Love by Love – 13
Kyra was so happy she would get to travel by airplane. She had never seen an airplane up close before. Reba just hoped that she could book two weeks off.
"When do you want two weeks off?" Dolly checked her calendar.
"In August. I'm taking my daughter to Hawaii."
"Hawaii? In August? Don't they have a dental convention there then?" Reba had to respect that Dolly had a lot of contacts and nothing got pass her that easily. "You're going with your daughter or that hot and handsome neighbor of yours?"
"I'm- You think he's hot and handsome?"
"You don't think? Sparkling blue eyes, broad shoulders. Plus, don't you just want to pinch his biceps?" Commented Dolly dreamingly. "Bite his rock hard chest, count his rips, place your hands on his six-pack, feel his tense muscles under your hands. Stroke his-"
"Alright, alright. That's enough" Reba raised her hand up. Her skin started to crawl. Why the heck did she just picture herself doing what her boss just described. Reba shook the thought out of her head. "Aren't you happily married?" Reba narrowed her eyes at her boss. "Never mind, yes, we're going with him and his daughter. He said the pharmaceutical company paid for airfare and hotel, so I decided to take the advantage and take Kyra with me and we only have to pay for the airfare for the kids."
"Sound like a cute little family vacation."
"Families... with an 's'. Two families." Reba corrected her boss.
"But y'all will be in the same room."
"I figure, when we get there, we'll get another room for me and Kyra," noted Reba.
Shaking her head with a grin, Dolly spoke, "oh Reba, you're so naïve. There will be no 'extra room' available. It's a convention. The hotel will be full. So pack a lot of sexy lingerie"
"No! Our kids... I mean my kid and his kid would be there too!"
"Try travel sickness pills," suggested Dolly.
"Pardon me?"
"Travel sickness pills will make them sleep till dawn. You two could have some private time together." Reba rolled her eyes at her boss' suggestion. Oh well, she got her two weeks off.
Reba was of two minds, she wanted to go to Hawaii, but she wasn't sure if staying in the same hotel room with Brock would be a good idea. Sure, the kids would be there and they would have two queen beds. Reba knew he wouldn't do anything against her will, but it also meant they would be sleeping together less than six feet away. Reba couldn't lie to herself that she didn't have any feelings for him. She did. She really liked him, very deeply in like. But what if things didn't work out? She didn't want to ruin their friendship. She also didn't want to betray her friend: Lori-Ann.
Reba was on the phone with her parents when some knocked her kitchen door. She rushed to open.
"Lori-Ann Garner!"
"Reba Las Ve Gas!" The two friends threw each other a hug.
"You're never gonna let me live that down, are you?"
"Hey I'm not the one that jumped onstage and mauled Tom Jones."
"I was just trying to get my panties back." The two friends giggled. "Get in here. How do you know I live here now?"
"Oh Cheyenne always talks about a certain redhead when I call. I'm here to see how she's doing."
"Well, catch me up here, I hadn't talk to you since your divorce with Brock and then you got married to someone else."
"Getting rid of Brock is like getting rid of a wart." Lori-Ann mumbled
"Honey..." Reba comforted her friend "Divorce could be hard."
"The second one is much easier."
"Second one?"
"I'm breaking up with John. Caught him sleeping with my housekeeper."
"Oh honey..." Reba hugged Lori-Ann. Just then Brock came barging into Reba's kitchen.
"Now why is the sight of two woman hugging so sexy?" Brock commented.
"Because man are pigs," quipped Lori-Ann
"Well then you must love bacon. 'Cause you keep dating us."
"You know, Brock... the only reason men and women getting together is because the parts fit."
"So that's all we're good for. huh?"
"Some of you aren't even good at that."
"Hey Lori-Ann, you may want to run outside I think they're about to tow your broom." Brock quipped.
"Alright you two. Can't you just be nice to each other?" Reba jumped in before her friends decided to kill each other.
"Fine... I'm going to pick up Cheyenne after school, you wanna come along?" Brock invited.
"You're asking me or Reba?" Lori-Ann questioned.
"Aren't you her mother?" Brock snapped. Lori-Ann went with Brock to pick up Cheyenne. On their way to their daughter's school, Brock had a talk with his ex-wife. "Listen Lori-Ann... There's something I have to ask you. It's about Reba..."
"What about her?"
"I'm going to ask her out."
"What's that got to do with me?" Lori-Ann didn't show any expression.
"She wouldn't go out with me unless she got your blessing."
Lori-Ann scoffed. "You know you just put a grenade in my hand."
Ignoring his ex-wife's comment, Brock continued. "Cheyenne loves her and she loves Cheyenne too."
"I don't think it's about Cheyenne here. You love her. You always have." Brock glanced at his ex-wife. They had a heart to heart talk. Brock confessed to her that he kissed Reba the night before their wedding. But he made it clear to her that Reba had nothing to do with that incident, it was him who lost control and caught her off guard. Lori-Ann forgave him and gave him her blessing. As for her best friend, she would find a way to tell her. Lori-Ann and Cheyenne were staying a night with Reba, because she wouldn't stay at Brock's place. Reba gladly accepting her friend into her house. They had a slumber party. Cheyenne soon fell asleep. Reba carried her to Kyra's room. They would share the bed for the night. Reba came back to her living room to continue the nice chat with her friend.
"Cheyenne really loves you, doesn't she?" Commented Lori-Ann sipping her wine.
"I hope you're not upset when she accidentally called me mom. I mean, she and Kyra were playing family one day and-"
"Hey, better you than the tooth tart that's living in Brock's house." Lori-Ann cut her off. "If anyone would take my place, I'm glad that person is you."
"Lori-Ann... no one can take your place... Cheyenne just..."
"Honey... I'm serious. I trust Cheyenne with you. I'm sure you'll be the best stepmom Cheyenne could ever ask for."
"Lori-Ann... What the heck do you mean stepmom?" It just dawned on Reba what her friend just said.
"Reba, honey, Brock and I didn't end in on good terms, but we did have great times together just as good friends. And you are my best friend. I really don't mind if the two of you would get together." Lori-Ann saw Reba roll her eyes. "Are you telling me that you don't want to get together with him?"
"It'd be weird!" Reba gritted through her teeth.
"Let me ask you this, do you like him?"
"Lori-Ann..."
"Oh stop calling my name! Do you have feelings for him?"
"Yes but-"
"I only want yes or no answer." Lori-Ann looked straight in her friend's eyes.
Reba swallowed a lump in the throat and let out a long heavy sigh before she answered, "Yes"
"Then you've got my blessing." She threw her friend a hug. "Take care of Cheyenne for me"
Despite giving them her blessing, didn't mean Lori-Ann would be any nicer to Brock. They still threw barbs at each other whenever they could.
"Knock knock," said Brock coming into Reba's house.
"Who's there? Moron. Moron who? Moron who says knock knock when he comes in." Lori-Ann cracked.
"Hey, Reba, did you say you wanted me to help you take out the trash? C'mon Lori-Ann."
"Would you two get a room?" Reba spoke sarcastically
"We did, but now he wants to get a room with someone else."
Reba glared at her friend. "Be nice!"
"Don't let me stand in your way. I'm leaving tomorrow."
"Already? But you just arrived two days ago!" Reba didn't want her friend to leave so soon.
"I have to go back to work. I took a break from those screaming kids at the paediatrician's office to visit my own screaming kid. Very relaxing. Beside, you have to do some shopping for a decent bathing suit before you go to Hawaii, hun."
"Those ones you saw are new," whined Reba.
"New for the 70s. Try some bikini. Like the leopard print one that you got. Those are nice." Lori-Ann didn't see the stupid grin that spread across Brock's face. Oh yeah he remembered that bikini vividly, wait... it wasn't the bikini that he remembered. Reba saw his grin, she blushed and evilly glare at him. Lori-Ann extended her stay just one more day to help Reba shop for something better than a conservative one-piece swimsuit. She talked Reba into picking up a few two pieces for her trip to Hawaii. After Lori-Ann left, Brock asked Reba out again hoping for at least a date before they go on a trip together. Reba felt better now that she talked to her friend about going out with Brock. But she still felt a little abash for dating him. They were friends forever.
"How many times do I have to say no, before you give up?" Questioned Reba after he asked her out on a date once again.
"I don't know. How many times do I have to ask before you say yes?"
"I'll think about it." She came so close to saying yes, but maybe later.
"Can you think about it when we go out for a bike ride with the kids today?" They made it into a habit now that they would take the kids to the playground to ride their bike. Kyra had got her new bike with training wheels, she didn't want to ride her tricycle anymore. Brock thought her to ride her new bike. She particularly liked the bell. She giggled every time she rang it. Reba wanted to buy a new bike for herself, but Brock still prefer the idea of them riding together.
"Kyra honey, keep your hands on the handlebars." Reba was busy paying attention to her daughter who was trying to ride with no hands. She felt the bike sway a little to one side, so she shifted her weight to the opposite side to keep her balance. She didn't know that Brock was avoiding the dog poop someone didn't pick up, and had complete control of the bike. Reba's sudden movement surprised Brock as both he and Reba were leaning the same way. The bike was thrown out of balance and they fell on the ground throwing Reba off to the side hitting a rock with her arm.
"Oh gosh, honey... I'm so sorry." Brock rushed to check on her. Her right arm immediately swollen. She groaned in pain when Brock touched it. He rushed her to the hospital and found out she fractured her right arm. Brock felt like this was entirely his fault. He would take full responsibility by taking care of her while she was wearing a cast.