7. Bryanna

Unsurprisingly, nothing can steady the butterflies in my belly and the heady feeling that kiss left me with until this morning. I have to admit that after getting on my bed, I couldn’t stop reliving that kiss over and over again, even my dream. Hence my good mood though I didn’t sleep that long.

Or, that well. Wink!

His kiss, oh my God, his kiss was soooo good I can still taste it on my lips. How Nate stirred my feelings with only his tongue. I cannot imagine what will happen to me if we ever go further than that. I will be doomed, of that I’m sure.

But, it will be a good way to go, right? To die in the arms of your loved ones. To die in pleasure. To die in love.

Ah, in love.

I can’t wait to–

“Bug, wake up! I brought your joe and cupcakes!”

Yummy! There's coffee! And ...

Wait, what?

Isn’t that Adrian’s voice? He is in my apartment? Why is he in my apartment? What did he just say? Joe? Cupcakes?

Wait, wait, wait. Cupcakes. Cupcakes!

“Coming!” I shout from behind my bedroom door.

Half confuse but overcome with excitement, I hurriedly slip my college sweatshirt above my tank top and get out of my room.

Adrian is selecting ESPN while parking his hulking body on the couch across the TV. Hearing my steps, he glances back at my direction. “Come sit. Have a breakfast with me.” He pats the space beside him.

I obey my older and much bigger brother’s wish and sit beside him because of one reason only. “Cupcakes, you say?”

It’s nine in the morning, on a Sunday, when my perfectionist older brother usually use this time to rest before his crazy week start again. But, now, here he is, in my apartment, on my couch sipping coffee and watching TV, a dozen of cupcakes ready on the coffee table. “What’s wrong?” I ask him with furrowed brow, confuse and suspicious of his sudden appearance.

“Nothing,” he answers, acting nonchalant. “Can’t brothers have a breakfast with their lovely sister once in a while?”

I don't answer him.

Adrian exhales at my narrowed eyes. “Just eat, bug. Here.” He hands me a triple chocolate cupcake, my kryptonite.

I surrender. “Okay, then.” I take my first bite and everything is right again.

We sits in silence with Adrian watching the sport and me devouring my treat while checking feeds on twitter. I’m on my second cupcake when he mutes the TV and turn to face me. “So ...”

So, there is a reason.

“Out with it,” I demand without looking up from my phone. I know he have a motive. Nothing more important than structure in Adrian’s world.

“About your date last night.”

My eyes flies to Adrian’s uncomfortable face. “Lincoln told you, didn’t he?”

Sensing, or more like seeing, my change of mood, he tries another approach. “Tell me about him.”

I cross my arms across my chest, suddenly feeling defensive. “There’s nothing to tell,” I reply curtly, clearly annoyed. I cannot believe Lincoln told Adrian about Nate and my DATE? There wasn’t a date, and if there was, why did he care? Who did he think he is, spying on my personal issues and gossiped it to Adrian?

I tell Ad this much.

He chuckles. “Come on, bug, we don’t gossip.”

“That’s not the point, Ad,” I quip back. “I’m twenty four, I’m building my own career. I’m sure I can look after myself. Tell him to back off.”

Adrian clears his throat. “Look, Bug, I know you’re upset, but believe me, Linc’s intention was good. And still is. He just wanted to look out for you.” He moves his body so we are face to face. “Let’s see it this way. I’m your brother and he’s my best friend. So it makes him undirectly your other older brother. And that was Linc doing his job. Heck, I’m doing it myself right now. Checking in on you.”

What in the world is he talking about?

“No, Adrian Leonard Jackson,” I growl and stare dagger at him, “He don’t get the title just because he’s your best friend. To me, he’s a stranger with a familiar face. I don’t even know a thing about him beside his asshole-ish tendency when he manhadled me to his car a few nights ago. He. Manhandled. Me, Ad, just because I went to Stewart’s alone pretty late. But, that wasn’t an excuse. And if he’s going to be a grumpy tattle-tale, well ....” I don’t finish my sentence and shrug. I’d like for my brother to complete that based on the look on my face.

Adrian shakes his head and exhales. He leans down, both arms on his knees. With that he says, “Bug, you don’t understand.”

I wait for his explanation. He gave me nothing. “What, Ad?” I challenge. “Tell me what I supposedly don’t understand so I can understand.”

Another exhale. With puffy cheeks Adrian exhales hard enough to blow thirty candles off in one try. I eye my brother, secretly hoping I had a degree in reading human expression. Or, that I can read minds like those super human in movies so I know what is going on in his head.

Adrian runs his fingers through his mane of hair a shade lighter than mine. He tugs at the roots. And he's huffing again. His eyes keeps glancing at me .

I watch him like a hawk. I know he is considering something in his head but I don’t know what. And I really want to know. So I suppress all of my emotions and wait for him.

He looks at me in the eyes, and there are so much emotions alternating in his. Guilt, shame, proud and ... amusement?

Why is he feeling amuse? What does he find amusing?

He shakes his head as a smile forms in his lips. I feel my brows furrowing a little more deeper on my forehead. At that, Adrian chuckles. “I gotta go,” he broadcasts. “See ya at dinner, Bug.” Adrian kisses my hair and stands. His Nikes covered feet silently walk through my apartment to the door.

What the heck, Ad?

I repeatedly curse him in my head. How can I not? He left me with a muddled mind and ten cupcakes on the coffee table.

Well, at least there’s cupcakes. And, oh, my caramel macchiato, too!

****