“Hey, you looked like you could use this.” He pushed the Starbucks cup closer and the warm aroma of the espresso nearly caused me to cry in thanks. Right then, I couldn’t have cared less if the man who’d offered it was my enemy.
“Thanks,” I muttered, not quite making eye contact as I grabbed the cup and took a much needed gulp. “Mmm, pumpkin spice.”
He reached behind him and scratched the back of his neck, awkwardly.
“Uh, yeah. I heard you telling Lizzy one day that you were excited that that flavor was back.”
I sat there dumbfounded for a few seconds, somewhat shocked by his kind gesture and the fact that he could actually remember something like that before muttering idiotically, “It’s seasonal.”
“I figured that.” One corner of his mouth tipped up on a grin. “Anyway, I thought maybe you could use a caffeine boost or something. You looked tired. Hope it helps.”
Despite my best efforts, my heart gave a little squeeze at Brett’s thoughtfulness. He turned to leave the break room when my mouth opened and the words spilled out on their own accord.
“Thank you, Brett. Really. This…” I said, indicating the cup in my hands. “You didn’t have to do this. I…just…thank you.”
He surprised me by turning back around, pulling out the chair opposite me, and taking a seat. He looked so serious as he rested his forearms on the top that all I could do was sit speechless as he dove right in to what he had to say.
“Look, what I said to Trevor the other day was a real asshole move.”
“It was,” I cut in, in complete agreement.
“I was being a dick, and I’m really sorry you had to overhear that. I didn’t mean it, Kenzie.”
I had no idea what to say so I at silently as he continued.
“I’ve acted like a bastard because I couldn’t get what I want—”
“What do you want?” I interrupted.
He looked at me curiously, his head tipped to one side. “You, Kenz. I want you. How can you not see that?”
I opened my mouth to reply but nothing would come out.
“I guess I just wanted you to know that I was sorry, and if you’re still willing to be friends, I’d really like that.”
“Wow, this is…uh. I gotta say this little conversation was unexpected.”
“Well, what were you thinking was gonna happen? A fight to the death?” he joked.
I let out what felt like my first laugh in days. “With how things have been going between us, something like that.”
He flashed me his panty-melting smile and stuck his hand out across the table for me to shake. “So, what do you say? Friends?”
“You sure you can handle being just friends?” I asked tentatively, only then realizing how badly I wanted him to say yes. The fact of the matter was, I really and truly wanted to be friends with this man. I couldn’t explain it, but for some reason, I wanted desperately to keep him in my life.
“I’ll try my best, beauty. I promise. And I also promise to keep my inner asshole locked up tight.”
“Now, don’t go making promises that are impossible to keep,” I joked with a smirk.
“Ouch. Don’t leave me hanging here, sweetheart.”
I reached across the table and took his hand in mine, giving it a firm shake as I tried to ignore the electricity that zinged through my body at just a simple touch.
“Friends.”
“Good,” he said once I’d pulled my hand back and tucked it into my lap, unconsciously rubbing where his work-rough fingers had just been. “Now, friend, want to tell me why you’re so exhausted today?”
I let out a sigh as my shoulders slumped. “The twins woke up in the middle of the night with some sort of stomach virus. I kid you not, it was like something out of a scary movie.” I watched with humor as he cringed at my description.
“Sorry to hear that. They gonna be all right?”
“Yeah, they’ll be fine. I just have to keep them out of daycare for a few days. I was able to get a sitter today, but I’ll have to take off tomorrow to stay home with them, which sucks because I really can’t afford to lose a day’s pay.”
I didn’t know why I was being so forthcoming with Brett, but it felt good to have someone to talk about it with. It was like a weight being lifted, being able to get the stress off my chest. But his response was the very last thing I ever expected.
“I can watch them for you tomorrow.”
I gave a surprised laugh. “What?”
“Seriously, I can watch them. I’m great with kids, and I’m my own boss so missing a day of work is nothing.”
“Brett, that’s sweet, but I don’t think so. I mean, they don’t really know you and we only just agreed to be friends. Letting you babysit my two sick toddlers will send you screaming for the hills. Trust me, they’re a handful on the best days. When they’re sick, it’s a whole other story.”