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Chapter 13
The uncharacteristic rain shower began suddenly. Faith blinked and looked up at the sky.
"Don't do that." Brian laughed. "You're getting rained on."
Before she could reply, a raindrop splashed in her eye. She blinked again and laughed. Soon it was pouring down rain, and Brian and Faith were soaking wet.
"Well, this is nice," Faith said, holding her arms above her head.
"Wonderful," he agreed. She grinned and looked at him from underneath dripping eyelashes.
"Let's get out of this rain," he suggested. The noises of the downpour were rapidly intensifying, and she shook her head.
"What?" she yelled.
"Let's get somewhere dry!" he shouted.
"No way!" she exclaimed. "Let's have fun while it lasts!"
As Brian watched, astonished, she took off running. Feeling a pull, he had no choice but to follow her. He ran to catch up with her, and when he did, she shook her hair out, sending drops of rain everywhere.
When they reached the sand, she slowed down and stopped. Then she pulled off her outer clothes until she was in her bright red trikini.
"Come on," she said, and dashed to the water. "It's so fun playing in the ocean while it's raining!"
He shrugged and pulled off his shirt. He made it to the waters edge before he stopped.
"Faith?" he yelled. She was nowhere in sight. He began to panic, looking around wildly. The ocean was rocky, and he could barely see anything.
"Faith!" he screamed over the wind.
"Brian, calm down!"
He spun around and put his hand to his chest, willing his heart to start up again.
"I thought you were in the water!" he explained. She smiled and took his hand, dragging him into the surf. He stopped at the surf, and she kept going.
"I have my pants on!"
"Stop being such a worrywart," she chided playfully. He shook his head. He was a worrywart?
"Okay, Faith, here I come!" he said sarcastically. "I'll just strip down to my boxers for you, no problems!"
She laughed and shook her head, lifting her arms in the air and shaking water everywhere. "Make up your mind, Brian!" she called. "Coming in or not?"
He shrugged and pulled his pants off. Never tell mom, he thought, before joining Faith in the water. As soon as the water reached his waist, Faith decided it would be enjoyment to splash him in the face.
"That worked, you know why?" She shook her head, grinning at him. "Because it's raining!"
She laughed and splashed him again. For the next hour, they played like ten year olds in the ocean, then they climbed out and sat on the sand, letting the tide wash around their feet until it buried their toes in the small grains. Brian had never had such a nice time. He loved to hear Faith's stories about the girls, and he liked, even more, to see her laugh. She had truly gotten over her previous state of depression, and now he could be happy. Now all he had to do was win her over, convince her of how much he liked her, and not his wife-to-be.
Faith traced small designs in the sand, writing her name in beautiful script, well, as beautiful as it could be in the sand. Then she wrote Brian's name, and chose to ignore it when he drew a barely noticeable plus sign between them. His fingers barely covered it, but she could definitely tell what he had done. Her heart fluttered, and she looked out into the ocean. When she looked back, she was surprised at how close his lapis eyes were to hers. For what seemed like hours, his magnetic presence placed her in a state of hypnosis. He looked to be in just as intense fascination as she.
"Whoa," she muttered, leaning back. "You look like a cyclopse."
He chuckled softly, and switched his gaze to the water. He seems shaken, she noted. She put her hand on his arm lightly. He turned to look at her once more.
"You okay?" she questioned softly.
"Yeah…" he said in the same tone. "We should get you back to your condo."
Faith stayed on the sand as he stood up. Then he extended a hand to her, and she took it, her heart turning over. He pulled her to her feet easily. Was it just her imagination, or did he keep a grip on her hand a little longer than necessary?
Just as they arrived at the two story house, lightning struck and the skies opened to release its moisture. Brian threw up his hands in disgust.
"I have to walk back in this!" he shouted, spinning and glaring at the heavens.
"You can stake out here for awhile if you want!" Faith offered. "I'm sure with five girls you can find something to do!"
He nodded once and followed her inside.
"Faith!" came a shout. "Girl, what are you doing out in this?"
Another Faith appeared in the frame of the kitchen, and upon seeing Brian, stopped short.
"Oh…" she said.
Faith hugged her twin, and was pushed away.
"I am not letting either of you near me until you're dry," Grace said, shaking her head. Faith put on a 'but I'm your other half' look, her delicate features scrunched up into a whiny expression.
Grace shook her head. "No way. Go get changed."
"I have nothing to change into," Brian pointed out.
"Looks like you got to be nakey, boy!" she exclaimed, shrugging. His jaw dropped, and she and Faith burst into laughter.
"At least let me have your shirt, Brian," Grace said. "I'll put it in the dryer with Faith's stuff. Then I'll see if I can't find something big for you to stuff yourself into."
"I'm a little guy," he offered, shrugging. Grace snickered, and Faith swatted her on the arm.
Faith stared as he stripped his shirt off and handed it to Grace, who held it between two fingers and extended her other hand towards Faith. Faith obediently handed over her shorts and tank top, then once more returned her gaze to Brian. She watched in extreme fascination as tiny droplets of water dripped from his head, tracing a line down his cheek and along his jaw, before dropping onto his chest and making their way down his torso. Then she looked up guiltily when she realized he had spoken.
"Uh, yeah," she said. "Um, what?"
"I'm dripping on your floor," he said.
"Don't worry about it," she said, dismissing it with a wave of her hand.
"I'll get you a towel."
But she didn't move, just watched the way his chest flexed every time a cold water droplet landed on it.
"Destiny?" she called. "Can you get us some towels?"
"Faith?" Brian ventured. She looked at him expectantly. "I had a lot of fun tonight," he said softly. "Thanks."
Faith tried to respond, but she was too moved by her love for him to speak.
If only he knew.
"I had fun, too," she whispered. A lot more fun than she'd assumed. "Now where are my girls with those towels?" she muttered. He chuckled, and gave in to the temptation he had been fighting all night: he reached out and wrapped a curl of her hair around his finger. It was soft, and he just wanted to take her in his arms and declare his love for her over and over again. She looked up at him with her big, brown eyes, and he brought his head down slightly. She closed her eyes, and he was just about to catch her lips in his when they were interrupted.
"Here's your towels, Your Highnesses," Destiny joked. She threw them on the counter, not noticing Faith and Brian at all, and left, saying, "Now, Brad Pitt is calling…"
Faith's eyes fluttered open, and he stepped away, disappointed. When would he get to kiss her?
Faith handed him the bigger towel, and he took it, closing his eyes when their fingers touched. She wrapped the towel around her shoulders and rubbed her arms. "I'm going to go get changed," she said. "Uh, I'll bring you some clothes if Grace hasn't found any already."
"Thanks," he said. "Thanks for taking in a lost puppy."
She glanced at him, and he was shooting a puppy dog look her way. She positively melted.
"We have sympathy for mutts," she said innocently and turned to leave the room, her foot on the stairs.
"Shut up!" he laughed. She grinned and continued up the stairs.
"Be right back," she called.
"Take your time," he returned. "I don't have anywhere to be."
"I kind of expected that," she yelled, as she was getting higher up on the stairs. "I mean, it's only eleven o'clock at night, thundering and lightning outside…"
"Are you in a meanie head mood, Faith?" he asked.
"Why are you still talking? I'm upstairs!" she called, choosing to ignore his comment.
"Get the last word, Faith, go ahead!" he shouted, laughing.
"Bite me!"
"Some people are watching a movie!" Promise's voice growled. "We do not need to be hearing of any biting between the two of you."
Brian moved to the doorway of the living room, the towel around his shoulders loosely. "Sorry," he said innocently. Four heads turned and glared at him. 'Yikes!' He backed out of the room quickly.
He waited at the island in the kitchen for a while, then he got impatient and climbed the stairs slowly. Faith was exiting a room, and he struggled to control his staring when he realized she was in a big fluffy towel. When she noticed him, she stopped abruptly.
"Brian!" she said. "You scared me!"
"Sorry," he mumbled, looking down, finding it very hard to look at her.
"I felt salty and grimy, so I decided to get a quick shower," she explained. He nodded and stared at the siding of the wall on the floor. "Well, um, I'll be right out, then," she said, and practically flew into her room, shouting, "You can go sit with the girls while you're waiting."
"Uh, I didn't exactly get a very warm reception from them when I tried that," he called. She didn't say anything, but a minute later, the door opened, and she appeared before him in a pair of gray boxers and a matching gray tank top. She brushed past him and skipped down the stairs, and he had no choice but to follow.
"Some clothes are on the landing of the stairs," Grace told him. "I guess I forgot to tell you…Brad Pitt has that effect on me." She shrugged apologetically, and Hope giggled. Brian's eyes narrowed at the second mention of that…guy, and the realization that he would be surrounded by four more giggling girls that he wanted for who knew how long. He grabbed the clothes and stalked up the stairs. On the way, he heard, "You think he's tired of Brad yet?" and more giggles. He shook his head and shut the door of the bathroom.
He finished dressing, then he took the opportunity to slide the shower curtain open and study the shampoos and conditioners and body washes that were everywhere. Following the scent of his nose and matching it with the scent in the air, so early after Faith's shower, he quickly located the shampoo Faith used. He opened the cap and breathed in, pulling back quickly when bubbles tickled his nose. Then he smiled and smelled it again, commanding himself to commit it to memory. He memorized every detail, matching the details of Faith in his head with the smell of the shampoo. He was momentarily enraptured, then he shook himself and put it back, closing the curtain and opening the door. He joined the girls in the living room, feeling like he was invading enemy territory.
"Brad is so hot…" Grace breathed. Destiny suppressed a laugh and nudged her in the ribs. She nodded at Brian slightly.
"I don't care," Grace declared. "I won't suppress my feelings for Brad."
Faith looked up at Brian and pretended to gag. He laughed quietly, but quickly learned that nothing got past the girls brigade when eight eyes turned to look at him, and four eyebrows raised. He swallowed hard and smiled shakily.
"Uh, he is hot," he agreed. All five girls burst into laughter, and he felt fire rise in his neck and work its way up to his face. This was not making a good impression on Faith.
"Brian, you're so easy to tease," Destiny giggled. "We're just pulling your leg. Don't worry about us. A friend of Faith's is a friend of ours."
He smiled again, this time it was cheekily. "I knew I could work my charm on y'all like usual."
Hope snorted. "Charm?" she repeated. "I won't say anything, for my dear cousin Faith's sake."
Faith flushed, and traced designs on the carpet, avoiding his gaze. He found himself wishing his arm was the carpet.
"Stop making her blush," Promise scolded. "She does enough of that on her own."
Faith rolled her eyes, and stuck her tongue out at them. They surprised Brian by sticking their tongues out, all in unison, at her.
"They're an army," Faith said, shaking her head and looking up at Brian. He grinned and patted her on the back.
"Two to four, we can take them," he whisper-yelled out of the side of his mouth.
"Yeah, because you're so-" She pinched his bicep lightly. "Strong, right?"
"Das right," he said, soaking it all up. He flexed his arms, fixing his lips in a 'macho' pout. Snickers and snorts drew both of their attention to the couch.
"Such flirting," Destiny whispered to Grace. Brian and Faith blushed hotly.
"Okay, enough," Grace said. "I've missed enough of Brad as it is…"
The whole room chorused with collective groans, and Grace picked up a pillow and used it on each of them, one at a time.
"You know what, you guys?" Promise said, her brown eyes sleepy. "I think it's bedtime for me."
Destiny nodded, and the two stood up, preparing to go upstairs. Brian watched with interest as Destiny walked over to Faith, and Faith in turn automatically held her arms up like a little child. Destiny leaned down and hugged Faith, dropping a kiss on her friend's cheek. Brian felt a mixture of jealousy and disgust. Destiny could manage to land a kiss on Faith, but he couldn't? He sighed inwardly. Maybe…maybe before he left tonight, he could score a goodbye kiss. He grew hopeful at the thought.
"Two down, three to go," Hope noted, counting heads. "Brian, you can just crash here tonight, if you want to."
He actually considered it. But who knew how well he could control himself with Faith under the same roof?
"Nah, I'll be fine," he said, shrugging. "I should go, now. It might start raining again, and this might be the only chance I get."
"Okay, then," Grace said, lifting her shoulders. He couldn't get over how she and Faith looked so much alike. Although, there was something that separated Faith from Grace, Brian had a feeling he wouldn't have trouble distinguishing the two from each other.
"Bye, Brian," Hope said, waving at him once before returning her eyes to the television screen.
"Bye," he echoed, standing up. He was halfway to the door, with Faith on his heels, when he realized. "Um…I need my shirt back."
"Oh, yeah," Faith said, and disappeared for a minute, returning with his slightly damp T-shirt. "Sorry…it wasn't quite done yet."
"That's okay," he said, smiling.
"Wait, I'll give you a jacket," she said, and before he could respond, she left once again. "It should be big enough, it's kind of big on me, so." She held out a pull over gray sweatshirt, and he pulled it on over his head, shrugging it down over his stomach.
"Thanks." He smiled. "I'll call you tomorrow."
"Okay." She reacted bravely and engulfed him in a hug. He hugged her back, turning his head and burying his nose in her hair, which had dried considerably. Uncomfortable, Faith pulled away and smiled, hoping he couldn't tell how bad she wanted to throw herself back in his arms.
"See you tomorrow, then," he said. She nodded and watched him walk out the door, into the slight, now barely existent rain. She watched his back as he kept going, farther and farther away until he no longer was visible to her eyes.
She went to bed feeling on cloud nine. Brian Littrell had hugged her.
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