Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice, Chapter 13 (Crossed Wires)

The drive back from the festival was quiet and peaceful, the hum of the engine steady as Brandon drove through the dimly lit streets. Damarae was slumped in the back seat, his snores punctuating the soft music from the radio. Adalynn was next to him in the passenger seat, her head resting against the window, occasionally glancing over at him with a gentle smile.

They’d spent the whole day laughing, soaking up music, and for Brandon, it had felt like a day out of a dream. As they cruised along, he found himself glancing at her more than he probably should have, distracted by the way her eyes sparkled even in the dim light.

The silence lingered comfortably between them until Adalynn reached over and turned down the volume on the radio. Brandon glanced at her, intrigued.

“Hey,” she started, her voice soft. “I just wanted to say… I’m really sorry if I kind of imposed by accepting the Thanksgiving invitation. I know it’s a family thing, and I don’t want to make it awkward or anything.”

Brandon shook his head, feeling his heart beat a little faster. “No, Adalynn, it’s… it’s not imposing at all. Honestly, I’m glad you’ll be there. Family gatherings are usually… well, a bit of a mess. Having you there might make it all a little less overwhelming.”

Adalynn’s smile was warm, and she looked at him, her expression soft. “Thank you. That actually makes me feel a lot better. I don’t have any plans for Thanksgiving, really, so… it’ll be nice to spend it with good people.”

Brandon took a steady breath, his fingers tightening on the steering wheel. “What did your family think about you skipping the cabin for Thanksgiving? I mean, I know it’s a big family holiday and all…”

“Oh, they’re fine with it,” she said with a soft chuckle. “I think my mom said, ‘Good for you! Make your own traditions.’ We’ve had so many Thanksgivings together over the years that they get it. Sometimes you just have to switch things up a little, you know?”

He nodded, his chest feeling light at the thought of her spending Thanksgiving with him and his chaotic family. It made him feel like maybe things were falling into place, at least a little.

As they drove, they talked about everything from music to food to work, with Brandon asking questions about her job as a paralegal. She seemed comfortable talking about it, but he could tell she was careful not to divulge too many details, sticking to anecdotes and the occasional vague mention of a case. Brandon was fine with that—he mostly wanted to hear her voice, to listen to the way she described the things that filled her days.

He drifted a little, only half-paying attention to her words as he watched the way she moved her hands when she talked, the excitement that occasionally flashed in her eyes. It was like he was seeing her for the first time, even though he’d known her for months.

“And, yeah,” she was saying, “sometimes the hours get long, but I guess it comes with the territory. That’s what I get for working in law.” She chuckled. “But what about you? Dating anyone these days?”

The question caught him off guard, and his heart seemed to skip a beat. He blinked, his mind scrambling for an answer.

“Oh, um, no,” he stammered. “I mean, I guess dating just… hasn’t been in the cards for me lately.” The words felt clumsy, and he inwardly cringed as he glanced over at her, catching her expression shift slightly, as though she were disappointed.

Brandon swallowed, feeling like he’d just taken the easiest path to the worst answer he could give. He looked away, staring out the window, angry at himself for fumbling what could have been a real moment between them. Why hadn’t he just said how he felt? Why hadn’t he told her the truth—that he couldn’t stop thinking about her, that he wanted to be more than just her friend?

He was about to say something to clear the air when a loud snort came from the back seat. Both he and Adalynn jumped as Damarae abruptly sat up, blinking wildly.

“Sorry!” he said, his voice a sudden, ridiculous shout that filled the silence. Brandon and Adalynn barely had a moment to register his apology before the smell hit them.

“Damarae!” Brandon yelled, quickly rolling down the window.

“Oh, my god,” Adalynn laughed, her voice muffled as she covered her nose, rolling down her own window to air out the car. “What did you eat?”

Damarae mumbled something incoherent, already slumping back into his seat as he drifted back into sleep, oblivious to the chaos he’d caused. Brandon and Adalynn exchanged a look, both of them still laughing despite the awkwardness.

As the smell faded and they rolled the windows back up, an uncomfortable silence settled between them again. Brandon reached over, turning up the music a little, hoping to drown out the embarrassment that still lingered. He glanced over at Adalynn, noticing her staring out the window with a faint frown.

She hadn’t said anything about his answer, but her silence spoke louder than words. He could tell that his response had disappointed her, and he hated himself for not being able to be honest. He wanted to tell her that he’d thought about asking her out a hundred times but had never quite found the nerve. But now it felt like the moment had passed.

As they neared the parking lot where he’d left his car earlier that day, he let out a small sigh, the realization of a missed opportunity settling heavy in his chest.

The car slowed to a stop, and Damarae, apparently sobered up enough, climbed out of the back seat, stretching and rubbing his eyes. “Well, today was a blast, huh?” he said, grinning as he leaned against his own car.

“Yeah, it really was,” Brandon agreed, trying to sound cheerful despite the disappointment gnawing at him.

Adalynn gave him a warm smile but then turned to Damarae. “Hey, can you give me a ride home? It’s a bit out of Brandon’s way, and he should probably get some sleep for work tomorrow.”

Brandon’s stomach dropped, and he forced himself to nod, not wanting to push her if she’d made up her mind. “Yeah, no worries. I’ll see you guys later.”

As Adalynn slid into the passenger seat of Damarae’s car, Damarae gave him a questioning look, raising his eyebrows as if to say, What are you doing, man? Brandon offered him a faint, defeated smile, shrugging as he watched them pull away.

He stood in the parking lot for a moment, staring after them, feeling a mix of regret and resignation. With a sigh, he got into his own car, trying to ignore the empty feeling settling over him as he drove off into the quiet night.