Chapter 9

Reba stood in front of Brock with her eyes widened and her whole front body exposed to him. Her breath quickened and her body tensed as he just stood there. It didn't even occur to her that she could move and that she should probably close the towel. Their eyes were connected and neither one of them moved for the longest time. Reba felt frozen to her spot, her knees weakened, and her arms started to shake from being up at her sides for a long time. Why didn't she move?

Brock had stopped dead in his tracks the moment he stepped into the bathroom. He didn't mean to just walk in but he didn't think anyone was in there. He hadn't heard anything but now he stared wide eyed at the naked woman. He gulped as he couldn't help but look over her gorgeous body, droplets of water still falling from it. The temperature in his body was becoming increasingly uncomfortable and he knew it was wrong to stare. This was his best friend's wife but he couldn't help but keep looking.

Reba finally realized she should move and she closed the towel. "Uhh…I'm…"

Brock finally looked away from Reba. "I'm sorry…I didn't…."

Reba nodded and stepped out of the tub in a hurry. "It's ok…I didn't…you…" She was in too much of a hurry as she got out of the tub and her feet were too wet, she slipped on the floor. She gasped and tried to grab anything she could to keep herself from falling but it was too late.

Brock rushed forward, banging the door against the wall as he pushed it away and caused it to shut in the process. He caught her just in time before she hit her head on the back of the tub. He continued to hold her tight against him as brushed his fingers along her hair and looked her over to make sure she was all right. "You scared me." He said chuckling a bit. "Are you ok?"

Reba nodded and looked up, now realizing how close they were. She could feel the whole outline of his body and their lips were a mere inch away from touching. She wasn't doing so well on her breathing and she swallowed, trying to get some air, any air into her body but it didn't work. She could feel his hot breath on her lips and she so badly wanted to kiss them. Her knees were continuing to weaken and she was sure she would fall again if he wasn't holding onto her so tight.

Brock suddenly realized again that this was his friend's wife and let go of her quickly. He turned away and tried not to look at her and he tried to ignore the fact of how sexy she looked in a towel that barely covered anything. "I'm sorry I walked in here. I didn't realize…"

Reba shook her head and tried pulling the towel tighter onto her body, for fear it might fall and he would receive another show. "It's ok."

Brock shook his head. "No, it's not. You're my friend's wife. I should have knocked."

Reba nodded and there was an awkward silence between the two of them. "I need to get dressed." She finally said.

"Right, sorry. I am leaving." He quickly walked to the door and left. Brock stood just outside the door trying to get the image of her completely naked out of his mind, nothing worked. He looked down at his shirt and saw her wet hand print where she was holding him when she had fallen. Her touch sent shivers up his spine and tickle of her breath on his lips made him want to kiss her. He tried calming down but when that didn't work he went straight for his room to wait when the shower was free so he could take an ice cold one.

Reba tried calming herself as well as she looked into the mirror. She couldn't believe he had seen her naked. Why couldn't it have been her husband? He has seen her countless of times. Why did it have to be the one man she was trying to exclude from her mind? She shouldn't have just stood there and let him stare at her. Why didn't she lock the door? She just shook her head and got dressed as quickly as possible to prevent anyone else from seeing her naked.

Reba had dressed in jeans and a t-shirt for their day at the park. When had dried her hair and put it in a pony tail, she had gone downstairs and found Barbara Jean back. Barbara Jean mentioned leaving to set everything up and Reba guessed she met making lunch because Barbara Jean was standing in the living room with one picnic basket full to the brim with food and a huge cooler for the drinks and food that needed to be chilled. "Do you really think we'll need that much?" Reba asked as politely as possible. She didn't want to seem rude or anything.

Barbara Jean smiled and nodded. "Yes, you will be surprised how much those boys can eat." Barbara Jean said meaning her husband, son-in-law, and two sons. "Plus, there is a very hormonal pregnant woman that needs lots of food for every meal."

Reba laughed and looked at what Barbara Jean brought. She made the normal picnic food of turkey and ham sandwiches, chips of all kinds, potato salad, fried chicken, fruit slices, celery sticks with cream cheese filling, and water bottles for everyone. "You should have told me you were making lunch for later. I would have made something."

Barbara Jean shook her head and before she could respond a voice came from the top of the stairs. "We don't need your cooking Reba." Terry said laughing.

Reba rolled her eyes and closed the basket she was looking in and ignored Terry. She wasn't a bad cook. He sure didn't mind eating it and she hated his little comments. He always had them, whether it was about her cooking, cleaning, the way she looked, anything, he always had a comment for it. It drove her nuts but she dealt with it because she had to, for Kyra.

After Terry came down the stairs everyone seemed to follow and ready to start the day of fun. They were taking Brock's SUV because it was the biggest vehicle that could fit everyone. Van and Cheyenne were meeting at the park. Barbara Jean explained it was a park that Brock and she used to take the kids to when they were younger. They always enjoyed going back and reminiscing of good times.

They all piled into the car. Terry insisted Reba sit up front with Brock who was driving. Reba just rolled her eyes and let him sit in the back with Barbara Jean. Reba just sighed and hopped into the front seat next to Brock. She smiled and he was surprised to see her. "What are you doing up here? I figured Terry would sit up here."

Reba looked to the back where Terry was engrossed in a conversation with Barbara Jean. She seemed oblivious to the fact that he was interested in her. Reba knew Terry was a big flirt but this was pushing the limit. She just shook her head and ignored him. "Terry wanted to sit back there." Brock nodded and didn't push the conversation. There was still a bit of awkwardness between them from what happened almost an hour before.

The drive was not long and they were all excited once they got there. They had met up with Van and Cheyenne who had already arrived and was searching for a place to set everything down. They found a nice picnic table and set everything up before they decided what they were going to do first. They had decided on a touch football game. Cheyenne was sitting out because she was pregnant and was already tired just from walking from the car.

Terry and Brock were made captains. The other stood in front of them, waiting on them to choose who they wanted to be on their team. Terry was first and it was no surprise to Reba when he chose Barbara Jean first. Reba just rolled her eyes and Brock saw this. "I choose Reba." He said. Reba smiled weakly. She kind of hoped he wouldn't choose her because it was quite awkward but she put on her best smile. Van and Henry were picked by Terry and Kyra was picked by Brock. Finally it was just Jake and Elizabeth left. "I pick…" Brock said, "Elizabeth!" He said smiling and picking up his grandchild and kissing her on the cheek as she giggled in delight.

Jake was pouting and he sighed. "Someone please pick me before a stray dog wonders by." Terry laughed and pulled Jake over to their team. Brock knew that Jake wasn't that great with sports, if Terry only knew what he was getting into.

As soon as the game started though the smaller kids lost interest and went to Cheyenne to play a game. Now it was Jake, Van, Terry, and Barbara Jean on one team and Kyra, Reba, and Brock on another. They were having fun. Reba forgot all about Terry's comments because now he was just playful teasing her about beating them. He smirked and smiled and playfully smacked Reba on the butt which wasn't something she liked but she just ignored it and enjoyed the other side of Terry that she missed.

It was when Reba made a touch down that things got a little weird because Brock, not Terry of course because he was one another team, but Brock had got excited and picked her up, swinging her around in a hug. They become instantly uncomfortable when they realized they were holding each other a little longer than necessary and they immediately let go. They were lucky no one really noticed the exchange but Barbara Jean. She just raised an eyebrow and just kind of smiled a bit.

Reba, Kyra and Brock gloated and laughed when they had won. They teased them all the way back to the picnic table when they decided to stop and let the kids play for a while. They all sat around, just enjoying each other's company, not quite ready for lunch yet. Henry and Elizabeth were with Cheyenne at the small playground. The only people at the table were Barbara Jean, Terry, Brock, and Reba. They laughed and talked again about old times. Barbara Jean kept requesting stories of the past. Terry was happy to supply the embarrassing stories, most of them about Reba and she didn't really like them all but she just shrugged and smiled when Barbara Jean would give Reba a questioning look.

After a while Terry and Barbara Jean decided to join the game again. Reba was tired and Brock decided to keep her company. Reba felt the tension between them. She knew it was going to be weird. She didn't expect this though, of course he did see her naked. Brock just smiled and kept tapping the table while Reba sipped away at her water.

"Hey…" Brock said finally breaking the silence, "I just wanted to let you know that I am truly, truly sorry for what happened earlier." Reba nodded and tried to avoid his eyes. She didn't want to look at him because it would reveal her red cheeks. "Reba, please don't make this awkward. I don't want the rest of your guy's trip to be an uncomfortable one." Reba nodded and Brock continued. "Were both adults here, we can handle this." Brock smiled at Reba as she continued to avoid his eyes and concentrate on her water which she drank half of it in under a minute. "If it's any consolation…" He paused for a moment wondering if he should say it. He figured he already started so he might as well finish, "You still look really good."

Reba, who was drinking her water, spit it out all over Brock. He chuckled a bit and picked up a napkin from the basket. He wiped off his face and Reba started to apologize. "I am so sorry. I was just…"

Brock shook his head. "I shouldn't have said anything. I was just trying to lighten the situation but I think I made it worse."

Reba smiled and handed him another napkin. "No, I was being too uptight. We are adults and nothing happened really so, everything is good." Brock nodded and the silence decided to make another round. "Terry doesn't think so." Reba said breaking the silence after a while.

"I'm sorry." Brock said a little confused at what she was talking about.

Reba looked down at her hands, wanting to hit herself for bringing it up. "Terry doesn't think I look good."

Brock sighed. Terry is an idiot. "Terry is an idiot." He said echoing his thoughts. Reba smiled and blushed a bit. Brock smiled too. "There's that smile. Terry is an idiot for saying stuff like that. I know he is just kidding some of the time but other times it's just cruel of the things he says to you. I am in no real place to talk about your marriage but if I ask why are you still with him?"

Reba's face suddenly went serious. Her smile had disappeared from his face. Brock knew he had stepped over a line. "Your right…" She stated. Brock thought she was about to pour her heart out but she took him another way, "You don't have any place to talk about it. I am with Terry because I love him and it would do you good to remember that." She said. She stood up sharply and walked toward to where the kids were with a smile on her face. Why did he have to open his big mouth and voice what she didn't want to hear? She knew Terry wasn't exactly the best husband but she did love him. She did. She was still trying to convince herself.

For the rest of their time at the park Reba stayed as far away from Brock as possible. She didn't want to talk to him or feel the awkwardness that had erupted yet again between them. She volunteered to stay with Henry and Elizabeth so Cheyenne could have a break and she sat next to them during lunch too. During the ride home she didn't listen to Terry complain as she had Barbara Jean sit up in front and she sat in back. She helped taking in the blankets and avoided Brock when he tried to talk to her.

She cringed when she was left alone with Brock when Jake and Kyra went upstairs and Terry went to nap, again. She was sitting in the living room, reading and Brock had come down the stairs. Reba stiffened and ignored him when he sat next to her on the couch. She just scooted over and pretended not to notice him sitting there.

"Reba…" he said trying to talk to her. "Please forgive me. I went too far."

Reba sighed and figured she was being childish. She closed her book and looked at Brock. "I accept your apology and I really hope you understand that you did go too far. Now I know we had some kind of past but that's all it is, a past and it would be good if we kept it there."

Brock nodded and was quite shocked. She was the first to bring up their past. He was happy she still remembered. He didn't even care if she remembered it in a negative way. Just that she remembered was something. "I am truly sorry. Were still friends, right?" he said giving her the puppy dog eyes and holding out his arms for a hug.

Reba chuckled and shook her head. "Were still friends." She set her book down and accepted his offer of a hug. He pulled her in tight and Reba did the same. As soon as Reba hugged Brock she knew it was probably a bad idea because she immediately closed her eyes and inhaled his scent. He smelled just the same as he did before.

Brock was also having the same trouble because he smelled strawberry shampoo in her hair, like he did twenty five years ago and remembered the night that they were together. He couldn't focus very well as he continued to hold on tight to her and she didn't show any signs of wanting to let go either. His breathing slowed and hers almost stopped completely. They pulled apart slowly, their lips centimeters away. They unconsciously moved closer and then it happened.

"Mom..." Kyra said walking down the stairs. They immediately let go and Reba turned to see her daughter standing in front of them. She hoped she didn't see anything. "Have you seen that deep purple top of mine? Didn't you pack it?"

Reba swallowed trying to find her voice. "I know I packed it. I'll help you find it." She said jumping up from the couch. She needed to get out of there. Reba couldn't believe what she almost did. She was a married woman. What was she thinking?

End of Chapter