Leah
I’m sorry about last night.
Bryan
Took you long enough to text me 😛
Leah
I didn’t think you’d want to talk to me.
Bryan
Are you sure you weren’t being a chicken?
Bryan
Come on, Leah. That’s not us.
Bryan
You’re my best friend. That’ll never change.
Bryan
Even if you put your terrible music on MY radio…
Bryan
Or crash my truck in a ditch…
Leah
Hey, I won’t apologize for changing the station.
Bryan
But that’s the only thing you SHOULD be apologizing for.
Leah
That’s not true — I crashed your truck!
Leah
Seriously, can I give you money to fix it?
Bryan
You really don’t have to.
Bryan
It isn’t damaged, just muddy.
Bryan
Nothing a little soap and water can’t fix.
Leah
Then how about I wash it to make it up to you?
Bryan
You’re offering to get your hands dirty?
Leah
It’s the least I can do.
Bryan
Alright, fine. You can wash it.
Bryan
I mean, that’ll be hilarious. I can’t imagine you doing hard labor.
Leah
Washing a truck isn’t exactly hard labor.
Bryan
Warning: You might break a nail.
Leah
Ha ha. Best friends aren’t supposed to tease each other.
Bryan
I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what they’re supposed to do.
Bryan
Besides, teasing you is one of my favorite things.
Leah
Well, at least I know you don’t hate me.
Bryan
Leah, I could never hate you.
Bryan
I may never hand over my truck keys to you again though.
Leah
I always wanted to drive a big truck and now I’ve got it out of my system.
Leah
Consider yourself safe from all future ditch-crashes.
Bryan
So…you wanna talk about that kiss?
Leah
I was hoping we’d just forget about that.
Bryan
Why did you kiss me?
Leah
Idk. I wasn’t thinking, I guess.
Bryan
It takes two, Leah. I kissed you back.
Leah
Okay, why did you kiss me back?
Bryan
Because I’ve always wondered about us.
Bryan
And I can tell you…
Bryan
Kissing you didn’t get anything out of my system.
Leah
I dunno…I don’t want to ruin our friendship.
Bryan
Same. That’s why I’ve never made a move on you before.
Bryan
Even though I’ve wanted to.
Leah
Bryan…it probably shouldn’t happen again.
Bryan
But you drove my truck into a ditch and our friendship survived.
Bryan
I think it can survive a few kisses.
Leah
A few? We only kissed once.
Bryan
I was hoping I could convince you to keep kissing me.
Bryan
Ugh, Leah, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to put pressure on you.
Bryan
We can pretend the kiss never happened.
Leah
That’s probably for the best.
Bryan
And you know what? You don’t need to wash my truck.
Bryan
That was just a joke anyway.
Bryan
Seriously. It’s okay.
Bryan
You’re still coming over tonight to watch Westworld though, right?
Leah
Wouldn’t miss it 💁 💁
Leah chews on the inside of her lip.
Things still seem off between her and Bryan.
Kissing him could’ve ruined their friendship.
And she can’t imagine her life without him.
Her stomach churns, then clenches.
Should she tell him how she really feels?
How she felt amazing in his arms, with her lips pressed to his?
Suddenly, she gets overwhelmed by the need see him.
Bryan’s standing in his driveway.
At the sound of Leah’s voice, he looks up.
He wipes his face on the t-shirt he had tucked in the back of his worn jeans.
And Leah’s eyes trail down his bare chest.
He raises an eyebrow at her.
Bryan
What are you doing here?
Leah
I…I felt so bad about the truck.
Leah
I owe you. I have to help you clean it.
Bryan throws his shirt on the ground.
His face is suddenly angry and it makes Leah’s heart jumps into her throat.
Bryan
Damn it! You don’t owe me for anything, Leah.
Bryan
Why don’t you understand that?
Stunned, Leah looks back at him in silence. Tears well up in her eyes.
Bryan
Oh my God, that’s not why you kissed me last night — was it?
Bryan
Were you just feeling bad about the truck?
Leah looks down at the ground.
Bryan is giving her an easy out.
But if she took it, she wouldn’t be telling him the truth—
That over the last few years, she’s been fantasizing about him…
With every breath she takes.
Bryan reaches his hand out between them.
And Leah wants so badly to take it.
Bryan lets it drop in the space between them.
Bryan
Look, it doesn’t matter.
Bryan
I meant what I said before.
Bryan
I’m not going to pressure you to do or say anything you don’t want to do.
Bryan
So let’s just be friends, okay?
Bryan points to his left.
Bryan
I have my Bluetooth speaker set up.
Leah laughs and relief melts over her body.
Bryan
No, it’s cool — we can take turns controlling the music.
Leah
Wow, I never thought I’d hear you say that.
Bryan
Things change, Leah.
Bryan
And not all change is bad.
Leah
Yeah, but not all change is good.
Bryan
Okay, Ms. Pessimist…
Leah turns her attention to the pick-up truck’s oversized wheels.
Leah
I can’t believe how much mud is packed on this thing.
Bryan
You’ve already said that.
Leah’s heart races as her gaze connects with Bryan’s.
As she stands there, Bryan picks up the hose and drenches her mid-section.
Bryan
Sorry NOT sorry. Couldn’t help myself.
Leah
You are in so much trouble!
She chases him around the truck and grabs the hose.
Grinning, they play tug of war for a moment.
Bryan
Alright truce! I’ll let you spray me back.
Bryan
There IS no if, Leah.
Bryan
Our friendship isn’t about an exchange of services.
Leah
Wait, that’s not what I meant.
Bryan
Alright, then what’s your condition for spraying me?
Leah
That we stay friends no matter what.
Bryan
Didn’t we already agree to that?
Leah
Yeah, but…there’s something I need to tell you.
Leah
And I want us to stay friends after I do it.
Bryan
You know you can say anything around me.
Leah
We’ll still be friends?
Bryan
Should we shake on it?
Bryan lets go of the hose and offers his hand.
Instead of taking it, Leah grabs the hose and shoots water all over his t-shirt.
Leah giggles hysterically as she tries to run away with the hose.
Bryan snatches the middle of the hose and ropes her in until she’s standing a foot away.
Something shifts in the air between them.
Leah
So the thing I need to tell you…
Leah
It’s about that kiss last night.
Leah
Bryan, it was never about owing you, or feeling bad…
Leah
It was more because…I’ve wondered about us too.
Leah
And I’ve been thinking about kissing you for a really long time.
Leah
And I…as long as we don’t ruin our friendship…
Leah
I’d be interested in going down that path with you.
Bryan
Okay. YES. This is awesome.
Bryan
But Leah…even though that kiss was the best kiss of my life…
Bryan
We don’t have to do it again until you feel ready.
Leah
But what if I told you I wanted to kiss you right now?
Bryan
Then I’d have to do it.
Bryan tugs the hose gently and pulls her to him, pressing his mouth to hers.
Leah
I still don’t like your music.
Bryan
And I still don’t like yours.
Bryan
See? Nothing’s changed between us.
Leah leans into his chest and lifts her face to his for another kiss.
The smooth friction of Bryan’s lips sends shivers through Leah’s body.
And when they break contact, she gasps for breath.
Leah
But something has changed between us.
Leah
And I wouldn't have it any other way.
