Love by Love – 05
Barbra Jean was upset about Brock. She wanted Brock to love her. She was desperately in need of guidance. None of her wild college friends could help her, she turned to the only woman that Brock showed interest in: Reba.
"Barbra Jean, are you sure I'm the right person to ask for advice about you and Brock's relationship?"
"Please Reba, I want him to love me. You were his friend back in college. You know him better than I do. Please tell me what to do to win his heart."
"Oh Barbra Jean... Brock and I didn't even like each other back in college. We only talked because Lori-Ann was my best friend. Brock was a jerk and he annoyed me," commented Reba walking away.
"I see it differently. Please Reba, please please please...." Barbra Jean hugged her leg and pulling of one of Reba's shoes in the process. "I wouldn't give this back to you until you give me some advice."
"Alright! Fine! Only because these shoes cost me eighty bucks!" Reba snatched her shoe back and put it back on, sitting down on her couch. "First of all, you've gotta stop going bar hopping. No man will be happy when his girlfriend goes out and flirts with every man in town."
"Oh I don't just flirt with anyone, only dentists"
"Yeah, quit that."
Barbra Jean took her advice. She cut down on her nights out with friends. She stayed home and tried to spend time with Brock as much as she could. However, instead of liking it, Brock wasn't so thrilled. More time with Barbra Jean meant less time with Reba. And Reba kept her distance because she didn't want to be accused of trying to steal Brock from Barbra Jean. He felt like they were back in college all over again. Especially now that Reba seemed to have someone else interested in her.
"Hi Reba... Who's this?" Brock came in the kitchen seeing a man working under the sink.
"Hey Brock, you don't live here," remarked Reba seeing him acting like there was a stranger in 'his' property.
"We're here to see if Kyra wants to come and play candyland with us." Barbra Jean invited knowing how much Kyra enjoyed the game.
"That's nice of you to offer, but she's napping right now. So thanks." Reba replied, she still didn't feel the need to answer Brock's previous question. Brock felt uncomfortable seeing a good-looking man in Reba's house working under the sink.
"Can I see you in the living room?" Brock motioned. Reba followed him into her living room. "Reba, if you need help fixing the sink, you can always call me! I'm very good at this thing"
"He's right, Reba. He just installed a padded toilet seat, you can't get me off that thing." Barbra Jean wanted to be a part of conversation.
"I'm glad you can tear yourself away." Reba comment sarcastically.
"I don't think this guy knows what he's doing. Why isn't he wearing a jumpsuit?"
"Excuse me" Bill poked his head in the living room "I fixed your disposal, but you might want to think about changing that faucet real soon. I get a discount over at Premium Fixtures. So, let me know if you're interested."
"Thanks" Reba gave him her beautiful smile. Watching Bill go back to the sink.
"Do you realize what just happened here?" Exclaimed Brock, "that guy's hitting on you!"
Reba sputtered, "That's funny!" Barbra Jean laughed hysterically. Reba glared at her. "Not that funny."
"Did he know that your husband just passed away? He's already moving in on you." Brock tried to bring her down on a guilt trip, and ironically, he was moving in on her too. Well, it's okay if he did it, because he knew her first. Brock tried to give himself an excuse.
"He is not hitting on me Brock. And even if he was, it's got nothing to do with you. You're my neighbour, not my husband!"
"Well... I'm just looking out for you..."
"Thank you very much, but I'm capable of taking care of myself," stated Reba walking back to her kitchen to talk to her plumber. Barbra Jean glanced at Brock wondering about his reaction. He never showed any sign of jealousy toward her. Reba hadn't even dated the guy yet and he had already jumped all over her. Reba also didn't know what had gotten into him. She wasn't about to go on a date with her plumber, and as he pointed out, her husband just died and it would be way too soon for her to start looking.
"Aaahh!" Reba screamed when the kitchen faucet sprayed her. "Ooh! Alright sucker. I've tried to be nice, but you're outta here!" Reba talked to her faucet.
"Hey Reba," Brock barged in with a thick plumbing book. "Why is your blouse all wet?"
"I'm entering the wet blouse contest. What do you think?"
"I think they look real nice." Brock commented lowering his eyes to her chest. Reba glared at him. Brock brought his eyes back to meet with hers.
"It's that stupid thing." Reba was furious. She just bought this house and already it was falling apart.
"I'm sure it's a perfectly good faucet. Let me take a look." Reba stepped out of his way. He turned on the water and it sprayed his face. "Hel...!" Brock jumped away turning off the water. "He rigged it to do that."
"Okay I've had it. I'm gonna call Bill to get him replace that thing."
"Bill? You're on a first name basis with your handyman?"
"Oh call me a flirt, our mailman's name Jim and the paperboy lets me call him Timmy. You have problem with that? BROCK?" Reba said seductively. She was driving him insane. She called the plumber and set up what it sounded like a date to him. He didn't like that at all. But what could he say? He was just her neighbor!
"Kyra honey, I'm going to drop you off at Mr. H's house for the afternoon, okay? Mommy has to go buy a new faucet."
"Are you going on a date?"
"No, I'm not going on a date. Who told you that?"
"I overheard Mr. H tell Barbra Jean that you're going on a date," told Kyra.
Reba grumbled. "Why does he have to make such a big deal?" The doorbell rang, Reba went to open, still mumbling. "I'm just going to a faucet shop, not a…" Reba was taken aback seeing Bill stood behind the door looking so good, and he smelt good too. "I'll be right back," said Reba closing the door. She murmured, "that's must be one fancy faucet shop."
Reba dropped off Kyra and Barbra Jean's house. She was a little uncomfortable going out with Bill. Especially since Brock kept making her feel guilty about how her husband just passed away and she went out with someone already. But Bill tried to put her mind at ease. Reba tried to relax and she started to enjoy his company. Reba treated him to a cup of coffee after shopping for all his help. She had to admit; she had fun that evening.
However, when he dropped her off, Bill tried to kiss her. Reba turned her head away. She told him she wasn't ready for a relationship. He understood. Reba saw her living room light was on; Barbra Jean probably brought Kyra back.
"Hi sweetie." Reba greeted
"Hi honey" Brock replied with a grin.
"I was talking to my daughter." Reba gritted taking Kyra in her arms but glaring at Brock. He pouted.
"So, is he my new daddy?" Kyra questioned.
"No, he's not your new daddy." Reba replied, viciously glaring at Brock who put his hands up in defence and took a step back. "Kyra, honey, wait here okay, I have to talk to Mr. H alone." Kyra nodded. Reba dragged Brock to the kitchen. "Where the heck did that come from?"
"Barbra Jean told Kyra that you were out with her new daddy," told Brock to Reba.
"What's wrong with you people? I was just out to a faucet shop!" She sighed.
"Oh please… He's been romancing you ever since he set foot in this house."
"Can you blame him?"
"No. So I was right then. It was a date." Brock muttered
"Even if it was, what's that got to do with you?" Brock didn't meet her eyes. He stared at the counter. Reba let out a heavy sigh. "I told him I'm not ready for a new relationship." Brock's face lit up in satisfaction. "You're right, Terry just died and I shouldn't hurry to replace him." Brock didn't think by talking her to a guilt trip would backfire. "Anyway, thanks for babysitting Kyra for me." Reba hinted.
"Do you want me to install that for you?" Brock lingered.
"Go home Brock." Reba sighed seeing him leave. She shouldn't begin to depend on him. He had Barbra Jean. He might not love her as much as Barbra Jean hoped, but she loved him. Reba would hate to be the one who broke them up. Just like when they were in college. When he had Lori-Ann, she kept herself away from him.
Stepping out of the shower, Brock dried his hair looking over at Reba's window. He just noticed the thick curtain that she hung was gone, he was able to look into her bathroom. He reminisced about when they were in college. How he tried to discreetly glance at her, how he used to admire her without any one notice. How he tried to annoy her just to get her attention. Or else she wouldn't even think he was existed.
"Ahh!" The sound of Reba screaming broke his daydream. Their windows were open, and he stood looking over at her direction. Reba came back with the clean curtain, she didn't pay attention to him at first but when she stepped on the stool to hang the curtain back up, she saw him: completely naked. Brock brought his towel that he used to dry his hair to cover his pelvis. He just realized how perverted he must have looked: staring in her bathroom window and daydreaming. He had to apologize.
Reba dropped the curtain on the floor and ran out of the bathroom. She sat on the top of the stairs burying her face in her palms trying to get rid of his image. She could never look at him without thinking of the incident again. She quivered. Taking in the deep breath, she had to go back to the bathroom. She poked her head in with her eyes half close to see if Brock was still there. He was gone. Reba sighed heavily and hung up the curtain making sure every corner covered.
Brock tried to apologize after the incident, but Reba avoided him at all cost.
"Reba..."
"Ahh! Go away!"
"Oh C'mon, grow up!" Exclaimed Brock blushing.
"Have you no blind, or curtain... or... or shame?"
"I'm sorry, I-. Wait a minute... what do you mean shame? Just so you know, I'm above average."
"Oh gross Brock," Reba became frustrated. "can we please not talk about it? Forget about it, Let's never speak of it ever again like when you kissed me!"