Brie opened the door, hissed under her breath, and stormed past Jeff without a glance. She sank into the sofa like her bones had given up, while Amber looked up from her ring light setup, one brow arched. She sat focused as though she was focusing on the livestream, blending foundation with practiced ease, when in truth, she was actually perking up to listen in.
"Hey, Amber," he said, voice cautious.
She didn't respond. Instead, she clicked her phone screen and walked off with a glare sharp enough to slice steel.
Jeff exhaled and turned to Brie. He crouched beside her, hands gently finding her hips as he angled closer.
"Brie, baby…"
She pushed his hands off. "Don't."
He blinked. "I just want to explain—"
"I don't need your excuses," she snapped. "I'm tired of them, Jeff."
His face fell. "It's not what it looked like. I swear."
Brie shook her head. "You keep saying that, but your actions? They don't match your words. You don't make me feel safe anymore, and I'm tired of trying to understand. Let's just break up." She fumed. Her breath was caving in as she didn't really mean the breakup part.
Jeff's voice cracked. "Baby, you don't really mean that. I promise I'll change. I mean it this time. I'll do better—for you."
She looked at him, her heart warring with her head. Then he gave her that smile. The one he always used to melt her defenses like butter on hot toast.
He wrapped his arms around her waist, rested his head on her belly, and tickled her sides.
"Jeff—stop," she said, giggling despite herself.
He kept going. "Say you forgive me."
She laughed harder. "I can't—Jeff, stop—I can't take it anymore!"
Amber reappeared, arms folded under her chest, scowl firmly in place. "Oh, please."
Jeff looked up, grinning. "Amber, come on. Don't be mad."
She rolled her eyes. "I'm not mad. I'm just no longer a fan. You stress Brie out too much."
He stood, hands raised. "I'm sorry. Really. Let me make it up to you both. Dinner's on me."
Amber scoffed. "I don't want dinner."
Brie looked up, confused.
"Alright, what do you want?" Jeff smiled.
Amber smirked. "I want shopping."
Brie's eyes widened. "Amber!"
Amber shrugged. "That's the only way I'm forgiving him. And the only way I'm letting you forgive him, too. He knows." She turned to glare at Jeff.
Her furious look made him laugh, and he raised his hand in surrender as he stood up.
"Fine, shopping and whatever else you girls want to do is on me."
"Great!" Amber squealed excitedly and grabbed her purse.
Jeff laughed. "Alright. Let's go."
Amber grabbed Brie's hand and yanked her up. "We're ready."
Brie tried to protest. "I have work—"
"Your brain has had enough for today," Amber said. "Let it rest."
—
After about an hour drive and navigation out of the suburbs, they arrived in the city, and Jeff took them to a high-end boutique in SoHo. The kind with velvet curtains, champagne flutes, and price tags that made Brie's stomach twist.
Amber was in her element, pulling designer jackets, heels, and bags off racks like she was on a game show, while Brie, on the other hand, was more reserved, picking one or two pieces. But Amber wasn't having it.
"Try this. And this. Ooh—this one screams 'I'm unbothered and expensive.'"
Brie gave Jeff a pleading look that screamed Get me out of here.
He chuckled and blew her a kiss. "It's okay. Let her spoil you." After a lengthy period of selection, Amber finally dragged Brie to the fitting room.
The duo stayed in the fitting room for a while, then Brie emerged in a sleek emerald dress that hugged her curves and shimmered under the lights, causing Jeff's jaw to drop in astonishment.
"Don't take that off."
Brie blushed and watched as Amber came out with the store manager as well as two of the sales reps with the bags all packed up.
Jeff's gaze lingered on Brie lovingly, and he never took it off, even when he was asked to provide his card for payment. He had just handed it over without a single glance at the sales rep.
—
The ride back to Amber and Brie's apartment was laced with exciting tension and love. Jeff kept stealing glances at Brie, making her blush silly. Amber, on the other hand, was engrossed on her phone as she kept taking pictures of the bags on the seat beside her—the ones that couldn't make the boot.
Jeff dropped Amber off first, who waved them off with a wink after hauling the bags with the help of their doorman. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do." She winked at Brie as Jeff drove off.
Then Jeff drove Brie to a five-star restaurant overlooking the city skyline. Candlelight flickered between them as soft jazz played in the background.
"I'm sorry," he said again, eyes locked on hers. "I've been selfish and I forgot what mattered the most."
Brie looked down at her wine glass. "You used to make me feel like I was the only girl in the world."
"You still are," he said softly.
And for a moment, she believed him when their eyes met and his fingers brushed her skin lightly.
She smiled, heart fluttering. Maybe—just maybe—things could go back to how they were.
After dinner, he walked her to the car, opened the door, and kissed her forehead.
"I'll drop you off, then head back to the gym. There are still some paperwork I have to go over."
Brie nodded, slipping into the seat beside him.
Her heart warmed at the thought of him leaving everything for her.
To reassure her.
Maybe she honestly overreacted.
She looked up at him again and flashed him a beautiful smile.
As he rounded the car, her phone buzzed. So she glanced at it.
A frown creased her brow as she looked at the message.
It was from an unknown number.
You don't know the real Jeff. But you will soon.
Brie's smile faded, and her fingers trembled.
And just like that, the night turned cold.