I Hate You

Brynn

On nights that my roommate, Rylee, has to work, it’s pretty quiet in our apartment. I typically spend time getting caught up on homework, but tonight, I just don’t feel like it. Instead, I curl up in my bed, turn on my heated blanket, and begin binge watching any bad romantic comedy I come across. Basic – I know, but I get caught up in the sappy, but predictable plot. I’m a hopeless romantic, what can I say.

By the time I look at my phone again, hours have passed. I’m so tired from the endless amount of time doing absolutely nothing, but I’m also so hungry. I haven’t had anything to eat since lunch and my stomach is viciously growling at me. I decide then to head for the kitchen to see what I can conjure up. It’s been a while since either one of us has done any grocery shopping, which unfortunately means that there most likely won’t be much.

Just as I open the refrigerator, I hear keys jingling outside of the door. Rylee must be home from work already. I’m assuming it's been a slow night, considering the bar she works at doesn't close until two. Although, to my surprise, when the door flings open, stumbling in is the bane of my existence – Brooks, Rylee’s apparently drunk, older brother.

“What’s up, pretty girl?” He asks with a smug grin painted across his face. He always greets me that way. I hate it. By definition, Brooks is a perfect specimen. He’s tall, muscular, has dark brown hair, a light skin tone and green eyes that tend to drive most girls crazy. I’ve seen him in action plenty of times; girls squirm under the heat of his gaze. But I suppose I’m the exception. I'm immune to his charms. Personally, I think he’s too full of himself.

“What are you doing here? And since when do you have a key?”

“I’m drunk. Your apartment was closer and Ry said I could crash here. I've always had a key.” He shrugs like his short, blunt answer somehow makes him being here any better.

I roll my eyes, huff and slam the refrigerator door. Breathe Brynn. You can just forego your idea of food, go back to your room and ignore him. Simple. Rylee, however, will be getting an earful from me when she gets home. A little warning would have been nice. She knows I despise her brother, which is probably why she didn't say anything.

I turn to walk past him to go back to my room, but stop in my tracks when I see Brooks gawking at me. I feel my cheeks instantly heat up the moment I realize why. I don't have any pants on. Why did I not put any on when I got out of bed? Mentally, I'm slapping myself. Correction: mentally, I'm slapping Rylee for putting me in this situation in the first place. Physically, I'm pulling my shirt down and mumbling a quick, quiet sorry.

“You don’t have to apologize. You look good like this.” He strides towards me while I back up to try to escape him. When I feel the counter on my back, I know I’m trapped. Damn this dead-end galley kitchen.

Brooks’ hard body is pinning me in place. His face is so close to mine that I can smell the bourbon on his breath. “Brooks, leave me alone,” I breathe. My voice sounds anything but commanding. Pull yourself together Brynn. You hate him, remember? Things don’t just change because his warm body is pressed up against yours.

Before I can gather myself or my thoughts, his lips are pressed on mine. They’re so warm and welcoming. His tongue invades my mouth giving me a taste of the liqueur he’d been drinking earlier in the night. My body quickly takes over and I lose myself in him. My arms wrap around his neck, my fingers rake up through his hair, gently tugging on it. Brooks takes that as an immediate invitation to push me further. I’ve lost all my sense of self-preservation in this moment and he knows it.

He grabs me by the hips and throws me on the counter. Brooks is standing between my legs, while one of his hands lands on my lower thigh and the other snakes around my neck, pulling me closer, deepening our kiss. My body is in flames. How can I go from hating him one second to falling apart at the seams the next?

When his hand starts to slide up my leg, my wits return. I move both of my hands to his chest, shoving him away, and breaking the kiss. The sound of our breathing fills the small kitchen. Without looking away from him, I slide myself off the counter. “I. hate. you.”

Brooks

I climb into my truck after leaving the bar my sister works at. I haven't had a lot to drink knowing I was going to drive myself home, but before I left, I practically grovelled at my sister’s feet begging her to let me crash at her apartment. Her and her roommate Brynn live right around the corner from here. She was just about to tell me no when I hit her with the puppy dog eyes and a “please Ry.” She scoffed, but I knew she’d cave. The big, sad eyes work every time. Plus, I wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity to get some alone time with Brynn so I would have done anything.

The first time I met Brynn was at a welcome weekend party three years ago. I was running the pong table, when I went to refill my beer at the keg between games and bumped right into her. The cup she had just filled sloshed over the top and drenched her chest. Like the gentleman I am, I cleaned her up, using my tongue of course. She could have stopped me, but didn’t. It effected her just as much as it effected me. I could hear her breathing hitch at the contact. But when I stood back up, she looked at me in disgust, rolled her eyes and walked away. I’ve been hooked ever since. Later that night, my sister introduced me to her new roommate and you’d never guess who it was.

When I’m parked in front of their apartment building, I make sure to grab my phone and my keys before locking my truck and heading inside. Thankfully, they live on the first floor so I can avoid tromping up the stairs. It’s not that I’m afraid of a little cardio, but I’m a klutz. The stairs and I are sworn enemies.

I reach apartment thirty-four and fish my keys out of my pocket. I stare at the two silver keys in my hand; one for Ry’s place and one for my parents. After a few seconds pass, I try the key I’m positive is right.

Fifty-fifty chance and I got it wrong. Imagine that.

Using the other key, I unlock the door and trip inside. Real smooth Brooks. You can’t even walk through a door. After regaining my balance, I look up to find a surprised Brynn peering at me from behind the refrigerator door. “What’s up, pretty girl?” I ask in greeting.

“What are you doing here? And since when do you have a key?”

“I’m drunk. Your apartment was closer and Ry said I could crash here. I've always had a key.” There — not a total lie, but I definitely wasn’t telling her I tripped over my own two feet. That’s embarrassing.

With the way she rolled her eyes and slammed the door closed on the fridge, I’d say it safe to assume she isn’t pleased with my answer. Me on the other hand, I’m pleased to see her standing in front of me with nothing on but a T-shirt, a cute, little pair of underwear and her blonde hair on the top of her head in a messy bun.

She pulls down on her shirt, stretching it as far as it will go. Then, I hear a soft apology slip between her pretty pink lips.

“You don’t have to apologize. You look good like this.” I can’t take it anymore. I need her. I kept my distance once I found out she was my sister’s roommate. Plus, she acted repulsed by me since the night we met, which made it a bit easier. But seeing her standing here like this, sends a wave of desperation through me.

Before I can overthink our situation, I have her back pushed up against the counter. “Brooks, leave me alone,” Brynn pleads, but I know she doesn’t mean it. I can hear it in her tone, in the way her breathing picked up. The same way it did when I licked the beer off her chest that night.

I slam my lips on to hers, not wasting another second. She tastes as sweet as I knew she would. When I feel Brynn pull on a fistful of my hair, it spurs me on. I quickly sit on her on the counter top and push my body between her bare thighs. This is the most consuming kiss I’ve ever experienced. That is until she pushes me away.

Brynn’s blue eyes burn into mine as she climbs off the counter. “I. Hate. You,” she says breathless.

“No. You don’t. You hate the electricity that sparks between us when we’re close. You hate that I can turn you into a panting mess in a matter of seconds. You hate that you want me, Brynn. But I’m all done pretending that I don’t want you.”

So I kiss her again.