by Brenda Ford
“So, I guess all I do is keep an eye out then?” I ask Wesley. “Try to see if I can spot any suspicious behavior.”
“As annoying as it is, I think that’s all you can do, yes. But if you get anything else like this, bring it to me. People are usually pretty careful when it comes to their first threat but over time, they get cocky and sloppy. I might be able to pick other things up from later messages…” When he sees my horror struck face at the concept of other messages, he quickly tries to change his tactic. “Oh, you know, if there are any more. This really might be the end of it. Whoever it is might have gotten their point out and now it’s over.”
I roll my eyes, knowing full well that he’s just trying to make me feel better… not that it will work. “Yeah well, I guess we shall see. At this point, there is no telling what will happen.”
My eyes hit the floor as I consider what we might have to face next time around. I know that me and Tami are strong right now, but the idea that we might have to struggle with more scares me. What if it becomes too much for us and the straw breaks the camel’s back? I don’t know if I will ever feel the same way about anyone again.
“You look thoughtful,” Wesley interjects. “What’s going on, Brad? Anything you want to talk about?”
“Er, no, I’m just thinking about all of this, that’s all. It’s stressing me out.”
“But because of Tami, right? This shit wouldn’t ever affect you, would it? Otherwise you wouldn’t have fucked around with so many crazy women, would you? If you were so concerned.”
I chuckle and shake my head. “They weren’t all crazy. Just a few got a little attached that’s all. It didn’t matter how many times I said that it was only going to be a one-time thing it made no difference.”
“But it isn’t one time with this one, is it? With Tami. She’s special. She’s different.”
I can’t help but nod. “She is different. She’s really special to me. I really do like her.”
Wesley grins. “Wow, mate, I haven’t ever seen you like this about anyone.”
“I know… that’s because I haven’t. I really want to hold on to what I have with Tami because I think that it could turn in to something special. In fact, I’m sure of it. That’s why all of this is such an issue. Other people trying to get in our way. Trying to stop us from being happy just because we work together.”
“It’s probably because you’re the boss and she just got promoted…” His words fall away as I glare at him. “Look, I don’t mean that I have an issue with it. I’m just trying to look at things through the opinions of other people. Their noses might be out of joint because they want to be the ones who get promoted.”
“But she’s good. She’s doing incredible work. She deserves this promotion.”
“I’m sure that she does, but others might not see it like that.”
I nod knowing that he’s right about everything. Others will see it that way, I already know that. I suppose that could be enough to turn someone to this kind of jealousy even if I don’t get it.
“Yeah well, whatever… I just want this over with now. I’m done.”
“I want to meet this girl,” Wesley suddenly announces. “The girl who’s changed your life around. I think we all do. I know that Oliver and Angelo have already met her, but what about the rest of us? Me, Nelson, Alex…”
“I don’t know if I’m ready for that yet. I don’t know if she is either.”
“I don’t mean like a big drama or anything. Just something casual where we can all get to know her a bit better. Alex is playing a gig tonight. Why doesn’t she come along with you tonight?”
I smile to myself as I think about my younger brother, the budding rock star. Because him and Angelo are so different, in looks and personality, it’s hard to always remember that they are twins. Alex is definitely the wilder of the two with his crazy rock and roll life style. Not that he ever tells us much about it…
“I suppose that could be a laugh.” I nod slowly. “And I’m sure that Tami would like it.”
“You look worried…” Wesley laughs. “You’re not concerned that she’s going to fall for the rock boy?”
That strikes horror inside me but only for a second. There’s no way that Tami would risk everything for me if she wasn’t sure. No, she likes me. She wants me and only me.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Alex wouldn’t do anything like that anyway. However much of a bad ass he is, he puts family first always. I suppose it would be a good way to introduce you all.”
“This Tami better get used to the Smith family soon enough, don’t you think?” Wesley laughs. “If she’s going to be a part of us then she’s going to have to get used to all of us. Angelo and his kookiness. Nelson and his smart mouth. Alex and his rock and roll stuff. Oliver and his fucking serious face all the time. You and the stick up your ass!” He ignores my groans of protest. “And of course me and my perfection.”
“Oh yeah, or you and your temper more like!” I snap back. “But yeah. I guess so.”
I step backwards and start to exit the room, trying to plan what I will do next. I am going to have to call Tami now, even if I don’t have any good news for her, to see if spending time with my family is something that she wants to do. With everything else going on, she might welcome the distraction, or she might want nothing less.
Brad: Hey, Tami, how are you? Are you feeling any better? X
Tami: Did Wesley manage to find anything? X
Shit, I probably should have just called her then I could explain this in a much better way. But I have started this now and I’m going to have to just carry on if I don’t want to worry her.
Brad: Not yet, but he’s still looking in to it. X
Tami: Right, I see. Fair enough. X
I suck in a deep breath to try and calm myself down before I fire off the next text.
Brad: If you aren’t still busy with your friends later, do you want to go and see my brother in a show? X
Tami: A show? What sort of show? X
Brad: Did I not tell you that he’s in a rock band? X
Tami: No, you didn’t, but that sounds like a lot of fun! X
Brad: Great! Well, I will come to pick you up at eight then? X
Tami: See you then x
At least I can smile about that. The thought of seeing her is awesome. When I am with her, I’m sure that together, we can get through anything including this.
Chapter Fifteen
Tami
The venue is loud. Much louder than the sort of place I would normally go, but it’s kinda cool as well. All dark and dingy, filled with people who are having the time of their lives. It’s exciting. Another part of the world that Brad has introduced me to, and I like it. Of course, it’s a little scary as well because I’m here with all of Brad’s brothers, but so far so good. They have all made me feel really welcome.
“You want another drink?” Wesley asks me with a smile. “Or are you still working on that one?”
I suck back the rest of my drink and hand it to him with a little laugh. “Another one please.”
As he turns away from me to smoothly order a drink at the bar from the pretty bar maid who clearly fancies him, Angelo squeezes my shoulder reassuringly. It’s good for me that I know at least half of these brothers. It makes it much less intimidating. Angelo, Oliver, and Brad are all making sure that I feel okay all the time, and Wesley has been great as well. Nelson is pissed off because he is too young to drink beer in here and everyone knows him, but he’s still being friendly with me which is something. I think if we ever meet in better conditions, me and him will really get along well. I hope so anyway. I want to be friends with all of them, to have a good relationship with them all because I know how important they are to Brad. And him to them as well. It’s clear just from all the interactions how much they respect and love him.
It’s hard to remember that I have a lot of drama in my life with the photos on my phone and everything when I’m surrounded by such amazing p
eople. People who could easily protect me from everything.
“Alex will be on the stage soon,” Brad whispers to me while hugging me tight to him. “His band is pretty good.”
“Yeah? You reckon they are going to be big? The next big thing and all of that?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. Hey, that would be something, wouldn’t it?”
It would be amazing to know someone in the lime light. Not that it’s something I would ever want for myself but to know what it’s really like. That would be so cool, to see from the inside out. This could be the first time that I see him before he ends up seriously famous. A memory to hold on to forever.
“Oh look, there he is.” Brad leans back. “Are you ready for it?”
Wesley hands me a drink and I lean against Brad as the band starts playing. There’s a magical atmosphere in the air as the guitar begins strumming and the singer starts to croon. The band really is good, I can tell that right away. Much too talented to be in a place like this. They should be on a big stage, with a massive crowd.
Even though the crowd isn’t a massive one, the screams shoot all the way through me. The band are not only talented, but they have a hard core fan base who adore them. Particularly Alex by the sound of things. They are screaming out his name like they all want to tear his clothes off… and I can understand why. He’s very sexy in a rock boy way with long dark hair and a brooding look, but not good looking enough to distract me away from Brad. He’s the only one that I will ever have eyes for. He’s the only one I really like.
I turn to see him, to smile at him, and his eyes are fixed on me too. We share a deep connection, a wonderful moment of just me and him. Even in this environment, the world melts away. Me and Brad are in a bubble and it’s amazing. The safest I have ever felt. It doesn’t matter that everyone is trying to break us apart. No one will be able to. Let whichever bitch from work it is, send pictures. Eventually, if we don’t react, they will get bored. Then we can get back to our normal lives and continue on just being happy.
And my God, I’m happy. Happier than I have ever been. How can I ever have thought that what me and Daniel had was good? It never felt anything like this. Ever. I didn’t feel as glittery, as full of sparkles and happiness. Even with people trying to get in our way, I’m shining with joy. It’s like Brad has brought out a different side to me, and I want to remain this person forever more. All full of love and joy all the time.
I can’t predict what my future with Brad will hold, I don’t have enough experience with real relationships for that, but I’m excited to go along for the ride to see where we go.
“Is this really Angelo’s twin?” I laugh. “I just can’t see it. Angelo is nowhere near this cool!”
“I know, right? They are incredibly different, but they are twins, believe it or not.”
“Hmm, I don’t know if I will ever be able to.” I lean back and watch again. “I’m going to be taking the piss out of Angelo on Monday, that’s for sure. It’s going to be a fun day of work!”
Brad laughs and nods, agreeing with me. “Yeah, I thought as much. You know, I might join you with that. It could be a lot of fun to wind him up. Try to loosen the bastard up a bit. He’s been a bit tightly wound recently. I don’t know if you have noticed it or if I’m imagining it.”
I glance over to Angelo who is laughing and having a good night tonight. He doesn’t seem tightly wound to me, but I suppose I don’t know him as well as Brad does. I don’t think I will take the piss out of him if he’s having some kind of hard time at the moment. I don’t want to get in the middle of that…
“Oh! I’m just going to the bathroom.” It suddenly hits me how badly I need to pee. “I’ll be right back.”
I leap down from my bar stool and head towards the bathroom. My head spins a bit, I think I might have been knocking those drinks back a little too quickly, but it doesn’t matter. Not when I have Brad with me. I just know that he will take care of me no matter how wasted I end up. He’s just that sort of man.
I smile to myself as I head in to the cubicle, actually feeling on top of the world. I’m all giggly and girly, excitable. Like a teenager who is in the early days of a crush. I can hardly contain myself with it all. I kinda wish that me and Brad were at home so I could just jump on his bones already.
“Oh my God,” a red head squeals in disgust as I step out of the cubicle, making me jump. “It’s you.”
“Er…” I know that I have had a couple to drink, but not this many. “Who are you?”
Her hands rest on her hips and she glares at me like she hates me. My first guess is that she is somehow linked to Tawny and the others and she’s ready to give me some shit that I don’t need.
“It doesn’t matter who I am. It matters who you are. Or more who you are with.”
“What do you mean? The Smith brothers?” Perhaps this is Alex related instead…
“One in particular, Brad. Obviously. The one that you are shagging.”
“Right. And er, what about him exactly?”
“You mean you don’t know?” She narrows her eyes. “That he’s a massive fuck boy.”
Oh! All of a sudden it becomes clear. This seems to be someone who is jealous of me and Brad. Well, if that’s the case I can handle it. That doesn’t matter to me at all. That’s to be expected. He’s a good looking guy.
“Er, right, well I don’t think that’s any of your business, is it?”
She stands in the way of the door but I’m not getting in to that again. There isn’t any way that someone will lock me in the bathroom again. I’m not being bullied because of my life choices.
“Oh, it is my business and that’s because of sister hood. Because I don’t want to see another woman fucked around by him. I mean, he might be charming, but Brad is an asshole. I don’t want you fooled.”
“Oh, so this is because you care about me?” I reply sarcastically. “Well, thank you I appreciate it, but I can look after myself thank you very much. Plus, who knows, I might be playing him?”
“Oh, honey.” She gives me a sympathetic look. “That’s so sweet. But you aren’t, are you? It’s pretty obvious that you are in love with him and it’s pathetic to see. You are just the latest one that he is promising the world to. But I must let you know, he won’t follow through on any of those promises. As soon as the next hot young thing bats her eyes at him, he will be distracted in an instant and you will be dropped.”
For a moment, my heart stops beating, and I fear that her words might be accurate. He has made me feel like I’m the one for him, but what if that’s just what he does. I know that he sleeps around, or he did before me, he let me know that, but what if this is still part of that and I just can’t see it yet? The last thing I need is to have my heart broken all over again. This time will be so much worse as well because I’m far more invested.
“How… how do you know this anyway?” I stammer back. “Were you with him?”
“Pfft, please. As if I would lower myself. No, I just know because everyone does. Aside from you apparently. You know, I would suggest that you go out there right now and dump his ass. Make him feel as shit as every woman that he has been with before. Woman kind would thank you for it.”
I stare at her, trying to work out exactly what I want to do next, and I end up shoving passed her and back out in to the bar. My pulse pounds in my ears as I stare across the room at him, trying to work out who Brad is. Is he the man I think he is, or the man other people say he is? I just don’t know…
But then he spins around to stare at me and his face lights up as he sees me. He really does care about me which I should remember. Even as the bathroom door swings loudly behind me and I’m sure it’s the red head coming out for another row with me, I don’t care. She’s wrong. Or maybe she isn’t, and she was right once upon a time. But he isn’t that man anymore. He’s a good person, he really does like me, he makes me happy. No bitchy voice is going to come in between what we share. It’s too perfect for that.
I stride across to him, closing the gap between us. She might be behind me thinking that I’m about to do as she commanded and break up with him publicly, but instead I grab him and kiss him hard, letting everyone know just how I feel about Brad. Nothing is going to get in the way of us, especially not bullshit gossip from someone who I don’t even know. Not a chance in hell. He belongs to me and I have staked my claim.
Chapter Sixteen
Brad
“So, are you ready to see my place now?” he asks as we end up by the biggest house, I think I have ever laid my eyes on. I knew that he must have some money considering the success of his company, but this is something else. This is incredible. “I know it looks huge, but there are a lot of us remember?”
“So, is this your child hood home? The one that you all grew up in?”
“It sure is. And I can tell you that it doesn’t feel big when we’re all in it. It’s loud!”
“Just lucky that everyone seemed to have better places to be tonight.”
I shoot Brad a wink because it’s pretty obvious he organized this so I could get to know him better. Alex had an after show party to go to which he was talking Wesley to. Nelson was meeting some friends, Angelo was headed to his girlfriend’s home, and Oliver was going on a late night date. Supposedly. Poor bastards all having to act like they didn’t just want to go to bed after that. Especially Alex, that was one hell of a show!
I only met him briefly, but he seems like a really great person as well. All the brothers are awesome. Not that I’m trying to think too far ahead, but this is a family I wouldn’t mind being part of.