Chapter 11

At some point during the less-than-scenic drive, Alexa closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep. She didn’t wake up until the car jolted to a sudden stop a couple of hours later. She stretched and opened her eyes slowly. In front of her was a beautiful two-story, county-style home. She looked over at Brian who was still sitting in the driver’s seat. He was smiling softly back at her.

“Hey, Sleepyhead,” Brian remarked with a grin. “Thanks for passing out on me. So much for providing me company, huh?”

“I’m sorry,” Alexa replied with a smile and a yawn. “But it was your idea to leave so early in the morning.”

Brian chucked, softly. It was actually nice to have someone asleep next to him, even if it was only in a car. “Yeah, yeah. Are you ready to meet my Mama?”

Alexa checked her appearance in the passenger side vanity mirror. “As ready and I’m going to be, I guess.”

Brian reached around and pulled Tyke out of the backseat before both he and Alexa climbed out of the car and walked up the long, winding driveway toward the front porch.

“Did you do all of this for your mom and dad?” Alexa asked, smiling.

“What do you mean?” Brian looked at her out of the corner of his eye and smirked.

“You know what I mean, buy them this big house in the middle of nowhere?”

Brian shrugged and took in the scene around him. His mother had always wanted a house deep in the county. When he first began to obtain success, Brian bought his parents their dream home and plenty of land to build it on. “As far as my parents were concerned, the fans were starting to get a little bit crazy and my mom always wanted a big yard where she could let her grandkids play, so that’s what I gave her.”

Alexa smiled and bumped Brian playfully with her shoulder. “No. I think that you’re just such a Mama’s boy that you wanted her all to yourself, so you secluded her from all of her neighbors.”

Brian laughed and held his hands up in mock defense. “You got me.”

As they approached the porch, Brian placed a hand on the small of Alexa's back and ushered her up the stairs. He opened the door, set Tyke down and called out into the house. “Mom?” If it weren’t for the delicious smells coming from the kitchen, he would swear that the house was empty.

As Brian led Alexa through the large, beautiful house, she took in her surroundings. It looked like a page out of a Southern Living magazine. As they walked through the front door, there was a staircase leading to the top floor. To the right of the staircase was the living room which was furnished with soft, flowered couches, two leather recliners and a lit fireplace, which was surrounded by a classic brick setting. Leading out of the living room, was a long hallway that led to the dining room and to the kitchen. Hardwood floors spanned the lengths of the hallways and every room. Alexa inhaled deeply, loving the warm feeling of the Littrell home.

“Mom?” Brian called again as the pair entered the kitchen.

Standing at the stove near the back of the kitchen was Brian's petite mother, Jackie Littrell. She had to be close to her 60s, but she was certainly aging well. Her dark hair was cut into a stylish bob and her fingernails were painted a dark red. A white apron was tied around her trim waist. As soon as she noticed Brian and Alexa enter the room, she stepped away from the stove and rushed over to them.

“Brian!” She exclaimed as she pulled him in tightly for a hug. “I didn’t hear you come in.”

“It’s okay. We just got here a minute ago.” He kissed his mother softly on the cheek and turned to the woman at his side. “Mom, this is Alexa.”

“Hello, Beautiful,” Jackie said as she turned to Alexa for the first time. Alexa extended her hand for Jackie to shake, but Jackie ignored it and pulled her into a tight embrace.

“It’s really nice to meet you.” Alexa said as she hugged Jackie back tightly. She’d never known what it felt like to be in a mother’s arms. Even when Jenny’s mom hugged her, it had always been so cold and obligatory.

“Brian has told me so much about you. You have no idea how glad we are that you moved in across the street from him.” Jackie paused and shot a look in Brian’s direction. “Of course he downplayed how gorgeous you are.”

Alexa blushed at Jackie’s compliment and then turned to Brian. “Aw, Brian, you’ve been tellin’ your Mama about me?”

Brian blushed as well and rolled his eyes. “I told you that I had earlier.” Wanting to leave the love fest behind, Brian walked over to the stove to see what his mother had been cooking. “Is this for us?”

“You stay out of that pot. That’s for tomorrow.” Jackie scolded only as a mother could.

Brian stepped away from the stove quickly. “You didn’t even cook us any lunch?”

“Brian!” Alexa stepped in. “You’re going to make her feel bad. Mrs. Littrell, you didn’t have to cook us a thing.”

“Don’t you worry, Sweetheart. I’m not going to get my feelings heart by this big lug.” Jackie smiled. “Brian, why don’t you go and get you and Alexa’s things out of the car while Alexa and I get to know each other.”

“There’s plenty of time to get to know each other later. Alexa and I are actually going to be staying at a hotel in town.” Brian replied sheepishly. He opened the refrigerator quickly pretending to scan the contents inside.

Alexa couldn’t help but to notice how dirty that had sounded. They weren’t staying in a hotel together. They were going to be completely separated by a bedside table.

“Brian, that’s silly. We have plenty of room here. There’s no need to spend your money at some hotel.”

Brian turned away from the refrigerator and smiled at his mom. “I’m good for it. I promise.” He then looked over at Alexa and smirked. “Besides, it’s all Alexa’s doing. She didn’t want to feel like she was imposing.”

Jackie turned back to Alexa. “That’s nonsense. You’re not imposing.”

Alexa shot Brian an annoyed glance. “Thanks for selling me out there, B.” She then looked back at Jackie. “You’re doing so much over here already. I don’t want to make the holiday any more stressful than it has to be, that’s all.”

Jackie started to protest again, but Brian cut her off. “Mom, it’s fine. The reservations are already set. It’s too late to cancel them now, but we promise, we’ll be here bright and early every day and we won’t leave until you’re sick of us.”

Jackie sighed, finally consenting. “Fine. Stay at a hotel if you must, but I’m just letting you know now that you didn’t have to do that. Having you stay here would not be stressful at all.”

“Next time.” Brian promised.

The rest of the afternoon was spent sitting around the kitchen table getting to know each other. After only a short while, Jackie and Alexa were talking like old friends. Brian sat back and watched. He knew that his mom would love Alexa. He was just really hoping that she didn’t love her too much. He had assumed that his mom was going to take him bringing Alexa home for Thanksgiving for more than it was worth, but no matter what disclaimers he would have put on the table, it wouldn’t have mattered. Jackie had been attempting to play matchmaker for years now.

Who was he kidding, anyway? He had brought Alexa with him because he felt good when he was around her. He was very obviously attracted to her in the most physical way. Every moment of the day he was fighting to keep that attraction from becoming emotional. Alexa deserved better than anything that Brian could give her right now. Though he would try to give her everything that he had, his heart would still be in another place, in another time.

Brian’s father arrived home from work shortly after 5:30. For dinner, Brian and his dad barbecued steaks, while Alexa and Jackie made baked potatoes and corn on the cob. When the meal was ready, Brian, Alexa, Jackie and Harold ate dinner outside on the patio. They shared a bottle of wine and embarrassing stories from Brian’s childhood.

“… So every night at bath time, I’d have two boys to watch out for. Brian’s brother, Harry, is only a couple of years older. As I would get Brian out of the bathtub and Harry into it, Brian would take off running stark naked down the street. He would chase dogs and cars and I was chasing him. Many nights the neighbors had to bring him home with a towel wrapped around his little hinny. He was always the adventurous one of us all.” Jackie finished her story with a loving glance at Brian and a sip of her wine as Alexa giggled from across the table.

Brian shook his head. Alexa was going to have so much ammunition when they got back home that it wasn’t going to be funny. “Okay, that’s enough of that.” Brian stood with a smile and picked up both his and Alexa’s dinner plates. “We need to get out of here. We need to check into the hotel before they give our room away.”

“Brian,” Harold replied, “You really don’t have to stay in some hotel.”

“Dad, we already had this fight with mom. It’s totally okay.” Brian walked inside and placed the dishes in the sink. Alexa followed with Harold and Jackie’s plates as well.

“Brian,” Alexa began as soon as they were alone in the kitchen. “Maybe we should stay. I don’t want to hurt their feelings.”

“Oh, no,” Brian replied with a smirk. “You let them get in your head.”

“No. They’ve just been so nice.” Alexa shrugged as she rinsed the plates and put them in the dishwasher.

“Alexa, you’re not going to be completely comfortable staying here. It’s okay. I promise you. They’ll be fine.”

Alexa sighed, but didn’t fight with him any further. “Fine.”

“Fine.” Brian repeated. The truth was, they could have stayed at his parent’s house, but he didn’t want to share her anymore. He’d had his friend to himself for so long that he didn’t know what it was like to share her attention with anyone else.

Jackie and Harold walked into the kitchen a couple of minutes later, loosely holding hands. Alexa smiled at the display of affection. It was refreshing to see that a couple could be together for so long and still be so in love. “Alexa, put those dishes down. I’ll take care of it.”

“It’s okay,” Alexa replied, smiling back at Brian’s mother. “I’m almost finished. Is there anything else you’d like some help with?”

“No, no. Of course not. You two go ahead and have some fun.” Jackie walked over and hugged and kissed both of them goodnight. “It was an absolute pleasure meeting you Alexa.”

“You too, both of you.” Alexa replied.

“Come on, let’s get out of here.” Brian said as he grabbed Alexa’s purse off of the counter and handed it to her. He then turned to his parents. “We’ll see you bright and early tomorrow morning.”

Jackie and Harold walked Brian and Alexa to the door and flicked on the porch light. Brian picked up his little dog, who was waiting by the door. They all said their final goodbyes and then Brian and Alexa began their trek to Brian’s car.

“You’re a jerk, you know that?” Alexa shot a look at Brian and crossed her arms.

Brian laughed. “What did I do?”

“Your mom's feelings were really hurt that we weren't staying and you couldn't wait to get out of there.”

Brian's mouth fell opened slightly. “Alexa, we stayed all day. What do you mean I couldn't wait to get out of there?”

Alexa shrugged and looked down to the ground. “I don't know. They just seemed like they really wanted us to stay.”

“Listen, you have to look at this from my point of view. I love my parents to death, but they can be a little overbearing. Besides,” Brian began as he slung an arm heavily over Alexa's shoulder. “I know you well enough to know that you really just want me all to yourself. I mean, you never take me anywhere. It's a little sad, really.”

Alexa laughed and pushed him away. “Get out of here. If it weren't for me, you'd never leave your house. You've got a proven track record that says so.”

Brian smirked and raised a shoulder. “Let’s not get caught up on details.”

Alexa smiled and shook her head as Brian opened her car door. She climbed into the car and buckled her seatbelt. Brian put Tyke in the backseat, climbed into the driver's side, and pulled out of the driveway slowly. Alexa turned her head toward him and smiled. “I really like your mom and dad.”

Brian stopped at a red light and smiled back over at Alexa. “The feeling is mutual.”

Alexa nodded. “Good.”

As the light turned green and Brian eased the car onto highway, Alexa turned her head to look out the window. It was strange to think, but Alexa really felt at home with Brian's family; they were warm and kind. She was sure that Brian didn't understand how much he had, simply by having the family that he did. She couldn't wait until the next day to meet Brian's brother, Harry, and his wife.

Only a few minutes after leaving Brian's parents house, Brian and Alexa pulled up to the valet box at the Hilton Suites hotel. He handed the valet his car keys as the bellman grabbed their bags from the trunk and Alexa took Tyke out of the backseat. Brian was quickly checked in. The pair then rode the elevator up to the top floor.

Brian turned to Alexa and took a wiggling Tyke from her arms. “I only got one room. Is that okay? I mean, we'll have two beds and everything.”

Alexa laughed softly. “That's fine.”

Brian nodded, feeling flushed. He looked up at the screen that was ticking the floor numbers off as they passed: 12, 13, 14. When the elevator finally reached the top floor, Brian held the door for Alexa to step off first; he then led them to room 2002.

Alexa stepped through the door first and surveyed the gorgeous hotel room. There was a small living room at the entrance that was furnished with leather couches, a work desk and a television. To the right of the living area was a fully-equipped bathroom. Separated by folding louver doors was the bedroom which was furnished with two queen-size beds, a bedside table and another television. The walls were painted a tan color which complemented the dark wood furniture and maroon carpet beautifully. Alexa walked through the living room and over to the second of the two beds and set her purse down. “Do you have a bed preference?”

Brian shook his head and sat down on the first bed. “This is fine.”

“Okay,” Alexa said as she nodded. There was suddenly an air of awkwardness in the room. “Well, um, I'm going to grab a shower really quick, I guess.”

Brian nodded and watched Alexa as she grabbed a pair of sleeping shorts and a tank-top out of her suitcase, picked up her toiletries bag and walked into the bathroom.

Alexa locked the door behind her, turned on the water and then sat on the edge of the tub and sighed heavily. Her feelings for Brian were becoming unbearable. She wanted to know what it was like to be in his arms. She wanted to feel his lips on hers. It was a completely selfish thought, but she wanted to be the one that he longed for at night.

When the water finally heated, Alexa stepped into the shower. She bathed herself quickly, brushed her teeth and then got dressed. As she stepped out of the bathroom, she towel dried her hair.

“It's all yours.” Alexa said as she walked into the bedroom. She dropped the towel from her hand and looked over at Brian. She couldn't help but to smile. He was leaning against the headboard with his hands propped up behind his head--he was asleep.

Alexa pulled her wet hair into a bun and walked over to where Brian was sleeping. She gently pulled his sneakers off of his feet and dragged the folded comforter up to his waist. She looked up to Brian’s face and sighed softly. Just as she was about to turn away, Brian stirred, and then awoke.

As he opened his eyes, Brian was surprised to see Alexa so close. Her beautifully soft-looking lips were mere inches away. Suddenly, the overwhelming urge to feel her mouth against his was propelling him forward slowly.

As she watched him lean toward to her, Alexa’s nerves were pinging inside of her. “I’m sorry. I was just-”

Brian shook his head slowly. A million thoughts were running through his mind. Part of him was screaming violently, No, no, stop, while another was gently prompting do it, do it, kiss her. He licked his lips and Alexa, too, began to lean slowly forward.

They came so close that Brian could feel Alexa’s warm staggered breath on his mouth. Just as their lips were about to touch, Brian turned his head and cleared his throat. “Thanks, for uh, looking out for me.” Suddenly, the negative side of his will had won again.

Alexa jumped back flushed and nodded her head. “No problem.”

She turned the lights off and quickly climbed into bed and under the blankets. She was sure that she wasn’t the one that had initiated the show of affection. Seemingly silent tears began to fall down Alexa’s face as she desperately wondered what had changed in mere seconds to make Brian go from hot to cold.

In the bed only a few feet away, Brian sighed softly as he listened to Alexa cry. He swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat. A different kind of pain suddenly overwhelmed him. It wasn’t the pain of loss; It was the pain of longing. He shook his head slowly and shut his eyes tightly, attempting frantically to shake the urge to go to her and wipe her tears away. His heart tore into pieces as he came to a heartbreaking revelation. Without realizing that it was happening, he had begun to fall in love.