Eight days prior

"Sydney! No barking," Bree scolded reaching for the front door.

"Hey, you!"

"Hey, you," Eric said briskly. His blue eyes twinkled with mischief. "You look beautiful."

Bree wrapped her arms around her friend's neck and kissed his freckled cheek. He smelled of woodsy and citrus cologne and it filled her senses relaxing her.

"¡Gracias!" She twirled playfully before him. The wraparound, red blouse and black jeans clung to every one of her curves.

He cleared his throat shifting his eyes. "You ready to go?"

"Almost, you gotta give me a few minutes. I was about to take Sydney out back to pee," she pointed behind her with her thumb. "It'll only take five minutes."

Excited, Sydney gave a couple of turns at his feet. Eric bent at the waist to pet her behind the ears. "Hey, Syd! How are you, you little troublemaker?"

Sentiments of affection traveled through Sydney's whimper as she danced her feet at his side.

He brought his eyes back to Bree's sunny face. "Yeah, sure. I'll use the bathroom real quick then."

"Yeah, go right ahead. Want anything to drink before we go? Wine? Beer? Water?"

"Nah." He shook his head and casually waved a hand down dismissing the offer.

"Okay. I'll be right back. I've been walking her down into the greenbelt lately and now she won't go otherwise." Bree rolled her eyes, "She waits for me at the fence and pushes the gate with her head."

"Yeah, I know. It's fine, I'm in no rush." He vastly grinned and a crease formed at the bridge of his straight nose.

"Come, Sydney!" Bree tapped her thigh with the palm of her hand a few times and opened the door leading to the back yard while her pup happily trotted behind her.

Opening the gate to the greenbelt Sydney zoomed past her. Bree giggled attentively following the dog's every move with her eyes.

At eleven years old, Sydney demonstrated the energy of a young pup. She loved chasing squirrels and watching the deer graze at the greenbelt in the late evenings. It was early yet for any of them to be around, as it was still light out, but when Syd saw them, she stands frozen on three legs. Her front right paw curled under her chest and her eyes focused with attention similar to the way an English pointer breed would except, Sydney growled and barked.

"C'mon girl, stop smelling and pee!" Bree said under her breath rushing her.

The dog opted instead to munch on some leaves, sniff, and scent a fallen tree trunk nearby.

Whooshing air through her teeth Bree curved her neck down and rubbed at the base. She'd had a tiring street art photoshoot downtown earlier in the day and was exhausted but she and Eric had planned to go out one last time after they found out they'd be in lockdown for a while beginning Monday.

I need a massage, she concluded. Badly. But, of course, now, she rolled her eyes, who knows when since I can't go anywhere to get one done.

As unreal as it sounded she'd recently heard in the news everything would be closing up Monday for two weeks.

"Stupid virus," she grumbled. She'd recently been in close contact with crowds of people and it was concerning but not enough for her to panic.

If it wasn't for COVID-19 she would've been on a plane headed to South America early that morning for an all-expenses-paid photoshoot of a few different cultural festivals and delicious food. But now the festivities had been canceled and so had her flight.

Bummer.

She urged her dog to hurry. "Avanza, Sydney! You gotta do your business. I'm gonna be gone for a long time tonight."

With a frustrated exhalation, she stretched the back of her neck some more by tilting her head upwards when she noticed a sizable, intense light in the distance.

"What the hell?" she whispered squinting her eyes.

It was still clear out and there weren't any stars shining yet. There was nothingness in the sky except for a few dusky clouds and the blue grayish hue on the horizon with a light pink glow atop it. For a moment, she stared in wonder contemplating if the object was a planet or a star.

A―star ... yes. Unconvinced, she nodded.

No, no. It has to be a planet. Definitely, Venus, she considered in confusion. I'm pretty sure if it was a star, there would be other stars around it too, maybe?  She questioned.

"Yep. Venus for sure," she said turning her head towards Sydney. "Right?"

She crossed her arms at her chest and cocked her head slightly to the right trying to understand what the shiny, trivial thing was while it brilliantly hovered in silence, high across from where she stood.

Where's my phone when I need a camera? Damn it! Where's my camera when I need a camera?!

"Tsk!"

For a long while, she studied the glowing globe. At times it looked as if its light flickered. Similar to a twinkling star or wink except with a variation of colors below it. Green and red. She couldn't take her eyes off of it.

"Eric!" I should get Eric. 

She'd forgotten about him—he could guess with her, perhaps. Although she wanted to move, Bree stood rooted to the spot. She considered moving but her legs would not respond. She searched around for Sydney. She'd ventured away further than usual near a grassy patch.

"Ven, Sydney!"

Sydney trotted behind as Bree ran back to the house. Swinging the back door open, Eric jolted out of his skin and looked back at her with bewildered eyes.

"Fuck, Bree!" he said, an open palm held against his chest.

"Eric! Come! I need you to see something." She shouted and motioned at him from the doorway.

"What is it?!"

Her eyes grew, "I think it's a UFO."

He laughed shaking his head. "No way!" he responded running out with her.

A blanket of dark grey and a few shimmering stars now canvased the evening sky.

"That one." She pointed straight ahead.

"Where?" He turned his head every which way.

"Right in front, facing us." She pointed again more forcefully.

"Wait—what the ...?"

"It's too shiny to be a star and too big," she said. "Isn't it?"

"Yeah, um ..." Eric didn't say anything for more than a few seconds.

"Does it have lights? I'm seeing lights."

"Not sure, I think not," he said too quickly.

"It was there before dusk and there weren't any stars out so ... Is it Mars? Venus?"

Eric frowned. "I, I—guess so ... Man, that thing is bright."

"I know! Seriously though, you think it could be a UFO?"

Silence.

"And huge," he continued.

"So, aliens?" she pushed.

He chuckled, "Naaah!" The honey brown curls on his head shook and he made a face at her.

"A planet then?"

"Yeah. For sure."

With a grin, Bree waved at it as if saying hello.

"What?! Don't do that!" his tone wavered.

"Haha! If it's a planet, what does it matter?"

Eric laughed and Bree lifted her shoulders. She gave him a shake of the head and her eyes opened as if asking, what?!

"I don't know, just don't. Gives me the willies."

Bree snorted making him chuckle. "Damn it! I forgot my camera again." She snapped her fingers.

"C'mon. I'll walk inside with you." He looked deep into her brown eyes sweeping the curls of her hair off her back then looped his arm across her shoulder and kissed the crown of her head.

He feels nice, smells good too. Also good-looking, she thought distracted.

Bree was beginning to forget the floating light. Briefly, she placed her head on his shoulder then quickly lifted it. She shouldn't get comfortable with him that way. She wasn't ready for a romantic relationship. Leading him on would be wrong.

"Sydney, come!"

Sydney trotted behind them and stepped in before either of them entered.

"That dog ..." Bree rolled her eyes and grabbed her camera. "I'll be right back."

"Mhm, okay," he smiled. "Hey, you wanna stay in instead? Order a pizza or something?"

Her eyes raised to find him and she bit her lower lip. "Do you mind?" The right side of her lip curled. "I'm pooped. I'd love to stay in."

He swayed his head. "Nope, don't mind. We can watch a few movies too"

Her smile deepened. "I rather. I'm a little concerned about this Coronavirus thing."

"Really? That'll blow off in no time."

"You think?"

"Yeah, of course."

"Hmm, I don't think so. I think it'll last a year. At least."

"What?! Naah." He shook his head. "You'll see."

"Well, I think so ... Extra cheese and ham?" lifting her brow, she pleaded.

"Extra cheese and pepperoni?" He put his hands together as if praying.

"Fine!" she adjusted her red-rimmed glasses. "We'll compromise. I'll be right back. Can you call it in?"

"Of course." The smile he gave was sweet and she lingered in his eyes before walking out.

Taking a deep inhalation she turned her camera's flash off and walked to the spot she'd been before. The light had vanished. Bree thought perhaps the clouds covered it and she searched for a while longer in hopes to spot it but nothing stood out any longer.

The breeze carried the sweet smell of honeysuckle and profoundly inhaling, Bree's lids shut momentarily as she relaxed and enjoyed a light breeze. It was a cool, clear night and a few bats flew directly above her feeding on insects. She enjoyed them for a few more seconds before looking above them one more time and turned her neck from left to right.

The planet was no longer there and a chill ran down her spine.

Next time, if there is a next time, I'll have my camera ready.

When she walked back into the house Sydney wagged her tail and cried as if she'd been gone for an hour.

"Oh shush. You are ridiculous, Sydney," she laughed.

"Pizza will be here in about thirty minutes." She heard Eric call out from the kitchen.

"Thanks for doing that."

"Of course."

"Glass of wine?"

He nodded. "Mhm."

"Red or white?"

"Red. Did you get a good picture?"

"Couldn't take one."

He took the glass from her hand. Their fingers brushed in a slight caress. "Why not?"

"It—wasn't there any longer."

He quietly studied her face. "Oh?"

"Kinda freaky, huh?"

"Probably behind a cloud or something."

"Yeah, probably."

Bree didn't want to argue about something she knew was not a possibility. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and he knew that. She took a seat next to him on the gray, leather sofa and slightly turned to face him.

"I don't think I ever asked before," quickly she glanced at him then turned her attention back to the half-full glass of wine. "What if it was a UFO? Do you believe there might be life on other planets?′

He gulped down the bold-flavored liquid before answering. "Never really thought about it."

Bree widened her eyes then scrunched her brows together in confusion. "You haven't?"

Eric shook his head. "No."

Her forehead further furrowed. "Why not?"

"Have you?"

"Yes, of course."

"Not, of course, Bree. Many people don't think about that kind of stuff."

"What? Really?! That's insane."

He shrugged.

"So?" she persisted.

"So what?"

"Why not?"

"I simply don't. With all the shit that happens on Earth, why would I want to think about beings in outer space?"

"Because space exists."

"And?"

She waggled her head. "Nevermind." Bree did not find his smallmindedness appealing.

Eric sighed in frustration and scooted closer to her but she was already getting up from the sofa. 

"Do you want more wine?"

"Yeah, sure, Thanks."

The air felt tense between them. She picked up the bottle of Merlot from the coffee table and poured another glass for each of them.

"Listen, Bree. I—I think there might be the probability of life somewhere else, but no, I don't think they are traveling to Earth to drain cows from their blood, visit, abduct or waste their time drawing crop circles," he concluded. "If they are so advanced, why would they do that?"

"Because ..." She was about to give him a piece of her mind but instead decided not to. Looking disappointed she surrendered. "Fair enough. I wanted to know your opinion about it, I mean—it was there, and then it wasn't." She wouldn't lift her eyes to look at him. "But forget it. I don't want to talk about it any longer."

With you.

"Bree—"

"It's not important," she mildly smiled.

Bree was baffled at his reaction. It was unexpected he'd shut her down like that. Usually, he was different. Attentive. Normally, he would've asked her what she believed it was as well. Perhaps even a nice conversation about it would've ensued.

"Bree—" he whispered her name and their eyes met. Only inches apart she noticed his breath shortened and he looked timid. "I'm sorry. I don't feel like myself."

"Why not?" her eyes did not waver from his.

"I've been thinking about tonight all day. I was a bit ... nervous."

"Why would you be?" she murmured. The smell of his cologne was intoxicating and it affected her thought process. "We're friends."

Don't kiss him, Bree ...

She brought the wineglass to her lips to create a gap between them. He didn't move back an inch. Instead, he shifted closer as soon as she lowered the glass to her thigh.

"Friends, yes but—I've been thinking about this ..."

His lips fell upon hers pressing gently at first. Smoothly, his tongue made its way to her mouth and she let go enjoying the moment. She opened her lips invitingly and relished in the smokey taste of his mouth. Grapes, cloves, and a hint of cinnamon.

Her lips engulfed his and her breath deepened. She wanted to stop but he tasted good. Smelled delicious. Of cologne and soap.

Stop Bree, she begged herself.

They had something good going and this, this could tamper it. It felt wrongfully right.

"Mmm, Bree, I—"

"Eric—" she gasped between kisses. "I don't think we should."

"Don't think, Bree. Feel."

His kiss deepened and her head swooned. Before long they were lost in each other but her conscience pushed back questioning her actions.

"Eric, no. We shouldn't."

Briefly, he stopped and opened his eyes. A look of sadness vailed them. He knew what she was going to say. Their mouths sat millimeter apart and their heavy pants lingered in the air.

"I can't," she said out of breath.

He stared at her for answers but she had none. At least not the verbal kind and Bree hoped he would read in her eyes what she could not express.

"I really like you, Bree." His breath was ragged and deep.

"I like you too, Eric. But not this way. I'm not ready. I think I was with him too long and I need time," Bree murmured aware he understood she spoke about her ex.

The doorbell rang.

Sydney gave a loud bark and ran towards the front door but neither of them moved. A few unusually long seconds ticked before the doorbell rang again. Sydney raced to and fro in the hopes one of them would get up and open.

Finally, one of them broke the uncomfortable silence.

"I'll get it," he said.

Unable to move, she stared unblinkingly at him and nodded. The moment was gone.