CHAPTER FOURTEEN – Distracted

"Hey Char, before I forget," Vanessa said, back-tracking her steps as she walked out of my room. Even though we had just all seen each other a few hours ago, we still had had a BSC meeting the day we got back from our weekend away. Since it was a Tuesday, it wasn't a regular client meeting. We just thought we needed to re-group and get caught up on all the appointments, the scheduling and a couple of other business issues. Vanessa was the last one to leave. "Byron just wanted me to tell you that he gets off at ten tonight but that he'll call you."

"Thanks, Van," I replied with a smile. "I'll see you later." I went back to concentrate on the BSC notebook in my hands.

"Hey Char?" I looked back up and realized that she was still standing there, leaning on the doorway.

"Yeah?"

"I'm really glad that you two got together," she said. "And I'm not just saying that because you're my friend and he's my brother... It's – It's just that you guys just seem to fit, you know?" I smiled.

"That really means a lot. Thank you."

"Mmm-hmm... There's nothing like love to make spirits soar like a doves..." she rhymed with a bright twinkle in her eye . I laughed.

"You know, Van... Doves don't really soar, per say," I teased. "It's mostly a fluttering motion." At that, she stuck her tongue out and turned to leave.

"Oh yeah?" I heard her call out from the stairs. "Let's see you try and think of something in two seconds!"

Later that night, just as I popped in Bend It Like Beckham in the DVD player, the doorbell rang. I checked the clock and it was just before nine-thirty, so I began to wonder who it could be that late on a Tuesday night. I pulled my robe tighter around my matching camisole and shorts as I walked to the door. I was surprised to see Byron standing on the front steps, wearing black pants and a black and white striped shirt, the famous Footlocker employee uniform.

"Hi! What are you doing here?" I asked, glad to see him. "Vanessa told me that you'd get off at ten."

"The manager let us leave about an hour early," he told me as he stepped inside. "The whole shift was really slack so we ended up doing a lot of the closing up stuff before the store actually closed." We headed for the family room and we sat down on the couch. Byron leaned his head backwards on the seat and closed his eyes, sighing.

"Driving for hours on the freeway really doesn't help when you have to go to work the minute you get back home," he complained. I gave him a half smile and patted the space between the edge of the couch and my crossed legs.

"I think someone needs a really good massage," I said and Byron grinned, moving closer to me. I placed my hands on his broad shoulders, putting pressure on his back as I moved my thumbs in a circular motion.

"Man, does that do the job or what?," he said a few minutes later, stretching out his arms. He then kneeled on the floor in front of the couch, facing me and he slowly leaned forward, giving me a kiss. I pulled away for just a second and said,

"Let me just say that that's a very nice way to say thank you." He smiled and we kissed some more – a lot more (definitely nothing R-rated though) making my insides all warm and fuzzy. It was all just very sweet and innocent. And I thought that that was perfect for where we at, relationship-wise.

We heard voices coming from the stairs, so we quickly pulled away and Byron stood up to turn the television on just as my mom and dad reached the bottom landing.

"Oh. Hi Byron," my dad greeted, surprised. "That was you at the door?"

"Um... yeah. Just came by to say hi," Byron replied, still standing, sticking both hands in his pant pockets.

"Looks like you've been busy entertaining guests all day, haven't you sweetie?" my mom asked, patting me on the arm as she joined me on the couch. Still out of breath from my mini make-out session with Byron, I just managed a weak smile.

"Did you know Jeff was back in town, Byron?" my dad asked.

"Jeff? Jeff Schafer? He's back in Stoneybrook?"

"Apparently," my dad replied. "But I'm sure you'll bump into him one of these days. Stoneybrook's not that big, after all." He chuckled. "Anyway, we came downstairs for pie. Would you guys like to join us?"

"No thanks, dad. I'm still full from dinner," I replied.

"Byron? What about you, dear?" my mom asked, getting up from the couch.

"I'm okay. Thank you, though."

"Suit yourselves," my dad teased as he wrapped an arm around my mom's waist as they walked away. "Dr, Johanssen's apple pies are to die for." I smiled.

"So when did Jeff get in?" Byron asked a few moments later, taking my mom's seat on the couch.

"This morning," I replied simply, taking my hand in his.

"And he came right here? To see you?"

"Uh, I guess..." I replied, slowly. "Maybe? I don't know." I looked at him when he didn't say anything else but he didn't meet my gaze. He sat there, staring intently at a spot on the floor. "Hey, what's wrong?" I asked softly. As if is snapping out of a trance, Byron looked up at me and smiled hesitantly.

"I – I guess I'm just a little too tired," he stammered. I had this tiny inkling that he wasn't telling me the entire truth, but I dropped it. "I better get going." He stood up and hand in hand, we walked to the front door.

"Good night," he said. We kissed but he seemed hurried and distracted. I furrowed my brow as I said good-bye to him, but he didn't notice.

At that, I sighed and closed the door after him.

A/N: more reviews, please!! =)