“Reed is a great guy and the best friend you could ever have. I don’t know what started this rant of his, but I can tell you, it’s not like him at all to get so uptight. He’s been a little off the past few days anyway. Maybe, he’s been getting some pressure from home. His dad is a very demanding guy. He expects a lot from Reed. In time, you’ll see the great guy that I’m talking about. Just give him a chance.” Skylar loved his friend. I appreciated that.
“Maybe, he was just peeved that Brynley beat him in the race.” Kendra started laughing to break the somber mood. Brynley smiled at her.
“No big deal. I’m sorry he has had so much stress. I hope things get better for him.” Brynley meant her words. Another hour passed. Jamison and Skylar spent time with the girls, just talking to them. Jamison was so kind and sweet. Brynley liked him, and she felt confident that he liked her too. He had asked her to go on a friendly date; to a movie tomorrow night with him. Skylar and Kendra jumped on board also. It would be a double date with friends! Brynley never saw Reed the rest of the evening. He must have left his own party. That made her feel even worse for him.
It was late, and the girls started packing up their stuff to go home. Skylar and Jamison took the girls back to their car. By the time the girls got home, it was around one in the morning. Brynley had been texting her aunt, so she wasn’t upset about it. She had just wanted to be sure that Brynley was alright.
The girls were exhausted, and they didn’t even take their showers. They changed and climbed into bed. They would talk about tonight’s events tomorrow.
Brynley slept like a rock that night. She awoke around seven in the morning and didn’t feel like going back to bed. She decided to do a light run this morning while she waited for Kendra to wake up. Her aunt was in bed after working all night. Brynley showered, put her hair up in a messy bun, wrote a note telling everyone where she was at, and then left the house with the house key in her pocket. It was warm this morning; so, Brynley had worn shorts and a t-shirt for her run. Brynley had to take Kendra’s car to the park. There wasn’t a good place to jog around Aunt Jimena’s home because of the traffic. The park wasn’t very far away. Brynley parked the car, locked it up, and proceeded to jog.
The park was well maintained and very delightful to look at. There were lovely plants, water fountains, and very few people at this time of the morning. Brynley loved to just have some time to herself and think. She was twenty minutes into her run and out onto a remote soccer field. Unexpectantly, Brynley heard her name called. She was confused, and she slowed down and then stopped. She looked all around. Off in some distance behind her was a figure jogging towards her. As the figure started getting closer, she realized it was Reed. When he reached her, he was panting. It took him a few minutes to catch his breath enough to talk.
“Hey, I’m surprised to see you here this early in the morning.” Brynley was a little astonished to see Reed here with her.
“Yeah, I jog here every so often. Have been for the past three years. I didn’t know you jogged.” Reed seemed a little uneasy.
“My coach had me running to build up my endurance and breathing for swim meets. I enjoy the quiet of jogging. I get to think when sometimes life is a little too hectic.” Brynley smiled impishly at him.
“I understand. Speaking of thinking, I was thinking about what an ass I was to you at the party last night. I just wanted to apologize to you. You didn’t deserve my outburst, and it wasn’t meant to be directed right at you, either. I’m really very sorry for upsetting you or making you feel uncomfortable.” Reed looked totally repentant. Brynley had to smile. He looked like a little boy in trouble, and she laughed.
“Water under the bridge. Life is stressful sometimes. It’s good to have some friends to chill with. I’d love to be your friend, what do you say?” Brynley stuck out her hand for Reed to shake it. Reed smiled and shook her hand.
“Thanks. How about a friendly breakfast? I’m starving and hate to eat alone. I know those two galoops I call friends are still in the bed. I’d appreciate it if you’d go with me.” Reed used his most adorable and charming smile he had. It worked! Brynley laughed and agreed to breakfast. Both of them jogged back to Reed’s car. Reed insisted that Brynley ride with him, and then he would bring her back to Kendra’s car.
It was eight-thirty in the morning. Kendra would still be sleeping. Brynley couldn’t wait to tell Kendra the unusual events of this morning. Reed drove to an out of the way, small restaurant, where they were the only two patrons inside. Reed grabbed a booth and sat opposite of Brynley. He talked her into ordering this crazy omelet that had just about everything in it. He swore to Brynley that it would be the best thing that she had ever eaten. She had her doubts but submitted to him anyway.
They started talking. “So, Skylar and Jamison probably know your life story by now. I need to catch up. Tell me all about you.” Reed looked curious about her. She felt at ease with him, his smile made her feel calm. She raised her eyes and smiled.
“Oh, gosh, I am so boring. I hate to disappoint you. Kendra is the interesting one. She’s the girl that could keep you entranced with every word that comes from her lips.” Brynley started laughing again.
“Kendra is nice, but I want to know about you.” Reed was putting off a captivated vibe, but Brynley didn’t read much into it. She had been warned about Reed and his objectives on girls.
“Let’s see, I told you about my mother and father meeting one another in Norway. They fell instantly in love and married. My father was commissioned in Germany, and he took my mother with him. I was born in Germany and lived there for ten years. When I was five, I started swimming with a local team. I loved it, and my parents enjoyed watching me. After our tenth year in Germany, my father was moved to California for a new contract. I liked California. I loved being able to go to the beach, loved the shopping, loved being with Kendra, and I had made some other good friends there too. California was a very interesting place to live in. So many diverse types of people there.” Reed was totally absorbed into Brynley’s story.
“Did you ever have a boyfriend in California?” Brynley’s eyes seemed far away as if she was remembering someone special.
She smiled sweetly. “I did. His name was Todd. I liked him very much. We dated for a year. We actually broke up four months ago, before I was told that I would have to move. He has been trying to get back together with me, but I couldn’t forgive what he did to me, and then I had to leave. He said that he would call and write; maybe, even visit. We shall see.” Brynley swallowed hard and shrugged her shoulders. Reed could tell that she was a little sad; and the thought that it was over a guy she liked frustrated him. He tried to comfort her. He placed his hand on hers.
“I’m sorry to hear that. Did you love him?” Why did he ask her that question?
He heard a small sigh escape her lips. “Yes, I think that I did.” Annoyance shot through him to hear her admit that she loved someone. Reed’s only thought was that this guy better not come to see her, or there would be hell to pay!
Food appeared on the table, and the conversation ended for now. Brynley tried her everything-omelet, and believe it or not; it was awesome! Brynley asked Reed a few harmless questions, being very careful not to talk about girls to him. They had a good time with one another. Time had escaped them as they ate and talked. Brynley’s phone buzzed. When she looked down, she saw that it was Kendra and it was eleven o’clock.
“Oh my gosh, it’s eleven. We’ve been here for almost three hours.” She giggled, and it made him smile. “Let me answer this; it’s Kendra,” Brynley answered the phone. Reed continued to watch her. He had no idea that they had talked for that long. He heard Brynley tell Kendra that she would be home soon. He heard her mention that she was eating breakfast but didn’t mention Reed. He was a little miffed, but he wasn’t going to make a big deal out of it. The more he sat watching and listening to Brynley, the more he started thinking about what it would be like if he decided to make her his. He had it bad f
or this girl, and he just met her! Somehow, being with her this morning made him feel so good! He felt whole, something he hadn’t felt in a while. It was against his better judgment; but he wanted to continue this feeling that he had for her. She got off the phone, and his thoughts were pushed off to the side.
“Sorry, I didn’t realize I talked your ear off. I’m usually the quiet one in the bunch.” Her smile was magnetic!
“I didn’t even notice the time. I’m really glad I ran into you this morning. I’m really glad that we got to talk with each other. What are you doing for the rest of the day?” Reed was going to ask Brynley over to his house. He wanted to spend more time with her.
“Ah, let me see. Uhm, Kendra wants to go work out at the gym. She will want to eat lunch, and then we are supposed to meet Skylar and Jamison at the mall; to go see this movie that they’re dying to see.” It was innocent. She wasn’t trying to make him jealous at all, but he was! He could feel himself breathing deeper, trying to control his anger. “Would you like to join us? The whole gaggle of us can go and eat popcorn.” She was trying to be cute and funny. It didn’t seem to be working.
Brynley watched his jaw muscle pulsate. Somehow, she upset him again; but she just didn’t know what she had done.
“Are you and Jamison going on a date?” He looked sternly at her.
Brynley was afraid that Reed thought she was flirting with him and his friend, being a tease. She remembered the story Jamison told her about his ex-girlfriend and what she had done to him. This was probably what he was upset about, thinking all girls are alike. She wanted to reassure him that she wasn’t that kind of girl. “Reed, I hope you don’t think that I’m trying to play you against your friend. I’m not the kind of girl that flirts with every guy she meets, and I definitely don’t tear friends apart. I’m just trying to be everyone’s friend. No one mentioned this to be a date to me. I just assumed that it was us going as friends. I know Kendra is interested in Skylar. I’m not sure how I feel about Jamison because I just met him. I’m not sure what Jamison is thinking about me because he never expressed anything to me.” Reed didn’t look relieved; he knew what Jamison was thinking, and that thought was driving him crazy.
“Brynley, Jamison is infatuated with you. I guarantee he thinks this is a date, and his main goal is to make you his girlfriend before school starts. He knows once school starts, every guy there is going to be falling at your feet. I’d love to go to the movies with you, but I don’t think it will be a good idea. I know Jamison wouldn’t like it, and I wouldn’t like Jamison there either.” Reed was frustrated. The more he talked about Jamison to Brynley, the more dangerous he felt. He wanted to spend more time with her; instead, she would spend it with someone else.
“I’m sorry, and I understand. Just, please, don’t think that I am teasing you or your friends. I couldn’t bear you to think that way about me.” Reed could see the truth in her eyes. He believed her.
Reed stood up and extended his hand to help her out of the booth. She took his assistance, and then he led her to the cash register. He didn’t let go of her hand until he had to get his money out to pay the bill. After paying the bill, he placed his hand on the small of her back to guide her to his car. He opened the door and let her in first. He moved over to the driver's side and got in. They drove to Kendra’s car in silence.
When Brynley went to get out of Reed’s car, he quickly grabbed her hand. “I’m not mad at you. I want to talk to you again; I enjoyed myself with you today. I’d like for it to be just me and you, no one else around. Could we do that again?” Brynley got a rush of a warm sensation when he touched her. She bit her bottom lip and noticed that Reed watched her every move.
She slowly shook her head ‘yes’ to Reed. “I’ll meet you at the park, at seven in the morning. We’ll go for a jog and just talk, ok?”
Brynley licked her lips. “Ok.” She didn’t know what else to say. She quietly exited his car and started Kendra’s car up. Reed stayed there until he watched her drive away.
Reed knew that he was going to have to talk to Jamison. It would be hard, but he would have to tell Jamison how he felt about Brynley. Their friendship had never been tested over a girl before. He hoped it was going to be alright, but he knew how he was feeling about Brynley. There was no doubt in his mind that Jamison was feeling the same way about her.
Brynley couldn’t get home fast enough. She had to tell Kendra everything. She could help Brynley figure out what was going on with Reed. He was intimidating and aggressive at times; but she felt that she was attracted to him when he was friendly. When he was acting so ominous, she was even attracted to him; she was just very cautious. She liked Jamison’s sweet personality, but she didn’t feel the same attraction to him that she did to Reed.
Chapter Seven:
At first, Reed was fine about the party; until he saw the girls show up, with Skylar and Jamison. Both couples just looked too happy. Jamison had his hands on Brynley, and that just irked him! He knew that he was attracted to her, but he was determined to fight it off. Reed didn’t need a girl like Brynley, leading him by the nose. He had important things that he needed to accomplish, and he couldn’t do that if he had a girlfriend like Brynley. She was too sweet and innocent. Reed would have to make sure people didn’t take advantage of her. She was beautiful, which meant that he would have to keep guys away from her. She was too smart; maybe, she would realize that he wasn’t good enough for her. That thought made his gut hurt!
Reed had to stop himself from thinking. He knew Tabitha had an idea that he thought Brynley was pretty. She was acting rudely to the girls because she was jealous, and that was getting on Reed’s nerves. Tabitha wasn’t used to competition. Brynley surpassed Tabitha by a long shot, and Tabitha knew it. When Brynley had changed into her bathing suit, Reed thought he was going to melt. The girl was sweet and sexy at the same time! He had to slow his breathing down and get control of himself. He couldn’t help, taking every inch of her in his sight!
When Jamison grabbed Brynley’s hand, Reed thought he was going to lose his mind. He needed to get control of himself! He watched them walk away to the lake. He turned to say something to Tabitha, but she gave him a disgusted look. She told Reed that she wouldn’t stay here tonight and watch him drool over another girl. She left him and found some other friends at the party, and Reed didn’t stop her or go after her.
Reed decided to catch up to Brynley and Jamison. Brynley turned around while Reed was looking at her again. He didn’t want her to think he was creepy and gawking at her physique; so, he challenged everyone to a swimming race. Reed fully expected to win; however, Brynley put egg on his face. She beat him by mere seconds, but she beat him fair and square. Reed was impressed! He realized right then and there; he was going to struggle with his feelings for Brynley. He was so attracted to her that he couldn’t seem to keep himself under control. When Brynley made a comment about being busy and the girlfriend bit, Reed had to do something to pull him out of flirting with her. Reed told her that he had goals; and didn’t have time for a girlfriend, basically. His voice sounded sterner than he meant it to because he was irritated with Jamison. When Jamison made that comment about Tabitha, Reed wanted to slam him under the water! Reed knew Jamison was jealous of him talking to Brynley, but he was frustrated with him too. Reed had to get out of the water; and distance himself from Brynley and Jamison before he did something really stupid. Reed went to towel off and change. He stayed away while the rest of them continued to have fun in the lake. Reed couldn’t help but watch Jamison flirt with Brynley. She seemed to like him, which just frustrated him even more.
Finally, they all decided to get out of the water. As they walked back to the restroom, Reed decided to get the fire started. It was his luck that Tabitha came back to argue with him. She was frustrated that Reed didn’t go after her, when she left. Tabitha thought that he was really into her, but he just wasn’t. Reed liked Tabitha because she never demanded anything from him as the other girls did, b
ut he wasn’t romantically attracted to Tabitha. She just wasn’t his definition of girlfriend material. Reed let her complain as he continued to stare into the fire. That made Tabitha even angrier with him. Thank God she left before the others got to the bonfire.
Reed was feeling perturbed watching Jamison flirt with Brynley. He carefully listened to every word Jamison said to her. Reed was impressed when she mentioned the two colleges that he was also interested in. Reed could feel his blood boil as Jamison kept complimenting and trying to seduce her. Reed could picture himself smashing Jamison’s face in! Jamison was his friend, and Reed needed to get some control over his jealousy. Reed couldn’t help but feel bitter towards Jamison, though. Reed made some comments to Brynley that he didn’t mean; he was afraid that he may have offended her. Reed was afraid that Brynley thought he was insulting her intelligence when he made a comment about her grades. Reed was trying to emphasize to her that having a relationship, a bad one, like the one with Jamison would take her focus away from her future goals.. It was Reed’s stupid way of trying to get her uninterested in Jamison. Jamison wouldn’t be good for her, because he would be too needy and greedy with Brynley. He would be possessive and demanding. Who wouldn’t want every minute with her? Reed could see Jamison trying to lock her down before she could leave him. It was that thought that Reed believed he would lose his mind! Reed listened to Skylar and Jamison plead their need for a girlfriend to the girls. Reed had to leave before he decided to kick Jamison’s ass. He had so much rage inside him at that instance that he had to get up and walk away. Reed had never felt as much anger as he did at that moment. He had never wanted to hurt his friends before. He had to fix this attraction thing he had for Brynley before losing some really good friends and his mind.
Pride and Passion Page 6
