"Kids! Come down and say bye to Grammy Liz!" Reba yelled up the stairs at her youngest two while Brock said goodbye to his mother. Kyra and Jake came down a few moments later and Cheyenne and Van walked out of the kitchen to meet their grandmother by the front door. Reba watched as everyone hugged and said goodbye, including Van who about picked the woman off the floor. When they were all done Liz looked at Reba and waved.
"Take care of my babies, all of them." Liz said.
"I always do."
"I know you do." She replied. "Alright, I'll see you guys soon, okay?" She grabbed Jakes little face and kissed his cheek one last time. "I love you."
"We love you too!" Everyone replied, except for Reba who just let out a sigh of relief.
"Thirty hours with that woman is too long…" Reba said after Liz walked out.
"Hey, now! She seemed like a very nice lady…" Van said, and even looked slightly insulted by what Reba said about the woman Van and known for a day. Reba scuffed.
"Yeah…"
"Try living with her for eighteen years…" Brock mumbled.
"At least shes mean, but loves you. Shes just mean to me." Reba said.
"She loves you, Reba. Believe me, we wouldn't be married right now if she didn't."
"She didn't want us to get married! She told me the only reason she didn't object is because she didn't wanna look like 'the bad guy'."
"You guys were fightin when she said that, she didn't mean it." Reba rolled her eyes.
"Hey, Mr. H. What happened with that chick in the story from yesterday?" Van asked.
"Julie? Oh, she was annoying. I avoided her for years until I bumped into her one day at the gas station, hugely pregnant, no guy and living with her parents. I did feel kinda bad, but I heard she married rich and moved to New York and never looked back."
"Dang…" Van replied.
"Mom, you should keep going with the story." Cheyenne said. Kyra and Jake lost interest and went upstairs. Reba shrugged,
"I don't know, Cheyenne. I gotta clean up the dinner mess and Van has to get goin, it's past 8:00. Besides, I don't even know where I should start…"
"Well, how did you guys start talking and liking each other?" Reba looked and Brock a little concerned but he was lost.
"Maybe tomorrow, okay? I'm not really feelin up to it tonight. Say bye to Van." Cheyenne sighed, but didn't argue. She said goodbye to Van, then went upstairs for the rest of the night. Reba cleaned up the kitchen, then shut off the light and walked out to the living room. "I'm gonna go up to bed." Brock turned his head to look at her from the couch where he was watching some sitcom.
"Little early, isn't it?"
"Well, I'm gonna shower then maybe read or somethin." He nodded.
"Okay, I'll be up after this." She walked upstairs to check on the kids, Jake fell asleep at the foot of his bed, still in his jeans. Reba smirked then carefully pulled his pants off and laid in his bed correctly. Kyra was finishing her math homework and Cheyenne was on the phone with Van. She went into hers and Brocks master bedroom, grabbed a towel and got into the shower. The nice hot shower which was much needed after a long day and a half with Liz. She stayed in the shower, waiting to get out until Brock came knocking, which she knew would happen. She was only in there for a half hour, which was surprising because she figured he would've stayed and watched more than one episode of whatever he was watching. She got out and wrapped her towel around her steaming body, then unlocked the door and let Brock in as she walked out to get dressed.
Once she was dressed she slid into their neatly made bed and just waited for him to get out. He took a quick one, came out fully dressed, then slid in next to her. They laid there quietly, both inhaling deeply, enjoying each others scents.
"So," Brock interrupted the silence. "why didn't you want to continue our 'story' for Cheyenne earlier?"
"Because I don't wanna tell her how it really happened. 'Oh, mommy cheated on her boyfriend with his best friend.' how terrible does that sound?"
"We already sound terrible, obviously she knows that you still somehow ended up with his best friend, besides, you never cheated Reba. You made sure you and Terry were broken up way before anything ever happened. We went on a couple dates, which I wouldn't even consider dates because I couldn't get a kiss out of you until you ended things with Terry, and you just ended up liking me. Things happen."
"I think I'll just leave that part out. I'll just skip forward and hope she doesn't ask what happened with Terry."
"And if she does?"
"You lie and say I broke up with him." Brock laughed.
"Why me?!"
"Because! I'm a terrible liar, I cant lie. You can." Reba moved her cold feet and touched them to his legs, making him jump and gasp. She laughed and put them between his calves.
"Stop!" he said, moving his legs away from her freezing feet.
"Can I just warm them up?" he sighed, moved his legs closer and allowed her to rest her feet between his calves again. "Thank you." She said, smirking. He rolled his eyes,
"Y'know, if you got closer you'd be a lot warmer." He said with a tiny grin. She scooted a little closer and put her cold hands on his neck. He flinched a little, then took her hands in his own warm hands, cupped them, put them up to his mouth and breathed his hot breath onto her hands to warm them up. After a couple breaths he closed his hands around hers until they didn't feel as cold any more, then he just intertwined their fingers and sighed contently. A few minutes later Brock started chuckling, Reba looked at him curiously.
"What?"
"I was just thinkin'…" he stopped and Reba kept staring at him, clueless. "Remember when you finally said yes to a date?"
"Yeah…" she replied, smiling. "And I don't think that's really considered 'agreeing'."
November 18th, 1978. (its been about a year since the last flashback)
"Come on a date with me." He begged, following Reba around as she washed tables, getting ready to close the bar for the night. Terry had taken the day off so it was just Reba and Brock all day.
"No."
"Okay.." he paused and watched her for a minute. "how bout now?" He asked, with a smile that made Reba want to skip all the dates and just jump in his arms now.
"No." He pouted.
"What do I gotta do to get you to come on a date with me?"
"Come up with a plan on how to end things with Terry."
"You go up to him and say 'Terry! You're a lousy boyfriend and I love Brock." Reba scuffed.
"There's only two things wrong with that. One: he's not a lousy boyfriend and two: I don't love you. I don't even really like you. I tolerate you." Brock rolled his eyes and followed her to the bar.
"Well, what if I didn't call it a date? What if we said 'going out together as friends because that's what friends do.'?"
"Alone?"
"Yes." he answered, nodding.
"Then no, that looks bad."
"Well then we don't have to go around people. We could… have a picnic or… stay in and watch movies or play board games or something… anything. Anything you wanna do."
"No. That's just bein sneaky." Brock sat up on the bar and thought for a few moments.
"Wait," he said as he hopped off. "I have an idea."
"Brock nothin is gonna change my-"
"Go make sure its all locked up." he said as he walked back into the kitchen.
"What're you doin…?" She asked, following him.
"Nothin, just go. You still have to sweep."
"I'm leavin. You sweep." Brock sighed.
"Do you really have better things to do at two in the morning?"
"Yes, actually. I do."
"Like?"
"Sleep. I'm leavin." She said, then turned and walked out towards the door.
"I think you need this to leave, Red." he said, holding a key up and leaning against the door frame separating the kitchen and behind the bar. Reba closed her eyes and mentally yelled at herself for being so stupid. She let out a breath, smiled and walked towards him. He held the key out, pretending he was going to give it to her, then closed his hand around it tightly as soon as she went for it.
"This is your idea of a date? Holding me hostage?"
"If that's what I've got to do, then yes."
"Brock, give me the key."
"Nope."
"Brock-"
"Maybe is you ask nicely." She rolled her eyes.
"Brock, please," She said between her teeth. "give me the key."
"Hmm…" He leaned in closer to her face then whispered a simple "No.". She glared at him with her arms crossed like the stubborn redhead she was. He chuckled, "you don't like not bein in charge, huh?" She ignored him, turned and took at seat at the bar.
"Well, If you're gonna keep me here I better, at least, be getting a drink out of it." He smirked and walked behind the bar.
"Pick your poison, darlin'."
"Anything. I just need somethin to get me through whatever you have planned." He breathed and laugh and started making her a martini.
"Okay," he said, setting the drink down in front of her. "I'll be back, no sneakin out the bathroom window or anything, got it?"
"Well, that never really crossed my mind, but now that you say it…" he smiled.
"Well then it's a good thing the bathrooms don't have windows then, isn't it?" Reba face fell and she clenched her jaw, not liking that he could be clever and witty too. Although, she had to admit, she loved that he was determined. She waited patiently as Brock was back in the kitchen. He found a few recipes, but decided to just make two grilled cheeses instead of trying to do something fancy, in case he messed up. He looked in all the drawers for a candle, but all he found was one of the little, cheap ones that you only light once. He shrugged and decided it would work for now. He brought the plates out and sent them in front of her, then put up his index finger, telling her to wait, hurried back into the kitchen, grabbed the candle and lit it. Reba couldn't help but laugh a little at the candlelit dinner.
"I know it's not perfect, but I had to work with what I had…" She shook her head.
"It's not as bad as I thought it'd be." He smiled. She took a bite and shrugged. "Not bad, but mine are waayyy better."
"Is that a challenge?"
"Only if you're willing to take me on."
"I am." he replied with a deeper meaning, and she caught on, but tried changing the subject quickly.
"So… what's…" she thought of what to ask.
"My favorite color? Green. Whats yours?" She smirked and sighed, relieved.
"Blue. What's your middle name?"
"Don't laugh." She held up three fingers.
"Scouts honor." She said with a straight face. He took a deep breath and prepared to be laughed at anyway.
"Enroll…" She smiled and leaned closer.
"What?" She asked with laughter in her voice. "I'm sorry, I thought you said Enroll, like Brock Enroll."
"I did…" She laughed, then put her hands over her mouth, but continued laughing.
"Brock Enroll" She said, still laughing. "Does your mother hate you?" She asked, wiping a tear from the corner or her eye.
"No, apparently my dad has a sense of humor." She took a few deep breaths and stopped laughing so hard.
"I'm sorry, I just… I wasn't expecting that." he laughed and nodded.
"Yeah, not many are.. what's yours?
"Nell."
"Well, that's not even bad. I cant laugh at yours."
"Sorry, my parents love me." he chuckled and shook his head, then took a drink of his beer.
"Lets play a game." he said, standing and grabbing himself a beer. "We each have to say something we've never done, and if the other person has done it before, then they drink. Like, if I said 'I've never ridden a bike before' you would have to drink because you have." She nodded as he sat back down in the bar stool next to her.
"Okay, I'll go first. I've never… been on a motorcycle."
"hm…" He took a drink, then thought of what to say. "I've never had a period."
"You cant do that!" he laughed.
"Why not?"
"It's cheatin, obviously you've never had a period."
"I never said any rules." She narrowed her eyes and took a drink.
"Okay, I've never had sex. And you should have to drink for every time you have." he smiled.
"Really…? You're a virgin?" She blushed and nodded.
"Yeah, now start drinkin." He laughed and took one drink, knowing she was kidding about having to drink every time he'd had sex.
"I usually wouldn't believe that for a second if a nineteen year old came up to me and said that, but for some reason I believe you."
"So, you're saying I look like someone who'd be a virgin?"
"No! Not like that… If you didn't have self respect and boundaries theres no way you'd still be a virgin, especially with me around." He mumbled the last part, quietly andReba felt her cheek get a little warm again, but she just rolled her eyes and tried to ignore his comment. "I'm glad you do have boundaries though, and I think I just became 10 times more attracted to you."
"Brock… this is just a couple friends doin what friends do, right?"
"If that's what you want it to be." There was a slightly long pause, then Brock took a breath and started the game back up. "I've never been in a serious relationship."
"Define serious." Reba said.
"Together for more than a year." She rolled her eyes and took a drink.
"I've never slow danced… well, unless you count my cousin." Brock looked at her confused and she just shook her head. "I don't wanna talk about it." he took a drink of her beer then stood and grabbed her hand. She shook her head and he nodded, pulling her down from the stool and over to the opening on the floor.
"We're gonna change that."
"I have no idea what I'm doing.."
"That's okay, I don't expect you to. I'll teach you." He picked up her left hand with his right and put his left around her waist, pulling her a little too close which made her a little uncomfortable and she thought about backing up, but she didn't really care and to be completely honest, she felt safe with his strong body close to hers, she grew more and more comfortable by the second. "Okay, now rest your other hand right here." He said, taking her hand and resting it on his shoulder.
"Are there any certain steps or anything?" he smirked and shook his head.
"No, step on my feet."
"Huh?"
"Just step on my feet, its okay." She took a deep breath and did what he said. "Now, you don't have to worry about that."
"Theres no music." She said, looking at him like he was ridiculous. He just shrugged and started moving his feet.
"Who needs it?"
"Usually dancers…" he chuckled.
"Smart ass." He whispered. They continued moving, making small talk and laughing for quite a while, neither of them realized they had been dancing for about forty minutes. Reba also hadn't noticed that she had moved her hand in towards his neck a little and he had somehow pulled her even closer.
"I think our song is long over." Brock laughed and Reba smiled.
"Well," he bowed, "thank you for a wonderful dance."
"Thank you for a, believe it or not, fun night. I actually enjoyed myself, you're… somethin', I haven't quite put my finger on it yet, but you're somethin'." She said and the walked back to the bar.
"Charming, handsome, fun, yeah… I know." he grinned, "you're not so bad yourself, Red."
"Yeah, I know." She mocked, then finished off the last of her martini. She picked up her purse and grabbed her keys out of it.
"I'll walk you out, well I have to anyway." He said, grabbing the key to the bar to unlock the door for her. He did, and walked her all the way out to her car too.
"Don't forget to sweep." He nodded once.
"I wont."
"I really did have fun 'going out as friends because that's what friends do'." The both chuckled.
"Thank you for not being bitter."
"I got a drink and free dance lessons, I cant be bitter to anyone who gives me that." He smirked.
"Well, what do I get? A wave, a handshake, a hug, anything?" She held her hand out and he smiled and shook it. "Goodnight, Reba."
"Goodnight, Brock." they shared another smiled, then he put his hands in his pants pockets and walked back towards the door as she unlocked her car and got in. She sat in her car for a minute, thinking about their night and smiling about it… for a long time.
November 25th, 1997
Brock laughed and shook his head.
"I sure was crazy about you…" He said, smiling.
"Yes you were…" He sat up on his side and rested his head in the palm of his hand, staring at her. "What?" She asked, confused as to why he was staring at her like that.
"We should go on a date."
"Hm?"
"Lets go on a date, Reba! That night was so much fun, lets do somethin' like that again." She stared up at the ceiling, thinking about it. "We can go one night after we put Jake to bed, Cheyenne can keep an eye on Kyra, Kyra usually doesn't go to bed long after Jake anyway."
"Well… I guess we could probably do that. I think we need it." He smiled.
"Me too." She looked back at him and couldn't help smiling when she saw him smiling. He leaned closer and gently kissed her nose, then they both shut off the lamps on either side of the bed and sighed contently. "Goodnight, Reba."
"Goodnight, Brock."