“I put extra in here.” She tapped the front of a drawer.
“Extra labels,” he confirmed.
“That’s what we’re talking about, right?”
“Is it?” His expression changed, subtly, but she noticed. “Or are we talking about how you’re scared to trust me?”
Had he moved closer? No, she still had her space. But holy crud, it didn’t feel that way anymore.
“Definitely talking about labels,” she said on an exhale, breaking the link between them to finish labeling so she could get the heck out of there.
“You ever think about loosening up? Lettin’ down that guard of yours?” His expression softened.
The quiet concern and sincerity in his tone wasn’t harsh or mean, but she’d let others in before and it never turned out well for her. Life worked better if she kept her distance.
Especially from guys like Brek who didn’t fit into any version of her five-year plan.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Velma replied.
“Keep tellin’ yourself that.” Brek’s phone rang, facedown on the counter. He glared at it. “It’s probably Bride Number Two. She’s extra needy today.”
“You’ve got Brek.” His lips pressed into a thin line. “Hey, Aspen. Aren’t you supposed to be resting?”
He stared at the ceiling while Aspen said whatever she said.
“No. Skittles… That’s what I said… Goldfish… She said she wants goldfish now… Well, fuck if I know… I’ll find them… I’m hanging up now… Nope… I love you, and for your own good I’m hang—”
He glanced to Velma and rolled his eyes. “I’ll talk to the magazine people… I said I’ll do it…”
Velma couldn’t hear everything that Aspen said, but she caught something about how he better not hang up on her. There also seemed to be a threat about castration.
“Bye, Aspen,” Brek said before hanging up and cussing a slew of expletive nouns under his breath.
“Magazine?” Velma asked.
“Rosettewhatever.” He fumbled with a head of broccoli and a label.
The bridal blog? “Rosetteis covering one of your weddings?”
“Claire and Dean’s wedding. Aspen set the whole thing up.” He laid aside the produce he’d been unable to label. “You don’t happen to know where I can get twenty pounds of Skittles and forty goldfish, do you?”
“No. Why do you— You know what, I don’t need to know.” She finished loading the cupboard.
“What’re you doin’ later? Jase and Dean are stoppin’ by for a bit. You’re welcome to hang out with us.” He grabbed a spoon and dove into the new pint of Ben & Jerry’s she had just labeled with aB.
“I’m headed out for the night.” On a first date with a guy named Nathan who seemed nice enough on his profile.
“Big date?” He asked around a bite of Cherry Garcia.
Hopefully. “Something like that. Maybe you could use a bowl for the ice cream?”
“Nah, I’m good like this. Want some?” He lifted the loaded spoon in her direction.
“No, thank you.” She rolled the tension from her shoulders. “One other thing. We haven’t talked about this, but I think we should. No hookups at the apartment. I don’t want to come home to some…”Random chick prancing around the apartment in nothing but her thong and your leather jacket.No. Velma couldn’t say that. “Someone drinking my milk.”
Much better.
“I will protect your milk. And I agree, no outside hookups.” His gaze stayed intent on hers.
