Chasing Pavements

As Soon As

Brynn rubbed the back of her neck as she walked down the stairs in her and Joe's shared Pensacola home. She needed to talk to him, she had been trying for days to, but it was always something else

She walked into the garden where he was planting the flowers his mom sent and she smiled lightly, she loved this man with all her heart and nothing could ever change that.

"Joe?" She called as she walked closer

"Yeah baby?" He asked, turning to where she stood and she smiled at the little strands of hair that had escaped his bun and had framed his handsome face

"We need to talk," she told him and instantly his face fell

This is what he had been trying to avoid for the past week or so. He knew something was wrong with his girl, and he had a feeling he knew what.

"Can it wait?" He asked hopeful, while patting down the soil and Brynn bit her lip

"No, it can't." She replied, realizing he too was trying to prolong it

Joe looked at her and was silent for a minute before he got up, dusted off his shorts and went over to her and she beckoned him to sit on the step when she did

She sat down and looked into his eyes and there was no moment where she felt more in love than when she looked into Joe's eyes, ever.

"I know it's bothering you." He began and she looked at him

"And believe me when I say I would love to fix it, fix us, but I can't." He continued

"Then you know that this is for the best." She said and he nodded solemnly

"Can't we work this out?" He asked and she shrugged

"I don't know, but right now, I just think we both need some space to just breathe," she said and then continued

"I just don't feel comfortable being the other woman in my own relationship. I can't feel like I'm sharing my own boyfriend, that's not fair and you know it's not." She said and he felt tears welling up in his eyes

"Don't cry love," she begged, she hated seeing Joe cry, let alone when she was the reason, she took his hand and pressed a kiss to his knuckles

"So, this is it?" He asked, praying she said no

"Not forever, as soon as you get this in order and sorted out, you get the divorce or whatever you need to do, then I'm yours." She assured him and okay, he felt a little better at her revelation

"Until then, I need some space away from our relationship," she said, and that was the piece he didn't like

He tangled their fingers and she smiled at him

"You promised to stay by my side," he told her, bitter smile on his lips. Brynn took a sharp intake of breath and exhaled shakily

"And I will be. I promise. I'm gonna stay by your side, but just not as more than a friend," she told him

"I love you Brynn," he told her, and she huffed a laugh at his assurance

"I love you to, so fucking much," she said and wrapped her arms around his neck and he wrapped his around her waist and buried his face into her neck

"I love you," he whispered and she smiled and rubbed his back

"I love you to," she replied

When they pulled back, Brynn couldn't help it, she leaned in and pressed her lips against his, Joe eagerly kissed back

They both prolonged the kiss because they both knew this was probably their last kiss for a while

"I'm gonna finish up here," he told her, gesturing her to the garden and she nodded and got up, walking into the house, taking up her phone and video calling Jon

"Hey B," he answered and she smiled sadly

"I did it." She replied and Jon closed his eyes and then looked at his best friend

"Are you okay?" He asked and she smiled

"No." She admitted, looking away when tears started pouring down her cheeks

Jon just stared at his best friend for a few minutes. He knew both Brynn and Joe would hurt extremely bad for the next few days, but he knew this was good, because if you aren't comfortable in a relationship then what's the point? But his heart did go out to Brynn, he hated to see his best friend cry., and with the way Joe loved Brynn, he had no doubt that he was taking it the worst

As soon as they got back together, he knew Joe would propose. He knew that Joe wouldn't lapse when it came to Brynn