“You have to tell me everything,” Brandy demanded of her sister excitedly. “And don’t even think of leaving the least bit out.”
“Ok, ok calm down,” Crystal giggled, calming her sister so she could tell her story. “Well first he brought me roses and took me out to diner. After that we went and saw a movie.”
“What movie did you go see,” Brandy interrupted.
“Gone in Sixty Seconds. It was about stealing cars or something. Anyway, then he took me home.”
“Uh huh, and then what? Did he walk you to the door?”
“Yes of course, but he was a perfect gentleman. He kissed me on my cheek and wished me goodnight.” She paused for a second. “And then I invited him in.”
“Oh my God,” Brandy nearly shouted. “Crystal, say you didn’t!”
“No, no, no. We just had coffee and talked a little more. But before he left, he really kissed me. I mean really kissed me.”
The two sisters giggled amongst each other as Crystal blushed slightly, and Brandy urged her on.
“Oh my goodness, he’s such a good kisser,” she laughed.
“So when are you getting together again,” Brandy asked impatiently.
“Next Friday night. We’re going clubbin’!”
Brandy wallowed in her success of getting Howie out of his rut and getting these two together.
^^^^^^^^^
“Brandy…. Brandy, baby, wake up,” AJ called. He shook her lightly. She moaned and rolled over, burying her face into her pillow.
“Go away,” she pleaded.
“Nope, get up. I got a surprise for you. C’mon.”
“Can’t it wait until atleast sunrise?”
“Please, honey,” he cooed.
She rose from the bed wearing one of AJ’s long T-shirt’s.
“Ok I’m up. This better be good, like the Pope better be waiting for me on the other side of that door,” she exclaimed, rubbing her eyes and yawning dramatically.
“C’mon. I promise your going to love it,” he smiled, grabbing her hand and leading her down the stairs and out the door.
“Close your eyes.” She did so as he led her off the porch and into the driveway.
“Ok, open ‘em.”
When she opened her eyes she had to do a double take because what she saw couldn’t possibly be for her. No way could this be hers!
“What do you think,” he asked, smiling immensely.
“AJ, no!” She exclaimed, half-whispering in awe. “No!” Her eyes stopped dancing for half a second to examine what was before them: A solid black Mercedes with black tented windows.
“Oh… my… God! AJ McLean,” she stuttered. “Please say you didn’t get this for me,” she looked up at him in wonderment.
He took her hand and kissed her cheek. “It’s all yours,” he smiled, pulling the keys out of his pocket.
“No, AJ I really can’t except this. AJ, this is too much.”
“Nothing is too much for you, Brandy. Your beauty outshines everything else in this world.”
Thinking about the words that he had just said, the first signs of tears showed in her eyes. Her beauty, that’s all that mattered to him.
“Hey, hey. What’s wrong,” he asked, lifting her face up toward his. She fought her tears back as she thought how completely horrible she must look when she cried.
“Tell me what’s the matter,” he said, hugging her to him.
“You don’t love me, do you,” she asked softly.
He pulled away from her slightly. “Of course I love you. Do you think I buy brand new cars for every girl that I date,” he asked, laughing a little. “How could I not love you. You’re sweet, and beautiful. You have to be the cutest thing I’ve seen in…”
She pushed away from him. “That’s all that matters to you, isn’t it? That I’m pretty!”
“What are you talking about,” he asked, pulling her back to him, holding her there tightly. She certainly had a way of confusing him at the drop of a hat. Everything she said came out in riddles.
She stopped struggling against him and looked him in the eye. “You’ll never look beyond what’s on the outside, will you, AJ?”
“Brandy?….”
“You asked me to cut my hair, I cut it. You tell me how to wear my make-up and how to dress. I do it for you; because I think I love the person inside of you. AJ,” she half whispered as she could see the hurt and astonishment on his face. “I don’t need your gifts or your money. If you were just some nobody I would love you just the same. Just because of who you are in your heart.”
AJ smiled crookedly. “You won’t ever see will you? It doesn’t matter what I do, or what I say, you will always doubt me, won’t you?” The hurt in his eyes was apparent. “Brandy, I loved you when you had long hair and didn’t wear hardly any make-up. I’ve always thought you were beautiful. I never made you change, I thought you wanted to change. I could tell you I loved you one million times and you still wouldn’t hear me, would you?”
Brandy looked up at him, a tear streaming down her face. “I’m sorry, AJ.”
“No don’t,” he said, stopping her from going on. He lifted her chin and kissed her softly. “And if you don’t want this car, then I’ll drive it,” he smiled. She smiled back and looked at the car.
“I think I’ll take it,” she laughed.
^^^^^^^^
Brandy’s head lay resting on the side of the bathtub with her eyes shut. Her foot was in AJ’s hand, his other hand was shaving her leg. Her entire world became fuzzy with a mix of drowsiness and sensuality. They had made love all day and were both about to drown in the hot water because of their lack of strength and stamina from their previous actions.
AJ kissed her toes and it was more than she could take. She was beyond ticklish on her feet and he knew it. She jerked her foot away but he caught hold of her ankle and yanked her leg, attempting to pull her to him. Not expecting him to do this, she fell under the water. She came back up with bubbles all over her face. Wiping them off, she tossed some at him. This time he caught her hand and pulled her to him.
“You mean to drown me, McLean,” she said in her best fighting off voice, although her body was completely submissive as she fell against his chest. She didn’t have it in her to physically fight him off. She exhaled a deep breath, wrapping her arms around him. The cool air of the bathroom hit her and she felt dizzy again.
“I love you,” AJ whispered. “I love your eyes, your fingers, your feet, your nose. I love the way you talk and the way you walk. I love the way you give yourself to me. I love your heart and the way you go out of your way for other people. Brandy,” he paused, as if looking for the words. “You’re my everything. I mean to spend tonight and every other night of my life with you.”
Brandy, still resting on his chest where she could hear his deep voice vibrating, sighed softly. The words started to register in her head. “Every night of my life with you”… that means me! Her breath caught as she looked up at him.
“Wh… what?”
“Shhhh,” he hushed.
Practically pulling himself and Brandy out of the tub, he wrapped them both in a towel. He took her hand and led her to the bedroom where he pointed for her to sit down on the bed. She watched him as he walked over to the dresser and pull something out, all the time bareing nothing but a cute grin and a fuzzy white towel dangling low about his waist.
Now standing directly in front of her, AJ lowered himself onto bended knee. Brandy’s hands came to her mouth as she wasn’t expecting such a gesture, not by far. She gasped in disbelief as he opened a pretty black velvet box.
“I used to think,” he began, his eyes twinkling, “that I would be a single bachelor all of my life, and a happy life it would seem to be. I never imagined that I would find someone that I would want to spend the rest of my life with. It didn’t seem logical to settle down with one girl when you could have a hand full of them at the same time. Ever since I’ve met you there hasn’t been a woman that was comparable to you. I couldn’t imagine taking any woman, or a handful of women, over you. I’m not sure how I lived before I met you because I couldn’t imagine spending a day of my life without you. Brandy, I love you with all of my heart. Will you please do me the honors of becoming my wife?”
Brandy looked white; she felt weak as if she were about to faint and the only thing that came to her was “Yes!” She fell to her knees and hugged him tightly, soft tears escaping her eyes and spilling out onto his shoulder. “Yes I will marry you.”