You’ve been Brendon parks fellow for nine months, careful and cautiously nestled behind him. Quiet in a sea of nurses and patients.
You blend in; it’s what you do best, speak when spoken to. Exactly how Brendon broke it down on the first day you showed up at his office. Glasses and pen, face still bright with excitement.
He only sees you in a professional light, at least that’s what he tells himself. He ignored the twice you’ve shown up hungover, because you show up. You remain as you’ve always been. It’s rare he hears about your partying. The extremely occasional outing with your roommates and their boyfriends. He’s overheard tonight will be one of those rare nights; celebrating someone’s birthday.
You on the other hand are less excited to go drink, a group of ten people is a cheap uber but a hassle. Your head is pounding as you try and drunkenly navigate uber. But no one would take five girls to five different locations.
You know someone who would, the neighbor Brandon who lives across the hall with his wife and daughter.
You’re leaning against David when you messily slur into Siri, “call Brandon”
‘Calling Brendon!’
You’re too drunk to notice the mistake, or the bone emoji that appears on your phone as you dial.
Brendon’s always been a light sleeper, but your phone number has been coded through to break any do not disturb that might happen on accident, he picks up. For some reason he does, “hi Brandon, I home- I hope.. I’m not waking anyone.. we’re” you hiccup, “really- drunk and need. A couple rides home- can.. you or Sarah. Come” you sound out of breath now, “I’m at. Um. Judith where are we? Oh um the tipsy bison”
You hang up the phone.
Brendon knows it’s a message meant for someone else, you’d said Brandon. But Brandon isn’t getting this message; he is. So he gets up; pulling on a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie before getting into his car.
When you see your boss; pulled up to your location and signaling for you to gather your friends to get in you feel. Sober. And laughable, “dr park? What are you doing here?” You manage as he rolls his windows down
“I’m picking you up. You called me. Get in” he orders, your friends head towards his car. And you don’t have a logical reason to not. So you climb in the passenger side, only fumbling with the seatbelt for a moment before it clicks into place.
You don’t remember much from after getting in his car, just how warm it felt, and how it smelled like him. How your eyes drooped at the rumble of the engine.
When you wake- you’re not in a bed you know. But it’s warm. And big enough for you to sprawl out and roll onto your side to sleep more. When rise, the pounding in your head aside you notice the lack of clothes, and the attending sitting at a chair by your bedside. You’re dressed. In a shirt you weren’t wearing last night, and in boxers you have a horrific idea of whose they belong to, “dr park?” You murmur, speaking louder at the lack of movement from him until his eyes shoot open and dilate in on you.
He says your name softly, “good morning” he greets, “do you want some Advil?”
You groan, rolling back down onto the bed and covering your face with his duvet, “where are my clothes”
“In the wash”
“Did we?”
“Did we what?”
“Have..” you bite back a giggle, “have.. sex?”
Brendon scoffs, “well. You made yourself at home, we didn’t have sex”
You peek out from the covers, “how am I in your clothes then?”
“You went through my closet as you were stripping out of your bar clothes”
Your eyes widen in horror, “how much.. did.. you see?”
Brendon lies to you, smooth and stone faced, “nothing. You’d shut the door on me”
But truthfully, you’d stumbled through his hallway, ripping your clothes off as you went. And when he finally got you to stop- you’d turned to him naked. Eyes glassy as you then turned away to his closet, “I’m so embarrassed right now” you admit, “I’m so sorry- my neighbor” the wheels turn in your head, “his name is Brandon, he’s always willing to give us a ride back from the bar- where are my friends?”
“Sober enough to tell me where they lived” He admits, “you. Fell asleep on the ride home and then wouldn’t talk when I could get you awake. Kept saying I already knew”
You nod, “okay.. I- I should be going now probably” you murmur, slowly peeling the covers back as you stumble out of his king sized bed, leaning against him for balance as he stands while you do.
“Stay for breakfast at least? Shouldn’t make the trek across town on an empty stomach” He offers; a rare moment of kindness. Of humanity you knew somewhere was inside of him.
You run your hands through your hair; nodding softly, “okay. But- I’m not sure if I believe whatever magical hangover cure you have that isn’t pain killers”
