When (he)arts Prevail

29

Another round of drinks was ordered so Kaylee and Brian could toast to Brian's words and celebrate the new mantra "fuck'em". That obviously brought a fit of giggles from Kaylee, who was already seeing everything in double and losing all her filters.

"So bringing back the interesting topic your mom delighted you with, is there really no one new in your life?" Brian asked Kaylee out of the blue. Apparently, she wasn't the only one suffering from a loose tongue.

"Why would you want to know?"

"I need to know how long I have until you're swapped away from me."

Kaylee's eyebrow lifted in question. "What does that mean?"

"It means we barely saw each other while you were with douchebastian. And I'm quite enjoying it now."

Kaylee covered her mouth with her hand, fighting back a laugh at the name Brian gave her ex-boyfriend. It was genius, however mean. "You can enjoy it a while longer. I needed a break from guys, anyway."

Brian scoffed. "Not all of us are like him."

"I know, Mrs. offended princess. I'm not saying all guys are the same. But I was using it— guys I mean, as a distraction from everything that was going on. Sebastian was the last drop. What was I even doing with him?"

Brian raised both his eyebrows, nodding his head and giving Kaylee a pointed look, as if saying Duh!.

"I know you never liked him."

"I just didn't think you fit with him."

"Who do I fit with then?"

Brian's eyes shot to her at that, his drink paused on its way to his lips. He considered her question for a long while and Kaylee was almost letting it drop when he finally answered.

"You're not ready for that conversation yet."

"What?!"

He resumed his sipping as if this wasn't a big deal and they were discussing the weather, yet Kaylee's eyes widened at his answer. She asked, a bit bewildered, "Why?! What do you mean?"Brian breathed out, taking another moment to read into her eyes. He took another long sip at his drink while Kaylee waited quite impatiently for his reply.

"Why am I not ready?" She ended up blurting, at the same time kicking his foot under the table for further emphasis.

He grunted at her kick but chuckled, clearly finding her despair amusing. "You're still on that break, are you not?" He queried, his voice ridiculously calm.

"From guys?"

"Yes."

"I guess. I mean—" Kaylee shook her head, confused. "I don't know. Will you tell me if I'm not?"

"No," he smiled.

"You bastard."

Brian's grin stayed fixed on his face for another minute and Kaylee felt like grasping him by the throat. Why would he not tell her?

"What about you?" She decided to ask, turning the conversation around. "I haven't seen you with anyone lately. Unless you've been hiding her from us."

Brian put down his glass, crossing his arms. "There's no one."

"Really?" She pushed.

He gave her a nod. "Really."

"Since Rachel?"

"Since Rachel."

"Wow!" Kaylee could not quite believe it. Brian was not the type of guy to be alone for a long time and he had broken up with his last girlfriend, Rachel, almost a year ago. In that moment, her mother's conversation resurfaced in her head and she couldn't hold back the next question. "Why not? Or how? I mean..."