylee leaned into Denny. "They're old, you know?" she whispered conspiratorially and he snickered.

"Tell me about it."

"But I will go. It's a promise."

"What's a promise?" Brian jumped in, a plate with what looked like three different deserts in his hand. He sat down next to Kaylee, on the opposite side from Denny.

Kaylee felt Denny wanting to move away from her, his arm retrieving from the back of her chair, but Kaylee held him in place, leaning more into him. "I'm licking Denny's big toe on New Year's Eve if I don't visit his bar until then."

Brian made a disgusted face and Kaylee burst out laughing along with Denny. Well, Brian should know better than to snoop into other people's conversations.

Despite Kaylee's efforts, Denny did manage to sneak away from her, saying he would get some deserts for himself, which left Kaylee and Brian alone at one corner of the table.

She looked at him and shook her head. "You scared him away."

Brian's lips curled on one side. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Kaylee pursed her lips.

"Anyway," he said, biting onto a piece of brown cake. Probably chocolate. Kaylee would have a taste later. For now she was okay with the wine. "I can't believe Mike is going to be a father."

"Why, I think it's cute," Kaylee replied, feeling honestly thrilled for her friends.

Brian put down his plate and used the napkin before settling back against the chair. "It is cute. I'm actually jealous," he admitted.

Kaylee's head tilted slightly, eying him curiously.

Brian shrugged his shoulders. "I mean, he's got the girl, the job, the house, and now he's starting a family for real."

"Okay..." Kaylee continued to stare at him, prodding him further.

"I want that, too," Brian said at last, sounding like it was obvious.

"Oh." Kaylee grabbed her glass of wine and took a long sip.

Brian sighed and held onto his arms, not really crossing them against his chest but quite. "I'm not getting any younger. I'll be 33 before the year is over."

Kaylee patted his arm. "You're old, my friend."

Brian swapped her hand away playfully, a hint of a smile on his lips. "Damn right."

"In all seriousness I had no idea you felt that way."

"It is what it is."

"You'd be cute with kids," Kaylee said after thinking for a moment.

Brian turned his head in her direction with a queer glint in his eyes she couldn't place. "You think so?"

She hummed her reply, nodding, and he smiled softly.

"Do you see yourself with kids?" His question was proffered with a certain care and caution, like he was afraid of even asking.

"I don't know." Kaylee lifted a shoulder in a small shrug. "It's hard thinking about it right now. With work and obviously the most important aspect, the missing boyfriend part."

Brian's smile returned to his face as he leaned forward on his elbow, half turned to her. "Part of that could be arranged."

"Don't be ridiculous."

"What?"

Kaylee gave him a pointed look and bumped her knee against his. "You know what."

Brian's smile turned a bit mischievous, yet he remained silent.

"I don't think you could handle me, anyway," Kaylee dared, looking at him over the top of her glass.

At that he scoffed, straightening again on the chair. "What?! I've known you since you were like... 3 feet tall. I'm sure I could handle you alright."

Kaylee cackled despite feeling her heart spike at the conversation. "It's not the same thing being my best friend and being my boyfriend."

"I know that. I still think I'd be up for it. I know you like the back of my hand."

Brian was so rilled up, Kaylee could not help but poke him even more. She placed her glass on the table and leaned forward and closer to him. "There are a lot of things you don't know about me."

He mimicked her position as he, too, leaned in, placing his arms on the table, mere inches from hers. He stared straight into her face. "I'm a fast learner."

"I'd make your life so hard."

She could swear his eyes dropped to her lips for a second, before he stated, "I love a good challenge."

Kaylee couldn't handle his proximity and moved away a little, flustered, trying to mask it with a laugh. "What are we even saying?" The wine was rising to her head, for sure.

"I don't know, Kaylee." His voice dropped down a notch, his eyes still locked to hers. "What are we saying?"

Kaylee's stomach churned at his words and she realized she was quite out of breath. When he finally got up from the table to go grab a drink, a smirk plastered all over his face, Kaylee felt lightheaded.