by T J Vertigo
"And you're hot for her." The waitress said with a wink.
"No, I think she's hot, there's a difference." Cayden said, slightly defensively.
"Please, Cayden, you look like Homer Simpson when he sees a donut." Jodie joked.
"Then, when she pulled down those glasses, her eyes told a whole sordid story." Denise said.
"Oh yeah, I saw that, she was eating her alive!"
"From top to bottom!"
"Excuse me? I am still here you know?" Cayden pouted.
Jodie and Denise shared a laugh at Cayden's expense.
"No really, Cayd, she wants you, and you want her. Why don't you two just get together and talk about it?"
"Come on, Jo, I'm not even thinking of getting anywhere near her. I don't need things like that in my life."
Jodie gave Denise the eyebrow and smirked. I don't know about that, Cayd.
* * *
Brooke had work to do, but she couldn't concentrate on one thing for more than 5 minutes at a time. She spent most of the morning glancing at the wall that separates her cubicle from Bev's. She was bursting to tell someone about what happened the previous day but, at the same time, she didn't want to. She felt stupid about the whole thing now that she thought about it. If I just tell her the truth, all of this will be done. Brooke began blushing at the mere thought of telling Cayden she dreams about her. Oh God! I would just die, but I know that's the only way to get her to understand that I am not lying.
"Earth to Brooke." Bev teased.
Brooke cleared her throat and peeked sideways at Bev. "I was just thinking."
"I can tell, and it must be good judging by your cheeks."
"Yeah," Brooke agreed quietly. "Bev, I need your advice."
"What about, Honey?" the older woman came around the partition and leaned on Brooke's desk.
The small blonde swiveled her chair back and forth nervously. "I saw Cayden yesterday," she started.
"Oh? What happened?" Bev asked, smiling.
"It was a disaster."
"Oh no!" the older woman reached over and put her hand on Brooke's shoulder to reassure her.
"It was awful, Bev, we fought like crazy!" Brooke said, heartbroken.
"Over what? I thought you said you hardly know her?"
"I don't hardly know her... it was Grant."
"Grant? What did he do?"
Brooke groaned pathetically. "I guess I have to tell you."
Bev thought the worst. "Honey, tell me!"
"Well, remember I told you that I dream about her?" When Bev nodded, Brooke swallowed hard and continued. "Well, I think I talk in my sleep," she said quietly, a deep read blush coloring her cheeks.
"And?" Bev thought for a minute, then her eyes opened wide. "Grant heard you? Oh no!"
"Oh yes." Brooke nodded and hid her face in her hands.
"He told you?"
"No, but whatever I said or did, Grant made some assumptions... and he went and confronted Cayden."
"What! Oh my God! What happened? What did he say?"
"He accused her of turning me into a lesbian."
"Bev's eyes opened wide and then closed, then, she started giggling.
"Bev, it's not funny!" Brooke whispered loudly.
"Oh, Brooke! Can you imagine what kind of story Grant must have made up in his own mind?"
Brooke cracked a smile. "I know, it is kind of funny. He said something about a crazed pack of roller blading lesbians holding me hostage." Brooke giggled.
When Bev finally finished laughing, she turned serious again. "So, what happened, Cayden confronted you?"
"No, worse. I went in there with every intention of getting to know her better, and she hit me with it from left field. I felt like such an ass... you have no idea."
"Oh, baby, did you explain?"
"Explain? How can I tell her what happened? All I could do was deny that I told Grant anything. I can't tell her the truth. She thinks I told Grant that we were having an affair."
"Well, she's going to keep on thinking that's exactly what you did, unless you tell her otherwise."
Brooke groaned. "I can't tell her," she fidgeted with some papers on her desk. "Then again, I don't want her thinking I am a liar. That's driving me crazy more than anything!"
"Hmmm, so you think that Grant came up with this idea by listening to you talk in your sleep, then he went and confronted Cayden without any proof?"
"That's exactly what he did," Brooke said sourly.
"And now, Cayden thinks you are running around telling stories about the two of you?"
"Yes."
"You don't want to tell her the truth?"
"God no!" Brooke looked mortified.
"Honey, you are going to have to."
"No... well... maybe. But I don't want to!" Brooke pouted.
"Of course not, but think about it, if you tell Cayden you were dreaming about her, that could open up a world of possibilities for the two of you." Bev smirked.
Brooke blushed. "I suppose so," she replied. "I don't think she's going to be all too happy to see me any time soon though. I really pissed her off."
"When you fought?"
"Yeah, we were both pissed, and we were both yelling... it got out of hand." She said, crestfallen and embarrassed.
"Brooke, you two need to talk in a civilized manner. Why don't you try?"
"I'm telling you, I don't think she wants to see me."
* * *
Wade wracked his brain for a way to get Cayden and Brooke in a situation where they would have no choice but to talk. He came to the conclusion that it may not be such a good idea to have them alone. If Cayden was acting so weird with Brooke, she might think twice if there was others around. Just that little bit of thought on Cayden's part may make it easier for her to listen instead of talk. The idea hit him as he was flipping through the pages of his favorite gay weekly. A tea dance? Never. Oh! A mixer! A pet owners get together! He couldn't think of a better idea now that he had this one in his head. He decided to get a little party together with people treats, pet treats and music. He felt quite pleased with himself. The only thing that had to be worked out was location... and inviting Brooke. He would have to enlist Jodie for that and he knew that once he told her the idea, she would be thrilled.
* * *
"A mixer." Jodie repeated into the phone, mulling it over.
"Yes, we could invite the neighborhood pet parents, and this way it would be a party! Not only will Cayden have to behave herself, but Brooke won't feel on display for Cayden to scrutinize. I think it's perfect!"
"Where?" Jodie asked, skeptically.
"The shop." Wade said with expectation.
"No way! Cayden would never go for it!" Jodie insisted.
"I know you could convince her. Pretty please," he whined.
"Wade, you don't know what you are asking. If she knew your motives she'd kill you."
"Oh please, I know how to work her," Wade said confidently.
"You have to live with her, Buddy. Okay, I'll try." Jodie relented. "This has the potential to be disastrous."
"It also has the potential to be fabulous!"
"You better be right," Jodie warned, before hanging up the phone.
* * *
Cayden ate dinner in her room that night going over what Denise and Jodie had said to her. Actually, what they said around her. Yeah, she thought, I think she's hot. But that does not mean I have to sleep with her. Come on now, I think plenty of women are hot, Cayden stopped thinking for a moment to chew, but Brooke.... she just fires me up. I wonder why? She really didn't do anything to provoke me. I just acted like a jerk for nothing. Well, there is the fact that she is lying to me. I never did like dishonest people. Then again, I tend to be quite dishonest... a lot. No, that doesn't count. I pretend to be interested in the mindless morons because they spend money in my shop. The tall woman blushed slightly. Okay, I admit it, I'm a liar. But I don't lie to hurt people, she thought pushing her plate away from her. She frowned. Cay
den you are being way too hard on the girl. It can very well be that she made up a story involving you to slap that annoying ass of a boyfriend in the face. She probably had no idea he was going to act on it. Feeling slightly guilty for terrorizing Brooke, Cayden sighed and pursed her lips in thought. Ah, but her actions directly affected me. I got harassed and then she lied about it. The shopkeeper got annoyed again. She shouldn't have lied.
* * *
Brooke cleverly avoided any questions by her mother, but her Dad, well, she never could hide anything from him. He looked at her in such a way that had her feeling like a 10 year old little girl all over again. She had to tell him whatever he wanted to know. She wasn't afraid of him, just the opposite. She always was and still is, Daddy's little girl. She loved him, and he adored her. She would feel extremely guilty to tell him a fib. She skillfully crept around him most of the evening, never looking him in the eyes. However, now that they were all sitting in the living room, Brooke had nowhere to hide. She felt the two sets of eyes burning a hole through her and wanted to get up and run away. She stared straight ahead at the television, her cheeks getting warm under the constant scrutiny. Finally, Bert Hewitt cleared his throat and leaned forward in his chair. Brooke closed her eyes and swallowed hard.
"So, Honey, mom tells me you've been moping around here, telling her she wouldn't understand what is bothering you."
Brooke nodded and refused to face him.
"Well, are you sure about that? When is the last time your Mom or I didn't understand you?"
Brooke grimaced. "You always do," she said meekly.
"So, come on Sweetheart, tell me what is bothering you. Talk to Daddy. Is it Grant?"
"That putz," Harriet blurted.
Don't look at him, don't look at him. "I'd rather not talk about it, dad, please don't force me."
Mr. Hewitt sank back in his chair and looked hurt. He shared a sad expression with his wife.
"It's not Grant," Brooke started.
"That putz," Harriet added again.
"Mom!" Brooke rolled her eyes. "I have a little something bothering me, but it's nothing you can help me with. I'm sorry."
Harriet looked skeptically at her daughter. "Is it work?"
"No, it's not work."
"If it's not work, or Grant, that putz, then what is it?"
"Harriet, she says she doesn't want to talk about it. She's a big girl, and she wants to work it out by herself. I can understand that. She doesn't need us," Bert said glancing at Brooke to see if it worked.
Brooke sighed heavily, "Daddy, it isn't that I don't need you... just forget it."
Mrs. Hewitt pointed at her husband and scolded him with a look. "Okay honey, whatever you want. You do realize that we love you and will support you through whatever it is?"
Brooke felt horrible. She nodded and stared at her feet. She opened her mouth and almost told them, but her heart suddenly began pounding in her ears and she stopped. "I know Ma, thank you."
* * *
Cayden was tired and a little cranky. She slept like hell, tossing and turning all night. She spent the subway ride smashed between two men who had never heard of soap, let alone deodorant, or mouthwash. They carried on a loud conversation around her, and Cayden thought she might be sick before her stop. It would figure that the men tried to cop a feel as she squeezed her way out of the train. She knew better than to wear a tank top during rush hour.
When she got to the shop, she failed to make it to the keypad in time, setting the alarm off and in her haste to press the code, dropped her coffee.
Yes, Cayden was cranky.
The tall shopkeeper spent most of the morning scowling and watching court TV shows. By late afternoon, she had won $500,000 on "Millionaire", and a trip to Hawaii on "Pyramid," lightening her mood just a drop. Despite the slight mood adjustment, Cayden still frowned at Jodie when she flounced in the door laden with bags.
"That's a pretty face you got there, Cayd."
"I save the special looks for you. What ya got in the bags?"
"It's a surprise. So," Jodie reached into her bra and pulled out a piece of paper, and smoothed it out on the counter in front of Cayden, "I thought you might want this," she said with a smirk
"What is it?" the shopkeeper inquired, leaning forward to investigate. Suddenly her eyes widened and she backed away. "How did you get that and why?"
Jodie smiled deviously. "I searched her up for you on the computer. You do remember I have that friend that is an investigator?"
Cayden tried not to stare at Brooke's address and phone number. "Friend, hardly. Isn't that the chick you screwed in McDonald's? Why are you giving this to me anyway? I don't want it." Blue eyes closed tightly to erase the words and numbers, but the writing on the paper was already seared into her brain. "Damn it Jo! I memorized it!"
"What's the harm? You know you want her. Go for it Cayd, make the first move. I think you owe her an apology anyway. And it was Burger King." Jodie stuck out her tongue.
"Christ, Jo, I don't want anything to do with Brooke Hewitt." The address once again flashed in Cayden's mind. "Shit!" she growled.
"Right, and I'm sure you haven't given her a second thought, like perhaps last night when you should have been sleeping."
Cayden narrowed her eyes to hide her guilt.
"I thought so," Jo replied smugly. "Hey, I have an idea."
"Oh, that sentence means nothing but trouble." Cayden groused.
"Why don't we throw a party?" Jodie asked, excitedly.
"For what?" the tall woman looked at her friend like she was crazy.
"For dog owners and cat people too! You know, like a mixer!"
"A singles party? Jo, are you nuts? Why?"
"Meet people, you know, maybe invite the less insane of your clients."
"Are you serious? Whatever gave you this crazy idea?"
"Actually, Wade came up with it and thought it would be a good way to meet people."
"The both of you are just sluts. You plan on using this party as a dating service... and where are you planning on throwing this thing?"
"Well, see, that's where you come in."
Cayden furrowed her brows, "Me?"
Jodie started to unpack party supplies from the bag.
"Oh no, absofuckinlutely not! No way!"
"Think about it, Cayd, you'll make a fortune! Dig out all those ridiculous jackets and novelty things from the back room. I'm sure people will be dying to outdo each other!"
"Oh Jo, this is the stupidest idea..."
"You know? This would be the perfect atmosphere to invite Brooke, and call a truce."
"What? Why the hell would I want to invite Brooke?"
"Well, you don't have to if you don't want to. So come on Cayden, maybe you will be able to meet someone new and you will make a shitload of money. You did want to go on that vacation."
"You mean you will be meeting new ho's... and I do want to visit Mom and Dad. Oh, but Jo, I don't know." Cayden began looking around her shop in a panic, imagining the nightmare of having people mingling.
"Pretty please?" Jodie begged, blinking rapidly and pouting.
Cayden rolled her eyes.
"If you say no to me, you'll have Wade to deal with when you get home," she warned.
"Of fuck... fine! Go on and make your party, but I'm not inviting Brooke."
"Fair enough," Jodie nodded. You won't have to sweetie. "Thank you Cayden, you're the best!" Jodie wrapped herself around her friend.
"Yeah, whatever."
PART 12
B ROOKE SPENT THE next few days convincing Bev, and herself, that there was no way to salvage anything between her and Cayden. She also skillfully avoided the third degree guilt trips from her parents. However, her nights were spent lost in carnal fantasies involving tall, dark, and unforgiving. Brooke was in a constant state of arousal, even a complete stranger brushing against her on the subway would make her nipples hard. The blonde was an emotional wreck half the time. Her unconscious brain wanted
Cayden so much, in so many ways, that it wouldn't allow her to sleep quietly. It was because of these wild sexual dreams that Brooke decided not to face down Cayden again. She just knew that she'd never be able to look her in the eye without fainting away from embarrassment. There was no way in hell she was going to tell Cayden of her dreams. She knew that the tall woman would eat up the information and never let Brooke live it down.
It was late at night, after 11, and Brooke was drifting between erotic visions of a certain tall brunette when her cell phone rang. She sat up and stared at it sleepily, wondering who would be calling at such an hour. Whoever it was, was persistent, they hung up on the voice mail and rang again. Thinking an emergency, Brooke answered the phone, her voice husky from sleep and arousal.
"OOo, bad timing?" Grant said with an evil snicker.
"Drop Dead."
"You got mail." he said tersely.
"Oh, ok, I'll get it this weekend."
"No, you'll get it tomorrow."
"Excuse me? I'll get it when I get it!" Brooke yelled and slammed her phone closed. "The nerve of him!"
Mrs. Hewitt heard Brooke yelling and went to see what was wrong. She tapped on the closed door. "Honey, are you alright?"
"Yeah, ma, I'm fine." She lied, irritation still evident in her voice.
Harriet didn't believe her daughter, she'd been moping and pouting around the house for days. She was going to get to the bottom of this right now. "Brooke, can I come in?"
Brooke sighed. "Yeah."
The older woman sat down on the side of the bed and Brooke turned on the bedside lamp. She watched her mom take a deep breath and knew what was coming.
"Honey, I know something is bothering you deeply, and you can't say its nothing. It can't be nothing, not with the way you've been behaving. You were always able to talk to me, please tell me what's going on."
Looking into her mother's eyes was the wrong thing to do if she was going to brush her off. Her mom was concerned, very concerned, and Brooke felt just awful about it. "Mom, listen, it's pretty complicated. It's an unusual situation..." she began, then bit her lip.