Brothers & Best Friends

by Rose, Ashley

  "You did all this?"

  She smiled and nodded. "Do you like it?"

  He walked into the room slowly. "There's room to walk," he said, sounding quite amazed.

  She nodded and pointed to the corner with the mountain of clothes. "That was what had been the carpet in here for...well, I really don't even want to know how long. But I moved it over there until I can get it clean, and I bought one of those crates like you have for Todd's clean clothes, although from the looks of that pile I'm going to need a lot more than a crate when I clean them all."

  He touched her arm as he walked into the kitchen, where his eyes widened again. "Jeez, what did you do to the stove? Is that our stove?" he asked, looking at her.

  She nodded. "Minus about twenty-eight layers of dirt and food. Honestly I still have a few layers left before it's really clean, but I didn't have any more time to sink into it today." She pointed to one of the drawers. "I also sorted your silverware drawer."

  He walked over and opened the silverware drawer, smiling. "The counter. You cleaned the counter. I've always wanted to do that, but I never found the time or the patience."

  She nodded. "I stared at so many spoons for so long that I started thinking they were talking to me."

  He picked up an oven mitt with apples on it. "I didn't know we had this."

  "You didn't. You had one old blue potholder, but it was disgusting and falling apart, so while I was out I also bought you two oven mitts. They're safer because they cover more of your hand, and they match. I didn't throw the old one away in case you wanted to keep it. I put it in the second drawer. But I just thought new would be nice. The old one really deserves to retire."

  He looked at the fridge, which was also white instead of the usual variety of colors from spilled drinks and kitchen grease. "You..." He turned and looked at her. "You are amazing."

  She blushed happily. "Well, I don't know about that."

  "I do," he said, looking back at the fridge and tilting his head to the side.

  "I just thought I'd make myself useful since I am taking up your time, your space, your food. I needed to do something to pay you back," she said. "I didn't get to mop, though, since you don't have one, so I'll have to do that tomorrow."

  "You didn't use any chemicals that could hurt the baby, did you?" he asked with sudden alarm.

  "No, of course not. I did most of it with soap and water. I was careful not to breathe anything in."

  "And you ate? You didn't starve the poor thing, did you?"

  She smiled. "No, I didn't starve the poor thing. Actually we had a huge slice of cheese pizza at this pizza place on Lexington." She nodded. "The baby seemed to approve."

  "Have you felt sick at all today? Are your feet tired? Oh, jeez, Janine, you've been on your—sit down. You shouldn't have done all this. It's too much for the baby, especially in one day," he said, scowling at her.

  He couldn't be any more adorable if he tried, she thought. The warmth in her heart was just growing, and she couldn't keep from smiling at him, even as he gently pushed her into the other room to sit down on the couch. He was acting like...like...

  Well, he was acting like a father.

  She wondered if he realized it. Probably not. If he did, he would be freaked out.

  "Not that I don't appreciate it," he added. "I do. Very much. If not for you standing there I probably would have turned around thinking I had the wrong apartment. But you can't wear yourself out like that. You need to rest and eat and...not use chemicals." He sat her down and put his hands on his hips. "Do you need anything? Water? Food?"

  "No, Fred, I'm fine."

  He frowned. "Fred?"

  She nodded. "Flintstone. You're reminding me very much of the episode where Wilma had Pebbles."

  "Well, that's lovely," he said dryly.

  She grinned. "Isn't it?" Then she remembered the note. "Oh! And someone left a note on the door while I was gone," she said, getting the note out and handing it to him.

  "Thanks," he said, opening the note. He frowned as he read it, then he sighed.

  "Is everything okay?" she asked, wanting to pry without actually prying.

  "Yeah, it's just this slightly insane girl that I never even dated. She periodically tries to contact me. By the way, don't open the door unless you've looked out the little hole first. If it's a redhead with green eyes, don't answer it. She's like the devil, but more obsessive and slightly more insane." He folded the note and put it in his pocket, then noticed the dinner. He pointed accusingly to the table. "You made dinner," he stated as if scolding a puppy for having an accident on the floor.

  She laughed. "Is that a bad thing? It's not like I made turkey and stuffing or anything. I just made those pigs in a blanket, some onion rings, some mozzarella sticks. It's very unhealthy, really, and very simple. For dessert I got lazy and bought a box of vanilla wafers." She sighed. "I left my recipe box at home; most of the things I don't know how to cook off the top of my head are in there. By the way, what do you think of having meatballs tomorrow night? I remember how to make them. I could even buy buns and make meatball subs."

  "Please don't go back home," he said with a smile.

  She chuckled. "And Wednesday I could either make BLTs, or I could go all out and make a chicken dinner. Remember that fried chicken breast my mom used to make? I could make mashed potatoes and some vegetables to go with it. Oh, I could even make appetizers! I like to make these little deli roll things, with ham and turkey. I saw a deli sign at that one grocery store, the one by the pizza place. I'll stop tomorrow or Wednesday and pick up about a quarter pound of each. Any other lunch meats?"

  "Salami's good."

  "Yes, thank you. I forgot salami. I'll pick up some of those and make that," she said with a smile.

  "I can never go back to ravioli and ramen noodles after this. I hope you know that."

  She grinned. "Well, I would never make you go back to ravioli and ramen noodles. By the way, do you like cinnamon rolls?"

  "Who doesn't?"

  "Good. I'll have to make you some cinnamon roll pudding. I'm trying to remember the exact ingredients," she said with a slight frown. "I don't know if it was two or three eggs. I guess I could call home and ask my mom to read me the recipe, but I don't like to call because I know she'll pester me about coming home. But I'll call her after dinner anyway."

  "What other goodies do you have in that recipe box?"

  "Oh, all kinds," she enthused. "I really wish I would've thought to bring it, but I didn't realize I would be staying so long."

  He smiled. "Well, come on. Let's eat while it's still hot."

  She smiled and followed him into the kitchen.

  ***

  Tom and Lorena brought Greg over at six o' clock.

  "Okay, here's his juice box," Lorena said, handing it over to Janine. "If he wants anything more to drink for the rest of the night it should just be water. We'll be back at nine to pick him up. I brought Toy Story. He can watch that at around 7:30, maybe a little before, that way it will be just over when we get back. You have our number. Greg, come here, honey," she said, pulling her son over and giving him a hug and a kiss on the forehead. "You be good for Janine and Jess, okay? You're going to stay with them tonight while Mommy and Daddy go on a date. How's that sound?"

  Greg looked up at Janine and smiled, then back at his mom. "It sounds good to me."

  "Don't forget to do your math homework," she said sternly. "Jess is good at math. If you need help, I'm sure he or Janine will be able to help you, okay? Just ask."

  Greg nodded. "I know, Mom."

  "Okay." She kissed him. "I love you."

  "I love you too, Mom," he said, rolling his eyes.

  Jess smiled at Janine and she tried not to laugh.

  "Okay. Be good for Jess and Janine."

  "I will, Mom," he said, sounding annoyed.

  She kissed him again and then threw a smile at Janine. "Okay, I'll go now."

  Tom shook his head with an amused smile, ruffled h
is son's hair, then hauled his wife out of the building with her calling out last minute instructions.

  "Don't forget your homework," she was saying as Tom shut the door in her face.

  The little boy shook his head. "She has a hard time saying good-bye," he told Janine.

  Janine smiled. "Is that so?"

  "Yep." He nodded. "Do you have any pets?" he asked Janine without missing a beat.

  "Um, yes, at home. Not here though."

  "Oh. Do you have any cats?"

  "No, my mom's allergic to cats."

  He nodded. "So is my dad. I want a cat, but I can't get one because he's allergic. You should get one now though. When I get older and I move out, I'm going to get a cat," he said with a little smile. "I'm going to name him Patches. I already saw one like I want, but he won't be around when I get older and move out like you."

  "Oh, I haven't actually moved out yet. I'm just here visiting Jess."

  He looked over at Jess and gave him an appraising look. "Is he your boyfriend?"

  "Hey, Oompa Loompa, don't you have some homework to do?" Jess asked with a raised eyebrow, handing the boy his backpack.

  Greg scrunched up his nose as he took the bag, then opened it and went to the table. He turned back to Janine, gave an innocent smile, and said, "I need help."

  Jess smirked and shook his head.

  Janine just smiled and walked over to Greg. "What do you need help with?"

  He made a show of looking confused and said, "Well, these problems. They're hard."

  Jess moseyed over and took a peek. "Which one?"

  "Can Janine help me?" he asked.

  "Of course." Jess looked distinctly amused.

  "Okay, so it's six plus eight. Do you use any counting blocks or anything? Or do you just use your fingers to count?"

  "We can use fingers. If I run out we can use yours."

  "Okay," she agreed with a smile.

  "I'll just be in the corner reading if I'm not needed," Jess said.

  "You're not," Greg said brightly, turning his adoring gaze back to Janine.

  Jess shook his head with a smile and grabbed a book, flopping down on the couch.

  ***

  On Thursday, Janine did not have one of her lovely dreams. In fact, she didn't think she had any dreams. She only remembered the horrid way she woke up.

  Jess's arms had been around her, she knew that, but she felt them lift off her. Then she heard a terrible noise, like a car running into a building. Her eyes opened as she frowned sleepily and twisted to see what was going on.

  That was when she saw Jess pinned up against the wall. A dark-haired man with his back to her had his hands wrapped around Jess's throat.

  Chapter Five

  Janine gasped and nearly hopped out of bed, not caring that she was only wearing Jess's Metallica shirt. "John!" she shrieked.

  Todd was in the doorway, grimacing. "Uh, I guess I probably shouldn't have told him so much."

  "John," Janine said furiously, "let Jess go."

  John was considerably bigger than Jess, and while usually they were about equally strong, John could throw his weight into it when he wanted to. Apparently he wanted to.

  John looked over his shoulder. When he saw Janine in Jess's T-shirt, the fire in his eyes flared and he slammed Jess against the wall again.

  "John," she choked out, "let him go! What are you doing?" She felt the urge to stomp her foot like a child trying to get her way, but she stifled it and just kept looking at him murderously.

  She finally went over to try to pull him away, but Jess interrupted, saying, "Janine, no." The words were strained, but she knew what they were. She hesitated. "Go," Jess croaked. "I don't want you to get hurt by accident." He looked at John. "I'm having a little bit of trouble swallowing, you wanna loosen your grip a little?"

  "I haven't decided yet," John said, glaring daggers at Jess.

  "Dude, Martha Stewart was cheating?" Todd asked Jess.

  Jess glared at him almost as hard as John did, but John, having the greater air supply, responded. "No, you dickhead, this is my little sister!"

  Todd raised his eyebrows. "Ooh, I guess I really shouldn't have said some of that."

  "What did you say to him?" Janine demanded.

  "Well, I thought he was a friend of Jess's," Todd said. "I didn't know he was your brother."

  "What did you say to make him so angry?"

  "He said," John interrupted, "that Jess was still in bed. He said with a little smile and a wink that Jess was spending a lot more time in bed lately."

  Janine grimaced.

  "He said that at first he assumed you were Jess's new fling and he pretty much liked you since you cleaned up the house. Then he said he's been having his reservations lately since you've been cockblocking Jess, and when he asks him to go out now he won't because he has to stay home and babysit you."

  She shot a startled look at Jess, who muttered, "I did not say that."

  "I don't even know what… cockblocking means" Janine said.

  "It means you're not letting Jess get any action. Any other action, in this case."

  Janine flushed even though she wasn't guilty, which seemed to make Jess more mad as he finally wrenched John's hand away from his neck. "Lay off, man."

  "Don't tell me to lay off. You're screwing my little sister!"

  Janine gasped and Jess looked away, looking vaguely embarrassed.

  "What the hell do you expect me to do, Jess, congratulate you?" John spat Jess's name like the most vile of curses.

  "No, I pretty much expect you to strangle me," Jess muttered, rubbing his neck.

  Janine rushed over to his side, resting a hand on his shoulder and looking at his red neck. "Are you okay?" She turned and glared at John before turning back to Jess.

  "Yeah," he murmured.

  "Get over here," John said to Janine.

  "Don't order her around," Jess said.

  "I'll do whatever I want. Just like you, apparently."

  "Stop it," Janine said, wondering why Jess wasn't straightening John out. "Just stop." Then she turned a slightly confused face on Jess as if to ask him why he wasn't defending himself. Jess wouldn't look at her long enough, though. He was looking at John. She took a step back and walked over to John. "John, calm down. You and Jess are best friends, and this is completely ridiculous. There has been a big misunderstanding here, and honestly, I blame Todd."

  "Hey," Todd said indignantly.

  "It's your stupid 'cockblocking' comment that gave my brother the wrong idea." She turned her attention back to John. "I swear, Jess has been a complete gentleman."

  John quirked a sarcastic eyebrow. "Has he? Then why are you two sleeping together? Why are you wearing his shirt and nothing else? I would think your chivalrous knight in shining armor could at least find an old pair of sweatpants for you to wear, and why exactly could the perfect gentleman not sleep on the damn couch?"

  "He offered, but I'm not going to kick him out of his own bed. Now, if you would just take a minute here and think. This is Jess."

  "Exactly," John replied. "I know what kind of guy he is, Janine. You're the only one who seems to think he's some honorable Prince Charming."

  "Just stop being mean," she said. "You're about to say something you'll regret later. You two are best friends. Nothing can come between you."

  "Yeah, well that was before he got my little sister between the sheets. That happens to come between us."

  "He did not get me between the sheets. I came here to see him as a friend. Enough, John. Give him a little credit."

  John looked over at Jess, looked him right in the eye and said, "Do you deny that you fucked my sister?"

  Janine felt fourteen shades of relief that John was finally coming to his senses and asking Jess straight out. Now Jess would assure him that nothing had happened and they would be friends again and forget the whole thing. At least that was what she thought until Jess opened his mouth.

  Jess held John's stare for about thre
e seconds, then swallowed and looked away, not able to look at him any longer. "No," he said quietly.

  Janine's face fell and she turned to look at Jess, shock and confusion written all over her face.

  John's jaw tightened. "That's what I thought." Then he turned his gaze on Janine, and she thought she saw a hint of sadness in his eyes. "Since when do you lie to me, Janine?"

  She felt her heart drop at his use of her given name. He always called her Janine. She was so confused. She had no idea what to say. She didn't know what was going on. Why did Jess say that? Why would he lie about that? It's not like he could gain anything by saying it. "I'm n- I'm not lying," she said, looking back over at Jess in confusion.

  "Janie, don't try to cover for me," Jess said, shaking his head slightly and offering her the smallest of smiles.

  "I'm not! I mean, I would, but I'm not. There's nothing to cover."

  "Jeez, even I don't buy that," Todd said from the doorway.

  "Haven't you caused enough trouble?" Janine asked him.

  He held up his hands in mock defense. "All I'm saying is that when I'm walking to the bathroom, sometimes I hear things, and unless Jess is making himself happy while he's in bed next to you, you have to be doing something for him."

  "Todd, get the fuck out," Jess bit off.

  Todd's eyes widened slightly and he nodded, backing out of the doorway.

  Janine blinked four times and she felt something in her stomach starting to turn. No, no, she could not be getting morning sickness. She hadn't been getting it the last couple mornings. The last couple mornings. The mornings. The dreams. Her eyes shot up to Jess's and she stared at him for a moment.

  Oh, God, she thought, please tell me he isn't serious.

  But he seemed to be, by all appearances.

  "Oh, my gosh," she murmured, feeling the room start to sway.

  No! She could not get sick or...why was her vision blurring? The last thing she remembered was holding an arm up in the air for no apparent reason before everything went black.