#meet bree

“Let me ask you a question?”

“What is it?”

“Why’d you ask me if I liked Kira? I mean does it really matter to you?”

“I asked because I was curious.”

“Why though? You aren’t jealous, are you?”

“No!” she lied. “I just can’t figure out what it is you see in her.”

“Honestly?”

“Yeah… I’m curious.”

“She is the first person that talked to me when I got here. We have a couple of classes together and when she told me that she was into me, I guess I was flattered.”

“Really? You bought that?”

“So what, you don’t think she is?”

“I think Kira is manipulative and vindictive. She is smart. Her Dad is the Senator and her Mama is a neurosurgeon. So, could she be into you? Yeah, but have you considered that she seems obsessed with Emmett and me? She might be using you to get to me, or him. But, it doesn’t really matter what I think, does it?”

Logan took a moment to see if her facial expressions matched her words. He tapped his phone and moved on to, “Nothing on You” by B.O.B. and she smiled.

“Dude, what is up with this music?”

“What? You don’t like my music?”

“No, it’s cool. It’s just..” she trailed off.

“It’s what?”

“It just has a theme.”

“Oh, you noticed. Sorry. Didn’t mean to make things awkward. I’ll change it.”

He tapped the screen again and “Love of my Life” by Common started to play. Bree burst out into a fit of laughter.

“What is so damn funny, you love Common?”

“I know. Do you have something you need to say?”

“No, you don’t love me anymore and now you are laughing at my playlist,” he pouted.

“Of course I love you. What are you talking about?”

“Nah, you made your choice. I wasn’t it,” he said as he skipped to Boyz II Men’s, End of the road.

“Logan, just because I chose Em doesn’t mean that I don’t love you. We were no good together. Our whole relationship was built on lies and deceit. We’re better off as friends.”

“I don’t agree, but I can respect that. But know that I’m in love with you.” 

She reached down and grabbed his phone and played a song of her own, Toni Braxton’s, “Love shoulda brought you home.”

“I realize that the fact that you’re in love with me might make it difficult for you to keep things platonic.”

“I can control myself if you can. I heard that pregnant chicks are always horny,” he smirked.

“I get plenty of D at home, thanks. But you tried it.”

The rest of the trip went by quickly before the GPS led  them to a gated community.

“Well, this is rich..They are gonna call the cops on us,” Logan said as he stopped at the gate.

A security guard approached on the driver’s side and Logan lowered the window. 

“Good evening, may I help you?”

“Hi,” Bree spoke up. “I’m here to visit the Perry’s.”

The guard’s face brightens in recognition. 

“You must be Bree, welcome! Mrs. Perry mentioned that you’d be here by the weekend. Congratulations by the way. The Perry’s are over the moon about being grandparents. I’ll open the gate, take the road around and their home is the first right past the lake.”

“Thank you, I didn’t catch your name.”

“Cliff.”

“Oh, thank you, Cliff. Have a great evening.”

Logan drove past the gate down a winding road past a small lake into a circle drive. 

“Damn Troublemaker, I knew they were loaded, but did Richy Rich tell you that his real last name was Rockefeller?”

“Ugh, stop it. They do well for themselves. So what?” she said as she struggled to get out of the car.

“Logan, a little help here? This is a lot  harder than it looks.”

Logan quickly got out of the car and moved around the car to open her door. He took Bree’s hand and snaked his strong arm around her waist pulling her to her feet, just as the light beside the front door turned on. The door swung open and Emmett stepped  onto the porch and down the steps in just lounge pants and some Nike slides. 

“Babe it’s freezing out here. What are you doing?”

“Me? You promised that you wouldn’t drive up tonight. And how did you get here some damn fast?”

“I kept my promise. Logan knew I would feel better after I laid eyes on you, so he drove me.”

Emmett turned and shook Logan’s hand. 

“Respect. Were you already on the road when I called? You got here in record time.”

“Nah, but driving is kinda my thing.”

“I see. Well, why don’t you two come on inside, it’s cold out here.”

Logan looked in between Bree and Emmett before declining.

“Thanks for the offer, but I will leave you to it. I really should be heading back. I have a final in the morning,” Logan said as he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.

 “Understood, well thanks for looking out for her in my absence and for getting her here safely.”

Emmett offered Logan 2 crisp $100 bills. 

“For gas and if you get hungry.”

Insulted, Logan frowned and said, “Naw, Bree already took care of me,” with a smirk.

Logan then moved to pull Bree into a hug that lasted about 10 seconds too long for Emmett’s comfort before lifting her luggage out of the trunk. 

“Bye friend.”

She laughed as Emmett stood looking uncomfortable and conflicted. 

“Bye boy, text me when you’ve made it back safely.”

“I’ll try to remember,” he said as he got back into the GTO and revved up the engine, disturbing the peaceful community before pulling away.

“What was that about?” Emmett asked as he picked up her luggage with one hand and placed his other arm around her, leading her quickly inside. 

“What are you talking about?”

“What did he mean, you took care of him and why the fuck did you two hug for so long?”

“Aww, is my baby father jealous? It was a quick hug. Get over yourself. What do you think it meant? I gave him gas money, but he wouldn’t take it.”

“I am slightly jealous. Shiiiiiiid. Quick hug my ass. You know he still wants you.”

“Why are we still talking about him? Babe, look at your face. Did they do this to you?”

He winced as she grabbed his bruised face to examine it closer. She began to pepper kisses over the scrapes and bruises. 

“Yeah, when they pulled me out of the truck.”

“Did you get pics of this? It looks pretty bad.”

“Yeah baby, I did. Dad has filed a lawsuit and I’ll have to go to court to testify.”

She pulled him into her embrace as he felt her fresh tears on his bare shoulder. Her heart pounded erratically in her chest and she began to shake with nerves.

“Babygirl, look at me. I’m fine. I made it home. That was the goal, right?”

She stepped back looking into his unwavering eyes with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. 

“You’re amazing, you know that, right? I’m so proud to be your girl.”

He wiped the tears from her eyes and took her by the hand.

“Come on, let’s get you off your feet.”

“Where is everyone?“ 

“The parentals are outta town until tomorrow and the girls are gone to the movies.”

“So we are alone?”

“Yeah, I thought I’d show you around. What do you wanna see first?”

“Hmm,” she tapped her chin and smirked. “I think I want to see your bedroom. This house is massive. You grew up here?”

“Mhm, but tell me, why so much interest in my room?”

“A person’s room says so much about them.” 

“You pretty much know everything there is to know.”

He led her up a grand staircase and across a catwalk to a hall with several doors before he stopped at the last door on the right. 

When he opened the door, a wave of comfort washed over her as she took in his familiar scent. She smiled softly. 

“What are you smiling at?” 

“It’s exactly what I expected and it smells like you.”

“What pray-tell do I smell like?” 

“A snack,” she said as she sweetly kissed his lips. 

 “Before you distract me, I have a surprise for you.” 

“Oooh, what is it?”

He took her hand and led her into the bathroom off of his bedroom. 

“This is nice, are we taking a bath together?”

 “Later, but for right now close your eyes.”

He covered her eyes with his left hand, while wrapping his right arm around her waist to guide her through another door. His taut chest pressed up against her back as she slowly shuffled forward. When he removed his hand and instructed her to open her eyes, he smiled proudly as she took in the nursery his parents decorated for their grandson.

“Em, this is so thoughtful. When did you tell them what we decided to name him?”

“The next day. Sorry, I just told my Mom. I was excited.”

“It’s fine. This is just so overwhelming,” she said quietly as tears fell from her eyes.

“They are trying to one up me. We have got to get started on his nursery at home,” he chuckled.

“Mommy said that you two talked about it, she is willing to take a month off work to come show us how to take care of the baby and give us breaks. We will conduct interviews for the nanny while we are here. I hope that Ms. Emma is available. She was a sexy lil bih!” But for now, let me show you where you will sleep tomorrow.”

“Really Em?”

“Yeah, she was the nanny for my sister’s. She is the best! My parents want you to meet her.”

“Whatever, now what do you mean, “where I’ll sleep tomorrow?”

“Exactly what I said, cause tonight you are sleeping in my bed.”

He held her hand and she followed him out into the hallway to the door directly across the hall. 

She entered a nicely decorated bedroom with a dozen red roses on the nightstand. Bree moved closer to smell the roses and noticed a frame with a picture of an older heavy woman with a mustache and a scowl like the grinch. 

“Who is this?” 

“That’s Ms. Emma. This used to be her room. If you like her, it might be her room again.”

“Then where would I sleep when we are here?”

“With me.”

“Oh,” she said as her eyes fell upon a white Pandora gift bag next to the pillow on the bed.

“Open it. Early Christmas gift.” 

Her eyes widened as she opened the box that was inside the bag. 

“It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

“You’re beautiful, sometimes you feel like a dream to me. I’m afraid I’ll wake up. And you’re welcome. I’ll add a charm every Christmas,” he said as he closed the clasp on the charm bracelet.

She smiled weakly and he frowned.

“What’s on your mind?”

“Em, what are we going to do about Kira?”

“Let Logan and I handle her. But I know one thing, she’s going to jail if she comes near you again.”