Chapter 3
It's been two months since the fateful day of the race. Once Reba and Brock had walked through her house nothing was ever mentioned again about them getting together. Reba figured he had forgotten about it or he just decided he really wanted to work it out with Barbara Jean. It did break her heart…very much…but if he had a chance to make one marriage work he should take the chance. She didn't want to jeopardize that for them. She didn't want to cause trouble by bringing up old feelings and causing the family to fall apart again, they didn't need that.
Life seemed to go back to normal. Reba would get up, go to work, come home, clean, cook dinner, go to sleep, and then the cycle would repeat all over again. Barbara Jean and Brock still came over to her house every once in a while. It killed her to see them together because after everything had Brock said and the kiss he left on her lips he didn't seem to care that he broke her heart once again. She could still feel his lips on hers, even after two months but she knew no matter how she felt or how badly she wanted to kiss those lips of his again, she couldn't hurt her family and so she kept everything to herself.
On a lighter note she had started running every evening like she used to. The running broke the cycle of her day just a little bit, which was nice. She always enjoyed running and she missed it so much. It was during this half hour that it gave her time to think. She thought about her life and her kids. She thought about where she saw herself down the road. She understood that she was no spring chicken anymore but Reba just had a feeling her life wasn't settled into a routine yet. She just felt she still had a long road ahead of her, like God had more planned for her.
During her run she usually thought about her recent dreams. Some of those dreams included finding love again. She wanted to find someone to spend the rest of her life with. She knew she could survive on her own but she really didn't want to have to. Reba wanted someone to be there for her when she did eventually become that little old lady. She wanted to have someone to sit right next to her on that porch swing while they watched their grandchildren play in the yard. She wanted someone to hold her at night. She wanted to love again.
Right now Reba was sitting on a cool stone bench in the park the kids used to play at and the same park Brock had found her at. The park she ran to, after he had kissed her. She always ended up here when she ran. She would rest, think, and then run back home. She smiled when she pictured her younger self and with her children here. She always enjoyed their times together and their small picnics but it was all in the back of her mind with all the other good memories.
Reba stood up and stretched a little, getting ready to run again. She had just bent her leg behind her and held it there for a moment when she heard a voice beside her. "Reba?"
She dropped her leg and turned to see Brock standing behind her in his jogging gear. She gave a forced sweet smile. It killed her not to touch him right now. "Hey."
"The kids said you were out jogging."
Reba nodded and stretched her arm across. "Yup, I missed it. What are you doing here?"
He chuckled and gestured toward his outfit. "What does it look like?"
Reba smiled to herself and nodded. "Yeah, right." She said chuckling. An awkward silence fell between them. They always tried to act normal around each other but after the kiss it was always awkward to be alone together. Reba was a little afraid that if she was to be alone with him she might just lose control and as they stood there she felt herself remembering their walk and their kiss and she suddenly wanted to run away again. "I think I better get home. I have dinner to make."
"The kids went out." He suddenly said. "They were just leaving when I arrived at your house. Their all out with friends."
"Oh." She said frowning just a bit. Well, there was another cycle broke, at least for tonight. She wouldn't have to cook. Maybe she would order a pizza. She certainly felt like something heavily full of fat after this run. It would be a nice treat. She hadn't had pizza since…okay she didn't want to go there. She didn't want to remember that day. "I still should go." Reba said to Brock who was still standing there, hopefully he took the hint and would leave.
He smiled and Reba thought for a moment she would jump into his arms. "Oh…" he said brightening up a bit. "Let me run back with you."
"I don't…"
"We can race." He said still smiling.
Reba scowled, curse him! He found her weakness. She could never turn down a competition like this, especially if it meant leaving Brock in the dust and beating the pants off of him. She saw the smile that still graced his handsome face and she knew that he knew she wouldn't say no. Reba sighed and rounded the bench. "Fine." She said.
"No hitting." He said making sure she knew he wouldn't tolerate her cheating.
"Yeah, yeah." She waved it off as they walked to the street.
"Anywhere."
Reba rolled her eyes. "Yes, okay. I promise I won't hit you." She smiled as they stood at the end of the street near the park. She eased her leg over ever so slightly and then very quickly kicked the back of his leg. "You didn't say anything about kicking!" she yelled in a laugh as she took off down the street.
Brock groaned and rubbed his calf. "That was implied!" he yelled after her as he took off as well.
"You should have said it!" Reba replied with a laugh as she continued to out run him.
Brock wasn't sure if he minded being behind her now. Considering the last two months she has been working out a little more, there were subtle changes to her shape. Of course he loved her body and admired it from afar before but the subtle changes were just amazing and she never looked better or sexier than she did at this moment.
"Come on old man!" Reba yelled bringing him out of his thoughts. "Can't you keep up?"
Brock glared and pushed himself even harder to catch up with her. "See…" he said running breathless beside her. "I can keep up."
Reba gave him a smirk and just pushed herself even harder. "Thought you could keep up?" she said giggling as he fell back a bit.
Brock laughed and tried to push himself but it was quite hard for him. He didn't know how Reba did it. She didn't even seem to be out of breath. Of course she had been running about two miles every evening for the past two months. He knew he was going to lose. He gave up a little and fell back even further knowing it would be better to just lose gracefully than to hurt himself.
"Oh don't give up now ya wimp!" she yelled as she looked back.
His eyes widened and he pointed forward. "Reba! Look out!"
Her head shot back and her eyes widened. She was now just seeing the skateboard in the middle of the street. Reba didn't have time to miss it and she stepped right on it. The wheels moved underneath her quickly and the skateboard shot out from under her sending Reba flying through the air and landing hard into the ground.
"Reba!" Brock screamed as he arrived at her side. She groaned as she lay flat on her back on the ground. Brock didn't move her. He just placed a concerned hand on her head. "Honey, are you okay?" he asked completely frightened by the fact her eyes were closed. Was she unconscious?
"I am so sorry man." A teenager said coming up behind him. "I completely forgot about the skateboard. Is she okay?"
Brock completely ignored the kid and gently ran a hand over her forehead. "Honey…can you hear me?"
Reba groaned again and moved slightly. "Should I call 911?" the kid asked.
Brock turned to the kid. "Just get the skateboard out of the street!" he hissed. The teen stepped back, eyes widened at Brock's harshness but he did as he was told and immediately ran to get the skateboard that had rolled a little ways down the street. Brock turned his attention back to Reba who now had her eyes opened. "You okay honey?"
"Don't call me honey." She groaned. She tried sitting up.
"I don't think you should move. Maybe I should get you to a hospital."
Reba actually had the strength to roll her eyes and pushed him away, though he didn't leave her side. "I am fine. My butt took most of the impact." She said smiling to him but she winced as pain shot through her head.
Brock turned her head and saw the small scratch that graced her beautiful freckled forehead. "Let's get you home." He said picking her up.
"Put me down." She croaked when he lifted her into his arms.
He shook his head. "No way am I risking you getting hurt again. Just relax, were almost home." Brock smiled as she relaxed and he started walking down the street.
"Dude is she okay?" The teenager asked running up behind them, skateboard in hand.
Brock turned to him only to give him a glare. "She is fine. Now just keep the skateboard out of the street!" He turned sharply and started walking faster down the lane.
"You didn't have to be so mean to the kid." Reba said as she rested her head against Brock's shoulder.
"He shouldn't have had the skateboard in the street."
Reba yawned. "To be fair I don't think we should have been running in the street. We should have been on the side walk."
Brock ignored her statement and watched her yawn again. "I don't think you should sleep. If there is a possibility of a concussion…"
"That's just a myth." Reba said with a roll of her tired eyes. "Besides, I didn't hit my head that hard."
"You hit it hard enough to bleed. Now just relax. We're home." He said walking up the drive.
Reba lifted her head and wiggled in his arms. "I think you can let me down now." She stated. She loved the feeling of being in his arms but there was the small factor that he was married and the feelings she was having were starting to take over her body. If she didn't remove herself from him soon who knows what could happen.
Brock shook his head as he walked up to the door. "Nope, I am going to carry you all the way to the couch. Then I am going to take care of that scratch." He said starting to pat down her thighs as best he could while carrying her.
"Hey!" Reba said pushing his hands away from the dangerous spots. "What do you think you're doing?"
"I am only looking for your keys."
Reba glared and pulled them out of her jogging jacket pocket. "You could have asked. I don't have any pockets in these pants." She said pointing to the tight jogging pants she wore.
Brock just took the keys from her without another word. He kind of suspected she had no pockets but he couldn't help himself. He had to admit he just wanted to touch her body again and she probably could have walked home on her own too but what kind of guy would he be if he had let her? He put the key into the lock and as carefully as he could, opened the door and carried Reba inside.
"I think I can walk now." Reba stated, wanting to desperately get out of his arms. It hurt to know this is the only way he would touch her. He would never love her again, not the way he did when they were married.
"I am taking you to the couch and you are going to stay there until I can get something for your injury. Now I wish you would stop being so stubborn and let me take care of you."
Reba rolled her eyes as he set her gently on the couch. "I am your ex-wife Brock. Ex-wife as in excuse me don't need you to take care of me anymore."
"That joke is old Reba. Now just sit and stay." He said giving her a stern look and a finger point.
"Next you gonna ask me to roll over and play dead?" she asked sarcastically while taking off her running shoes.
"Just relax and shut up." He stated with annoyance.
Brock walked away and Reba couldn't help but be a little shocked. He never told her to shut up before. It made her smile a little bit. She knew that was weird but it kind of seemed like he cared. He wasn't going to take her defensive attitude and he was going to take care of her for the moment. It was nice. She set her shoes beside the couch and then stretched out, groaning as all the kinks from running and being carried home were working their way out of her body. She relaxed her body once more and closed her eyes, too tired to really keep them open.
Brock came in a few minutes later, an icepack in his hand. He stopped and smiled when he saw her eyes closed, looking like she was deep asleep. She looked so peaceful. He really hated to wake her up with the cold icepack but that scratch on her head was now becoming somewhat swollen. She needed some ice on it before it became any worse.
He sat down on the coffee table and placed the ice gently on her forehead. That was a bad idea because the next thing he knew Reba shot up from her position of lying down and smacked her head against Brock's.
"Ouch!" Brock screamed clutching his head.
Reba hissed as in pain as her regular pain from her bump became worse. "What did you do that for?"
Brock glared at her and held up the icepack. "I was only trying to help you out. Your scratch is now swollen. Now lie back down." He growled and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"You don't need to tell me what to do." She said with a glare as she felt herself being pushed back down onto the sofa.
"Right now you will listen. You're hurt. Just relax." He said placing the icepack back onto her head.
Reba sighed and accepted the icepack, closing her eyes and loving the brief relief it was giving her at the moment. She was a little uncomfortable with Brock being so attentive towards her because of their whole new relationship after the divorce but it was kind of nice as well, it was a sweet reminder of how he was when they were dating and those first few years of their marriage. It was kind of comforting…somewhat.
She opened her eyes and it was then she noticed how close Brock was to her face. He was just checking out her wound on her head but his lips was just inches away from her own and she could feel his hot breath on hers. She unconsciously licked her lips and was about to kiss him before he moved away.
"Okay…" he said smiling, not noticing what she had been about to do. "You keep that on there for a while. I am going to make you dinner." He said standing and starting to walk toward the kitchen.
Reba shot up from the couch. "What? Dinner? Huh?" she asked confused.
Brock turned and saw her sitting up. "Lay back down!" he ordered, walking back over to her.
"What are you talking about dinner for?" she questioned. "You do have a wife…another family to make dinner for." She stated.
Brock frowned. "Barbara Jean is away with Henry, remember? Besides, I can't leave you here when you're hurt. Now just lie back down and I will let you know when dinner is ready." Reba was about to protest but Brock placed a gentle hand over her mouth. "I am not taking no for an answer."
Reba just nodded and moved back to lying down. Brock smiled and walked into the kitchen, giving Reba some time to rest.
She couldn't believe he had been so…demanding. She of course listened and was happy for once she didn't have to cook. Reba was kind of surprised he even volunteered to cook. When they were married he hated to cook. It wasn't that he was bad at it. He just didn't like to. When he did…like on their fifteenth anniversary…he always made excellent dinners. On their fifteenth he had made them some kind of chicken pasta and Reba thought nothing could be better than that, well, except maybe after the dinner. The last time he cooked was when he was trying to make up for a fight and that just started a whole new fight. Reba sighed and closed her eyes, hoping to get some rest.
She awoke what she thought was just a couple of minutes later but the heavenly aroma coming from the kitchen and the melted icepack on her head told her otherwise. She sat up very slowly so the blood rushing back through her body didn't make her dizzy. She took a moment before reopening her eyes and letting them focus. She yawned before getting up carefully and stretching.
"You're awake." A voice behind her exclaimed.
Reba turned and rolled her eyes at Brock. "Thanks for pointing out the obvious." Brock just smiled and walked over to her, his hands holding some gauze, tape, some kind of ointment, a cloth, and peroxide. "What are you going to do with that?" she asked when he stepped up next to her.
"What do you think?" he said rolling his eyes. "Sit back down." He ordered. Reba placed a hand on her hip and raised an eyebrow. Brock just stood there. "You going to sit or do I have to make you?" Reba scowled and sat down. Brock smirked and took a seat next to her. He set the stuff on the coffee table.
"So…" Reba said watching as he poured a small amount of peroxide on the cloth. "How long was I out?"
"Just a little over an hour." He said turning to her. "Now this might sting a little." He took her chin in his hand and pulled her a little towards him. He placed the cloth ever so gently on her forehead.
Reba hissed and out of reflex pulled away from the cause of her pain. "That hurt." She stated in a whiny tone.
"Quit being a baby, now come here…" He took her chin back into his hand. "I have to clean it."
Reba flinched when he placed the cloth on her head once again but it had to be done if she didn't want an infection. He was gentle about it as he wiped away the blood. It still stung a little but after a few seconds it started to feel better and Reba relaxed a little more. "Something smells good." She said trying to make some kind of conversation.
Brock smiled, now setting the cloth aside and picking up the ointment. "Thanks. I made grilled chicken in a bed of rice, vegetables, and I found a frozen pie in the back of the freezer. I hope you don't mind. I would have made a homemade pie if I had the time but if you remember I was never really good with desserts. That was your thing." He said smiling.
Reba smiled back. "Yeah, I remember." She said allowing him to dab some ointment on and around her wound. "It was always nice when you cooked." She admitted shyly. "I kind of…miss it."
Brock smiled and placed the gauze over her wound, holding it there while reaching for the tape. "I miss cooking for you. You really appreciated my cooking. Barbara Jean never let me cook."
"Does she think you're bad at it?"
He shook his head as he tapped the gauze to her head. "No she just likes to cook extravagant meals all the time. I don't even come close to how she cooks." He tapped her forehead playfully and smiled. "All better." He stated.
Reba couldn't help but smile. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." They both sat in silence for a moment, just staring at one another before they were interrupted by a very loud stomach growl. They both laughed and Reba clutched her stomach. "I can hear that you're hungry." He chuckled. "Come on…" he said standing and pulling her up in the process. "Let's go, dinner should be ready." Reba happily followed him into the kitchen. "Sit down." He ordered walking towards the stove.
Reba chuckled a little and listened. "You are just full of orders tonight."
Brock shrugged and carefully took the hot dish full of food over to the table. "I just want you to be comfortable. I feel kind of bad because I was the one who suggested the race." He picked up the vegetables and set them on the table.
"I didn't have to go along with it." She assured him.
Brock sat down. "I still feel guilty." He said dishing out some food.
"Well I can't complain really." She said looking down at the yummy food. "It looks good." She said digging in immediately.
"Well thank you."
Reba chuckled. "I should make you feel guilty more often." Brock gave her a playful glare and Reba stuck her tongue out at him. "I wonder what else I could get out of you."
Brock's playful expression left his face and he looked down at his food nervously. "How about a date?" he blurted out causing Reba to choke on her chicken.
End of Chapter