Night Out

BROOKE

Expecting the worst, I grit my teeth and open the envelope. Instead of threats or demands, though, I find two tickets to a private box for the Bucs against the Panthers. My mouth drops, and I have to find my seat in my office.

I’m just floored. John got Syd tickets to her favorite team? When did he do this? How? Why? He’s never done something amazing like this before.

Sydney is going to be over the moon excited! He actually listened to her! Did something for her!

But wait… How did this get in the mail if it wasn’t properly addressed? There’s no stamp, either. I grab my coat and purse and John’s envelope and head back out to the front. “Julie, where did this come from? It isn’t properly addressed,” I point out.

“Hmm, I…don’t know, actually,” Julie answers, sounding confused.

“John didn’t come by here, did he?” I get scared for a second. If he did, there will definitely be hell to pay if he saw Colin.

“No! Why?” she says, her eyes growing bigger by the second as she sees my reaction.

Colin is still standing there at the desk, obviously also listening in, but I figure what the hell. He already knows everything about John anyway.

“John… He got Syd tickets to the Bucs game. Two tickets in the nice box seats!” I hold out the tickets like they’re proof I’m not dreaming. Two tickets. Is that supposed to be for him and Syd? Or me and Syd? Or Syd and a friend? I have no idea.

“WHAT? Let me see those!” Julie takes the tickets, looking at them and then examining the envelope.

“Weird,” she concludes. “But Syd is going to be SO excited!”

“Yeah,” I agree, “it just doesn’t seem real. John wouldn’t do this kind of thing.”

“Well, maybe the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes,” Julie jokes, handing back the tickets. “Don’t think about it, Brooke. Go out tonight and enjoy yourself!”

“You ready to go?” Colin asks, not making eye contact.

“Yeah, sure. I’ll drop off Syd in an hour?” I reconfirm to Julie. She nods and keeps waving me out.

***

An hour later, I’ve picked up Syd, brought her home, fed her a snack, packed her overnight bag, and dropped her off with Julie. She’s absolutely ecstatic to have a big girl sleepover tonight. Now, it’s finally time to get myself ready.

I destroy my closet in the race against time to get ready, trying on every piece of clothing I own. I keep overanalyzing and overthinking, and that manifests with me throwing each potential outfit to the floor in a fit of pique.

What’s making me so nervous? Oh, I don’t know, everything! Ashton, Colin, Ashton’s fiancée who I didn’t even know existed until today. It all makes for a nerve-racking night, especially considering I hardly go out at all anymore.

I analyze myself in the mirror wearing a long-sleeved fall dress that goes to my knees, paired with high, brown leather boots. I don’t know, is it too much?

I’m just hanging out with a bunch of guys at a sports bar. Maybe I should just wear jeans and a T-shirt? Before I can change my mind again, though, I hear the doorbell ring. Nervous butterflies flock to my stomach.

I open the door and Colin’s standing there, looking as handsome and hunky as ever. He’s dressed in dark jeans and a white collared shirt, unbuttoned a little at the top with the sleeves rolled up to expose his enormous arm muscles.

His biceps strain against his shirt—it almost looks uncomfortable, like it’s too tight for him. He stands there awestruck, staring back at me.

“Wow! You look…”

“It’s too much, isn’t it? Give me a second to change,” I say, ready to turn and head back upstairs.

“No, don’t! You look…amazing!” Colin grabs my arm and spins me back around, eyeing me up and down.

I look down, blushing. It’s only then that I see what Colin is holding. “What are those?”

“Flowers…” he says, looking bashful. They’re beautiful, a huge bouquet of purple irises and red roses that make me want to bury my face in the blooms and inhale.

“This is not a date!” I try to say firmly, even as I can’t stop smiling at the flowers.

“I can pretend it is,” he says with a cocky smile.

“You’re going to pretend hanging out with my ex-boyfriend is a date?” I say, trying for sass and folding my arms over my chest.

“Well, now that you put it that way…” His smile turns to a frown and I laugh. It’s fun getting a rise out of him.

“I’m just kidding. The flowers are beautiful. Come in, I’ll put them in some water.” Colin follows me through the family room and into the kitchen. I stand on my tippy toes to reach for a vase I keep in the upper cabinet.

“I like your house, by the way,” he says, looking around with his hands in his pockets.

“Yeah, okay!” I laugh at his sarcasm. “It’s small, but it works well for just Syd and me.”

“I mean it,” he insists. “It reminds me of my house growing up.” I put the flowers in a vase of water and place it on the island for display, before turning back to face him. He catches my eyes, looking earnest.

I suddenly remember the conversation I had with his mother about his childhood romances. I walked over to him, playfully cupping his face in my hands. He startles a little, but doesn’t pull away.

“Hmm,” I say, “do we have any hives from these flowers? Let’s see.” I can’t hold in a giggle.

“What? Did my mom tell you about that? Geez! What else did she say?”

“Sorry, I’m going to have to say that’s protected by client confidentiality. Those damn HIPAA rules.”

“Oh, that’s not fair, woman!” he says, grabbing my waist and pulling me in when I try to walk away. “Do I have to tickle it out of you?”

“No! You wouldn’t dare!” He starts poking my sides; I twist and turn my body sporadically, but I stay wrapped up in his arms.

“Colin! Stop! Please!” I say breathlessly as I turn my body around to face him in my frantic attempt to free my stomach from his hands.

“Kiss me,” he whispers with a hunger in his voice. Before I know it, my lips are smashing into his, meeting his desperation with my own.

Something inside me has been starving to kiss him ever since the last time. God, I loved it. I love this now. The taste of him, the tingles I get when his lips rub against mine and his tongue dances in my mouth.

I feel my body heating up as the tingles scurry around my body, working their way down between my legs. God, I have to stop this, or I know what’s going to happen next! I pull my face away and peel his arms off my waist.

“We should go,” I whisper, out of breath. He lets out a heavy sigh and lets me go.

“I’m being good,” he says. “I want credit for how good I’m being.” We make our way to his car, and he opens the door for me to get in.