Page 41 of Break Out

Smooth, Brody, smooth.

“Okay,” she says, and I hurry to the bathroom and shut myself in before I change my mind.

“Whatcha doing?” I ask, walking back into the bedroom ten minutes later, slightly more relaxed after taking a cold shower.

She glances up at me. “I was hoping I could order some wine from room service, but there’s nothing on the menu.”

“I’m sure you can.” I take a seat on the edge of the bed. “If not, I’ll go down to the bar. Anything else you want with it? Dessert?”

Her eyes light up. She can never resist dessert. “Maybe some chocolate cake.”

I pick up the phone, push the button for room service, and order a bottle of wine and a large slice of chocolate cake for us to share. It’s not something I eat often, but after Aubrey mentioned it, the sweet tooth I don’t normally have reared its head.

“You didn’t get anything to drink,” Aubrey says when I hang up.

“Wine’s fine,” I say, getting more comfortable on the bed. “What are we watching?” I pick up the control and turn the TV on.

A few hours later, there’s a half-empty bottle of wine on the nightstand along with the empty dessert plates, and the empty dishes that held the hamburgers and fries we ordered after we decided dessert wasn’t enough.

“So,” I say, picking up my glass of whiskey. I had two sips of wine, promptly handed the rest of the glass to Aubrey, and called room service to order a bottle of bourbon. She thought I was crazy and wanted to know how I was going to drink it all. I shrugged and told her not to worry about it. I figure I’ll share whatever’s left with Devon, Arthur, or Thad.

“So,” she parrots back, sipping her wine.

“Are we going to talk about the elephant in the room?”

“What would that be?”

“The kisses, Aubrey.”

“I thought we already did.” She stares down at the comforter, picking at the threads.

“We talked about the kiss on New Year’s Eve but not the other ones.” I drain my glass and set it on the nightstand.

“What’s there to talk about?” she whispers, still staring down at the duvet.

“Aubrey.” I reach over and tilt her chin so she meets my gaze. “What’s going on in your head? Talk to me.”

“We kissed. Multiple times.”

“I know. I was there.”

“Are things going to be awkward between us now? Because I can’t stand to lose my best friend,” Aubrey whispers, her blue eyes fixed on me.

Her best friend

Is that how she sees me? Still? Even after the kisses? The confessions? I thought we were moving toward more than friends. I suck in a deep breath, afraid to ask, but we need to have this conversation. I know Aubrey, if I don’t start the conversation, it will never happen. “Is that all we are?”

“What else can we be? I’m moving to Hawaii in the fall.” She moves closer to me.

“I’ll be whatever you want me to be, Aubs,” I answer honestly.

She’s silent for a few seconds before getting on her knees and gently cups my cheek. I take a shaky inhale, closing my eyes, and sinking into the feeling of her hand on my face. “I enjoyed kissing you,” she finally whispers.

My heart skips a beat. Before I can do or say anything, she removes her hand, and I hear her shift even closer. I hold my breath, keeping my eyes closed. Afraid if I open them, this will turn out to be a dream.

“Brod,” she whispers. I finally open my eyes to see her staring at me. “Will you kiss me again?”

Kiss me again.