Getting to know each other.

Now that the awkward first impression was past, Beth and Kyle settled in to getting to know each other.
Kyle Jackson. Corporal, US Army, had been honorably discharged after a four year tour. He'd been deployed, first in Iraq, and then Syria. Now that he was done with his duty, it was time for him to fit back into civilian life. He wasn't eager to see his and Brian's parents, for reasons he didn't seem to want to get into, and Beth didn't press. That's why he was crashing here, and not in Newport Beach with them. He would start looking for a job, but he was really excited to be home in time for their wedding.
Beth recounted the story of how she and Brian had met, how he had proposed, and some little bits about the upcoming wedding.
Kyle snorted when Beth talked about the New Year's Eve proposal. "What a sap." It sounded fond.
While they talked, Beth pulled out a bottle of white wine and offered Kyle a glass, which he took, but toyed with more than drank throughout the conversation. Beth was coming to the strange realization that Kyle was very charming. He had a slightly "rough around the edges" demeanor that she supposed was typical of recently discharged soldiers, but his politeness was refreshing and his smile was roguish. He had much of the traits that she found attractive in Brian, with the additional benefits of youth, and the physical training of a soldier. She knew, from Brian, that Kyle had been a bad kid: ****, fighting, eventually a stolen car and a joyride before an arrest. Community service, instead of jail time, had led to enlistment. She got the sense from Brian that his parents had pushed him into the military as a way to "get rid of" the problem.
Before Beth knew it, the clock was reading {if HomeFromBoat = 1
} 6:30 PM. {else
}4:50 PM. {endif
}Beth had already drained a glass, and was working hard on a second. Kyle was still on his first.
What's going on... ? Beth wondered to herself before it hit her that this was the positive male attention she'd been missing from Brian since he started the internship. Not entirely, but she'd been deprived of it enough that she was practically hanging off every word Kyle was saying.
Careful, girl. You don't want him to get ideas. {if Formation = 5
}
Oh, don't you ? That second thought...she didn't like that it had manifested so easily. {endif
}
Kyle trailed off as he took notice of her distraction. "Sorry, I'm boring you. Army life isn't as thrilling as it seems."
"No, it's nothing like that... I was just thinking how funny it is... you and Brian are so similar in some ways, but so different in others."
"Well, he's respectable, for one."
"Are you hungry, Kyle?" Beth asked, suddenly.
"Um..." Kyle sat up straight at the sudden question. "Yeah, I guess I could eat."
"Well, since your respectable brother is going to be schmoozing clients at a business function all night... why don't we go get a bite to eat? Freshly discharged soldier, you must be itching to get out and enjoy some of the pleasures of civilian life, right?"
Kyle smiled, flashing his dimples. "Yes, ma'am."
"I'm going to head upstairs and get changed, you do the same. Fun, not fancy, okay?"
"Sounds good to me."
Beth headed towards the stairs, sending a text to Brian.

Beth: did you forget to tell me something?
Brian: umm....I love you?
Beth: Kyle.
Brian: Oh shit, yeah. sorry I meant to text you. I guess I got busy.
Beth: well I nearly stabbed him, so thanks for that
Brian: shit.... im so sorry. I'm useless
Beth: I'm taking him out to dinner, since your not going to be home. Let me know if you want us to bring you something.
Brian: Oh... ok

She got the sense he was put out: he had mentioned a late dinner, but she was both annoyed at his thoughtlessness and buzzing from the pleasant feeling she had gotten from her chat with Kyle.
She reached the landing and turned to go upstairs....