Heartbreak Warfare :: Chapter Six

Hope was skipping down the stairs two at a time. She was halted in her tracks half way down by the sight of Steve standing at the open front door with a cup of coffee, the morning newspaper, and a smirk the size of the Pacific.

Hope immediately flushed crimson, one hand gripped the staircase railing and the other instinctively touched her chest to make sure her robe was hiding her goods beneath, "Good morning Steve…."

"Is it a good morning there Mrs. Brady?" Steve smiled as he sipped his coffee, "Sure sounded like one."

Hope pressed her lips together. Before she could even begin to search for the right words, Aiden and Jennifer walked into the foyer. Hope was sure she couldn't have reached a higher level of mortification, but she was clearly wrong. Her eyes darted back and forth from Jennifer to Aiden, and then to Steve.

"I was just leaving," Aiden announced quietly.

Steve gladly held the door open for Aiden and closed it when he was gone. Hope was speechless. It was just now 10:00 in the morning. She couldn't fathom why this many people were standing in her foyer.

"If you're wondering if your boyfriend heard you and BoBo getting it on…." Steve winked, "He totally did. I think the whole neighborhood did."

"He's not my boyfriend." Hope blurted out defensively. It was the only thing that she could manage to say. Her mind raced. Her cheeks burned.

"So uh…." Jennifer smiled awkwardly, "Coffee? I picked up some donuts on the way home this morning."

Hope forced her feet to finish the rest of the steps and followed her cousin into the kitchen.

Hope's stomach flip flopped as Jennifer poured two fresh cups of coffee in silence. She was surprised to see Jennifer turn around with a smile. Up until then, she felt like a teenager about to be scolded.

"So, do you want to spill or do you want me to pull every delicious detail out of you like pulling teeth?" Jennifer asked as she sipped her coffee.

"What?" Hope sighed exasperated, "I'm so embarrassed! What are you doing here? And what on Earth was Aiden doing in here? How long was he here? Oh, my… God…."

Jennifer watched her cousin begin to pace. Hope held a hand on her forehead in panic.

"Hope," Jennifer giggled, "We're all adults here. Aiden told me you broke up with him last night. He never really told me what he wanted or why he was here. So he heard you having mind blowing sex with your husband… What's the problem?"

"It's awkward and embarrassing that any of you heard any of it." Hope sighed and forced coffee into her mouth. She swallowed the hot liquid in a hurry.

"So…." Jennifer raised her eyebrows.

"So, what?" Hope asked, "Bo and I had sex…. We had sex."

Jennifer laughed. She felt like they were teenagers all over again, "Hope, come on…."

Hope shrugged, "It's not like we haven't done it before."

"That's all you've got to say about it?" Jennifer shot furrowed brows at her cousin, "You're lying…"

"Ugh…. Jen…." Hope whined, "I don't know what it means…. but we definitely had sex."

"You don't know what it means," Jennifer nodded, pleased they were getting somewhere, "And?"

"And…. God… the way he makes me feel…." Hope rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, I heard how he makes you feel." Jennifer laughed out loud, and then whispered, "I never heard that coming from your room when Aiden spent the night."

Hope dropped her eyes and stared at her coffee cup.

"Seriously Hope?!" Jennifer laughed, "There is no reason to be coy about the fact that you and Bo have great sex."

"I just feel weird talking about Aiden so soon…" Hope shrugged, "I feel guilty comparing them."

"I bet Bo is bigger…" Jennifer joked.

"Jennifer Rose!" Hope's jaw fell, "We are done! Stop!"

Jennifer blushed and cleared her throat when the kitchen door swung open to reveal a freshly showered Bo with Steve trailing not far behind him.

"Good morning Jen," Bo greeted. He wore a half smile, "Long time, no see."

"Morning Bo," Jennifer smiled, "Coffee?"

"Sure, thanks," Bo nodded, "You got any uh… medicine for a headache?"

"Absolutely," Hope replied as she went to the cabinet near the sink, "Jen bought donuts if you're hungry."

"We were actually going to go to the pub." Steve replied, "I think we need something greasy to aid in this hangover situation."

"I'm sure Caroline will fix you right up," Jennifer smiled, "It was good to see both of you. You should come around more often."

An awkward silence fell around the four of them.

"Here," Hope handed a couple of pills to Bo. He gladly accepted, giving her a once over with his eyes before popping them into his mouth.

"You guys can stop by if you want," Steve offered.

Bo and Hope swapped a quick, awkward glance.

"Sounds great." Jennifer nodded, "We just might do that."

"Can I have my keys?" Steve asked.

"Oh!" Hope remembered out loud, "Yes. I'm sorry."

Hope disappeared, leaving the three of them to stare at every object in the kitchen except for each other, and returned a minute later, "Here ya go. Have a good day."

"Enjoy your breakfast," Jen added, "I hope you both feel better."

"Later, ladies…" Steve waved and Bo turned to follow, silently glancing back at both of them with a sheepish wave goodbye.

When they were both gone, Hope fell back against the refrigerator covering her eyes with both hands, "Oh my God Jen, what have I done?"