10. Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Brandy

T he weekend was a dream, and I hated waking up on Monday. I didn't know what to expect from my new lover. We did a lot of things during the weekend, but none of them included talks about the future between us. Thankfully, I had a lot of work to do this week. I found a community center that was interested in my quilting classes and I was excited to teach again.

What I love about it is that they already have sewing machines available from other craft classes, so I don't have to lug mine to the center. Also, my machine is starting to complain, making strange noises and skipping stitches. I had someone back home who would tinker with it and get it working again when that happened, but I'm a long way from Woodland Falls.

I am about to leave when the doorbell rings. When I look in the peephole, I find Red standing at the other side of the door. I open the door, happy to see her.

"Hey Anne, it's great to see you. I was just leaving, though."

"Oh, I should have called, but I took the morning off and was at home and thought to come by. What are you up to?"

"I'm teaching a quilting class at the Miami Gardens Community Centre."

"That sounds like fun. Can I come?"

"Don't you have to work?"

"I can take the rest of the day off. Erik is driving me crazy with how happy he is. Congratulations, by the way."

"Come on, let's talk on the way."

"We can take my car," Anne says. "So, you might as well know I'm very nosy. How was it after all of these years?"

We get into her car, but my bright smile gives me away.

"That good, huh?"

"Better. I've never had sex like this in my entire life. He's ruined me for all other men."

"Really? Erik?" She cocks her head. "Nah, I think you're so infatuated with him that everything comes up rose-colored."

I laugh at that. Is she right? Are my feelings for Erik clouding my judgment? I should be careful with that and protect my heart. But after all this time, Erik and I are in the same place and on the same page. I'm allowed to get excited about what happened, right?

"You make a valid point. But things are working out so much better than I expected. He's changed, matured, and that makes him even more attractive to me after all this time."

"Hey, I'm on team Brandy. Just be careful. From what Max tells me, Erik is very skittish about commitment."

"You think I should expect short-term fun instead of long-term entanglements."

"I don't want you to get hurt." Anne cautions.

"The thing is, I don't know how to give only a part of myself. I usually am all in whenever I take something on. And this is the most important thing I've ever done apart from my career."

"So maybe talk to him and see where he's at. You've got to communicate."

"I'm scared I'll blurt everything out to him. How I feel. What I want. And forget that he gets to make a choice too. Besides, isn't it too early to talk about where things are going? It's been only two weeks."

"How long are you staying?"

"As long as I have to."

I desperately need to talk about something else, so I change the subject to the project we'll work on in class. Meanwhile, I'm all in my head, worrying about my future with Erik. One thing Anne said is true—Erik and I need to communicate. I can't walk on eggshells around Erik if I want to have a true, lasting relationship with him. So, I made up my mind to share more of my thoughts with Erik to see if I could find out what was on his mind and in his heart.

Erik

Annette was right in the fact that I feel happier now. I won't tell her that, but I can acknowledge it to myself. And this happiness comes from spending time with Brandy. Her energy is contagious, and her zest for life inspires me in a way that nothing ever has. The big issue I'm dealing with, however, is that now I want more.

I want more, and she's leaving in a couple of months. If I follow what my mind and heart tell me, I'm going to be heartbroken when that time comes. How do I keep that from happening? Truthfully, a big part of me doesn't really care what happens. I want Brandy with every cell of my body, which won't be denied.

There's a knock on my door, and Max calls out to me.

"Come in."

"Hey, bud."

"What's on your mind, Maxwell?"

"You, of course. You're going around the place with a goddamned smile all the time. It's freaking me out."

"Well, I'm happy."

"I'm guessing you've bedded the wench?"

"Who talks like that?"

"We saw an old pirate movie last night. It stuck. So how do you see this playing out?"

Max is one of my best friends, and we always help each other out. So, I don't mind sharing what I've been thinking about.

"At the pace this is going, I'm going to end up with a broken heart."

"You don't do hearts."

"I don't have a choice with this woman. She's…"

"A witch?"

"An enchantress. She's got me following her around like a lost puppy, and she's got the good kibble."

Max lets out a low whistle. "So what are you going to do?"

"Spend the next two and a half months worshipping her."

And that's exactly what I do. True to my word, I spend every free moment with Brandy. I take her sightseeing, we go to plays and concerts, and we spend passionate nights together. As a matter of fact, she moves straight into my bedroom, and I find that waking up with her in my arms is an eye-opening experience.

As the weeks go by and the date of her leaving approaches, my heart fills with fear. Does she care for me the way I care for her? Can she see what's in my heart? Does she know I don't think I can live without her? There's only one way to find out. I need to talk openly about my feelings for her, even if it ends up in heartbreak.