Chapter 14
I woke up the next morning with the doorbell ringing loudly. It didn't sound like the others were awake so I got up and threw my blue silk dressing gown on, and hurried to the door. It wasn't 11 yet so it couldn't be Brian. There was a delivery guy at the door, holding a huge arrangement of yellow roses and baby's breath. I took them and turned to go inside.
"He remembered." I mumbled to myself, burying my nose into the flowers.
"Who remembered what?" Jac came out rubbing her eyes. "Holy hell, look at them."
"Brian. He remembered. He gave me yellow roses on our first date."
"Did he write anything? Is there a card." Jac asked like an excited schoolgirl. She was looking over my shoulder as I opened it and I turned to look at her.
I looked down at the card and tears filled my eyes. Brian had written on the card in his own handwriting.
Dear Sue,
You know I am sorry. I am going to do everything in my power to make it up to you. I love you, you are mine and I am not going to let you go this time.
Love Brian.
Jac threw her arms around my shoulders. "See, I told you he still loves you."
I sniffed. "Yeah, I know And he knows I love him. I just have to get over the hurt and trust thing."
"Give it time, You two will work it out, you are destined to be together."
"Yeah. But there's also the issue of his surgery. Jac, why won't he have it?"
"I dunno, maybe he is scared, maybe he doesn't have free time."
"Free time? Wouldn't you make free time if your life depended on it?"
"Is it that bad Sue?" Jac asked horrified.
"I think so Jac. That's what Jackie was hinting at. Otherwise why was she so desperate to get me to talk to Brian about it."
"Matchmaking perhaps."
"Yeah, maybe, but I still think it's the surgery too. He needs to have it done."
"You'll convince him." Jac said confidently.
"What's going on out here, can't a girl get any sleep?" Kerry came out rubbing her eyes the same way Jac had. "Wow, look at those flowers. Brian right?"
I grinned. "Yep."
"Read the card Kerry." Jac said flicking it out of my hand and handing it to her.
"Awwww, he loves you."
I just smiled widely. What could I say. I just had the feeling this time it was going to work out.
"Come on you two," Jac suddenly said, "If we are going to be ready in time, we better go get ready now."
We all agreed and got ready in record time for all three of us. It was going to be interesting to see Jac with Kevin again. I wondered if they were still going to argue like they used to. I hadn't seen them together since Brian left because I always avoided family get togethers.
Brian was at the door right on 11. My heart skipped a beat when I opened the door and saw him standing there. "Hi Brian."
He seemed to be warring with himself. Then he just said hello. Was he thinking about kissing me. I wished he would. I wanted to feel his lips on mine. Only I knew I would be a goner then and he would know. I couldn't take my eyes off him and he was doing the same.
Jac came to my rescue and threw herself at Brian. "Brian, so good to see you again. It's been too long, look at you. Wow, Sue, are you sure you still want him?"
I laughed. "Yes, I do." I looked at Brian and saw his look of longing. I was sure I sent him the same look back. It was there for everyone to see.
"Damn, well you're too short for me anyway," she laughed. "But gee, it's good to see you."
He looked back at Jac. "You too Jac. And a dress? I am impressed."
"Ha ha very funny."
I saw Kerry out of the corner of my eye. "Brian, this is Kerry, another very close friend of Jac's and mine."
"Nice to meet you Kerry." Brian said smiling at her.
"You too Brian. The infamous Brian," she said and he winced. "No, not for that reason Brian," she said looking at me, "For your beautiful singing I always hear from Sue's bedroom" she said and I blushed.
"Oh?" Brian asked.
"Oh yeah, ALL the time."
"Thanks Kerry." I said taking my turn at hitting her in the arm. She rubbed where I hit, but didn't complain like I had last night. She wouldn't want to or I would hit her again.
Brian looked at me, his eyes burning into mine. "Are you ready to go?" he asked. I nodded and he took my hand, leading me out, leaving Jack and Kerry to follow.
I was nervous on the drive to Brian's place. It wasn't a long drive and when we got there I was really apprehensive about meeting the other three guys, and also Kevin. As I told Brian, I did blame them for taking him away, no matter what Brian said to me.
Kevin was the only one already at Brian's place and from the minute I saw him, all resentment I felt for him disappeared. I walked straight into his arms and hugged him hard. It hit me at that moment, I hadn't even given Brian a hug since I saw him again. This was a different kind of hug to the one I wanted to give Brian though.
"Wow, Sue, you look great. Ahhh, I've missed you girl." He said holding me tight.
"Thanks Kevin, you look pretty good yourself."
"And what about me," Jac asked behind me.
"Jac? Is that you?" Kevin asked, his eyes nearly popping out of his head.
"Yes Kevin, it's me. Have I changed so much you don't recognise me?"
"You're wearing a dress for one and you've grown..." he looked at her chest. He stopped and laughed. "Never mind. Wow, you're looking good."
"You aint looking so bad yourself buster." Jac said to him. She looked smitten with him, and he looked the same. I grinned, thinking it would be nice for these two to get together. From following Brian's career I thought Kevin was single right at this moment. Maybe not for long.
"Kevin, meet my friend Kerry," I said just as another guy walked into the house.
He was not much taller than Brian, maybe an inch, and a little thinner. He had dark hair, cut fairly short, and a goatee beard. He was bouncing to the music Brian had playing on his stereo. "Hello Kerry."
"Um, hello," she said to him. He took her hand in his and kissed her on the back of the knuckles.
"Nice to meet you, I am AJ." He said watching her every move.
"Hello AJ," she said smiling. This wasn't lost on me either. First impressions were lasting and I liked AJ, and it was obvious Kerry did too.
Before we could say anymore, two more guys walked in. One smaller than Brian, longish dark curly hair and the nicest smile. The other blonde was a lot younger, I knew them as Howie and Nick from all the TV I had seen them on, but I waited to be introduced.
"Nick, Howie, I'd like you to meet Sue," Brian said putting his arm around me lightly.
"Hi Sue," they chorused and I said hi back. Brian was watching me proudly as we talked, his love shining from his eyes. I noticed it, everyone else would have.
"So you are the one who has had Brian all tied up in knots ever since we first met him." Nick said. I frowned not knowing what he meant. Couldn't be me, especially as I knew Brian had a girlfriend at some stage.
Brian changed the subject quickly. "Howie, Nick, meet Kerry and Jac."
"Jac. Are you the one who gave Brian the black eye the first time he went home from here?" Nick asked.
She laughed. "Ahhh, that's me."
"Well remind me not to make you mad." He continued, laughing.
We all went out to Brian's covered in Barbeque area and got to know each other. As much as I wanted to resent these guys, I couldn't and they soon had me laughing as they told me of some of the many antics Brian had gotten into. I knew Brian was funny, one of the funniest guys I knew, but some of his tricks had me in stitches. They took great delight in filling me in. Part way through it, it began to get me down though. He had done all this stuff without me, after promising he would always share everything with me. I made my excuses and went to the kitchen to get myself a cool drink and some time to think.
I had been in the kitchen for a while and was just about to walk out to join everyone else when I heard Brian and Nick talking.
"She's nice Rok. How did you let her go?"
"I don't know Frack. I was stupid."
"But you met Samantha."
"Yeah, Samantha," he sighed. "That was a mistake as it turns out too. She was here. Sue wasn't. I should have waited for her, I should have been loyal."
"Don't beat yourself up over it Rok. You have her back now. That's what's important."
"But I don't yet. I know she is still hurting. I hurt her bad, I can see it in her eyes even when she is smiling and I have to make it up to her. And I will make it up to her. She means everything to me Nick, I would do anything for her," Brian said and I heard someone coming towards them. I didn't know if they would come towards where I was standing, so I backed up with no one seeing me and walked back into the kitchen.
No one came in and it gave me time to think about what Brian had said. If he was telling his friends that, I truly believed he meant it.
Brian came into the kitchen looking for me. "There you are. I was looking for you," he said to me. "Why are you in here all alone?"
I shrugged. "No real reason. I came to get a drink then sat here thinking."
"What were you thinking about. Do you want to tell me?"
I looked up at him. "I don't think so Brian. Not yet." I said to him. I wanted him. I wanted to hold him in my arms, I wanted to kiss him like we used to, but I needed to make him wait. He put me through over 4 years of pain, I couldn't let him off in only 2 days, no matter how much I wanted him.
He nodded. "Okay Sue. I can wait." Before I could say anything he continued. "I guess I made you wait a long time, it's only fair you make me wait." He took one of my hands and lifted it to his lips, kissing the tips. It was almost the end of my resolve. "You know I will wait for you forever. Now I have you back in my life, I am not going to let you go. And I will keep reminding you of that too."
He wanted to kiss me then, and I think I would have let him, but AJ chose that moment to come into the kitchen, breaking the mood. Brian gave him a dirty look. "Woah, sorry Rok, Sue. I didn't mean to interrupt anything."
"You didn't AJ," I said to him. "We were just going back out, weren't we Brian?"
"Yeah," he answered irritably.
I got up to walk out and headed out to the others hearing AJ apologise to Brian again as I went. Brian waved it off running after me.
Brian was a little withdrawn after that episode in the kitchen. I noticed it but I was powerless to do anything about it yet. My heart wanted to, my head wouldn't let me. The day moved on to evening with everyone enjoying themselves. Basketball was played, lots of food eaten all in good company. Later that evening Brian drove us home again and left with a quick kiss, promising he would ring me in the morning. I was happy.
Chapter 15
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