Stronger With Her

by JA Hensley

  “I can’t stay, Ma. Just tell Runt I’ll call him later. Stephanie, it was great to see you again,” he says trailing his hand across my back as he leaves the room. I don’t bother saying anything in return, mostly because I’m trying to hold in the tears that are threatening.

  I hear the door close as I come down the stairs, but I can’t tell who was here. When I enter the kitchen, I know something’s wrong.

  “Who was that, Ma?”

  “Jacob stopped by. He said he’ll talk to you later, dear,” she says with a regretful smile. Stephanie still hasn’t moved. She’s staring into her cup not saying anything.

  “Okay, well, I guess we’re going to get out of here. Are you ready to go, Steph?” I ask hesitantly. She blinks and nods silently. What is going on here? I walk around to kiss my mother on the cheek and she pats my hand. Looking into her eyes I see sympathy but I have no clue why.

  I put my hand on Stephanie’s shoulder and she jumps away like I’ve burned her. She gets up from the table, still not looking at me.

  “Thanks for the coffee, Mrs. Owens,” she says. “It was really nice to meet you.”

  “Pleasure is all mine, sweet girl. I hope you come back to visit again soon,” Ma says in a way that implies that might not happen.

  Stephanie turns toward the front door without acknowledging me. I look at my mother for a clue as to what has happened.

  “Did you know that your brother and Stephanie used to work in the same building?” she asks.

  “I guess I never put it together,” I reply. “Why?”

  She just gives me a sad smile and turns away carrying the coffee cups to the sink. What the fuck did that little shit do now?

  I hurry to catch up to Stephanie, who’s standing on the front porch. “Are you okay?”

  “I want to go home. Take me home right now,” she says without looking at me.

  “Please tell me what’s wrong. What did he say to you?” I know this has something to do with Jacob. He’s such a shithead sometimes, but I have no idea what he’s done to upset her this much.

  “I just want to go home, James. Right now,” she says as she marches toward my truck. I sigh and follow her, not wanting to piss her off anymore. She doesn’t wait for me to open her door and is snapping her seatbelt in place on when I climb in.

  “Please talk to me. Tell me what happened so I can fix it.”

  “There’s nothing to fix. You had your fun, now it’s over. I want to go home so if you’re not going to take me then I’ll get a cab or call a friend to come get me.”

  I stare at her not knowing how to handle the sharp change in the situation. All I did was change my clothes and suddenly she doesn’t want anything to do with me. I’m going to kill Jacob.

  “Okay, fine. I’ll take you home. But this is not over, not by a long shot,” I say as I start the truck.

  We make the trip back to her place in silence. I try to get her to talk to me a couple times, but she just stares out the window. She has her door open before I can put the truck in park and I have to jog after her to catch up. I grab her wrist before she can get through her front door.

  “Please, Stephanie, I’m begging you to tell me what’s happened.”

  She twists her arm away from me.

  “Please, tell me what’s wrong.”

  “Who’s Danielle?” she asks with fire in her eyes.

  I feel like I’ve been kicked in the nuts. How does she know about her? I stumble away from her a little, trying to gather my thoughts and find a way to answer her without losing my shit.

  “Who is she, James? If you don’t answer me in five seconds, I’m going to believe all the voices in my head telling me to run. So, I’m going to ask you one more time. Who is Danielle and where is your kid?” She stands with one hand on her hip and the other on the doorknob.

  I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. As I open my mouth, I hear the sound of the door opening.

  “That’s what I thought. I don’t do cheaters, James. I’m out,” She says as she slams the door in my face.

  I stand there staring at the piece of wood that’s separating me from the first woman to make me feel something since I lost Danielle and Madison. I refuse to accept that things are over between Stephanie and me.

  “Open this door, Steph. Let me in so we can talk this through,” I say banging on the door. There’s no response from her. I keep knocking and calling for her until I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn and see a security guard standing there.

  “Sir, I’ve been asked by Ms. Edwards to escort you away from her residence. Would you please come with me?”

  She’s kicking me out? I look back at her door and then at the security guard. He’s smaller than I am, but I don’t really feel like going to jail today. I nod and walk away from him, getting in my truck and driving out of the complex, determined to find out what the fuck happened.

  When the noise outside my condo finally stops, I take a deep breath and wipe my tears. I can’t believe I’m crying over a guy I practically just met. I hear my phone ring in my purse and I take my time finding it, knowing it’s him.

  I see a missed call from Becca. I decide to call her back, I could use a friend right now.

  “Hey, babe! How was your date?” she asks cheerfully. I can’t do cheerful.

  “Great until I found out he has another girlfriend,” I reply, the tears returning.

  “Are you at home?”

  “Yes, I just had security remove him from my doorstep.”

  “I’ll be there in ten minutes. Don’t move,” she says as she hangs up. I drag myself to the bathroom to splash some water on my face. My eyes are swollen and my face is blotchy, makeup running everywhere.

  How in the hell did things go from so good to so horrible? How is someone so great related to a douche bag like Jake?

  I’ve just opened my Diet Mt. Dew when I hear Becca knocking. She likes to pretend she’s Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory when she’s trying to cheer me up. I open the door and find her standing with Christin, both of them holding coffees and wearing sympathetic smiles.

  “Tell me what that asshole did to you and how we can chop off his balls,” Christin says as she pushes past me into my living room.

  “We don’t know that we need to castrate him yet,” Becca says rolling her eyes at me.

  “Men need to be reminded that they’re not in charge,” she says. “If he hurt Stephanie enough to make her cry then he needs to fucking pay with his balls.”

  “Okay, let’s calm down and hear what happened. Oh, I forgot to give these to you, Steph,” Becca says pulling a bag of my favorite mints out of her purse.

  “You know me so well,” I say ripping into it and peeling the wrappers off of two, shoving both in my mouth at the same time.

  “Now, start at the beginning and tell us what happened,” Becca says sitting down on the couch next to me.

  I give all the details about meeting James and the contract, leaving out how we actually first met, up to what happened this morning. I’m just not ready to disclose that part of my life to anyone. I don’t think the girls will judge me, but it’s something that I don’t want to try to explain for now.

  “So, let me get this straight,” Christin says. “You fixed his computer system, he’s fucking hot as hell, he asks you out and you go. You have a great time, you fuck, twice, and then he takes you to meet his mom? Who does that?”

  “Apparently he lives with her. I don’t know why.”

  “Okay, let’s assume that it’s not because he’s a loser because he’s obviously doing well in the financial department. Who is Jake?”

  “He’s a prick that works in the building where Soklov is. He’s a security guard and he’s always given me the creeps. He’d ask me out all the time and do things to lock up his computer just so I’d have to come down and fix it. I did everything I could to avoid him and now I find out he’s James’ brother.”

  “And he’s the one who mentioned Danielle and a child?
” Becca asks quietly.

  “Yes, first he was pissed that I was there with James and then he mentioned her,” my cheeks heat with embarrassment.

  “Is it possible he made that up to keep you and James apart?” Becca asks.

  “I asked him several times about her and he never gave me an answer. He just stared at me like he didn’t know how to explain himself. If she’s nothing, why didn’t he just say that?” I open more mints and eat them quickly.

  “I agree, it’s a dick move. If he has nothing to hide, he should just come out and tell you what you want to know.” Christin says.

  “How did you leave things with him?” Becca asks.

  “I told him to tell me who she was or I was done. He didn’t answer so I walked in here and shut the door. He knocked and pounded and begged me to answer for about twenty minutes, so I called security and had them take care of it,” I say as tears build up again thinking about the sound of desperation in his voice.

  “Well, it seems to me that he wants to explain himself. Maybe she’s an old girlfriend from years ago, it’s nothing and the jerk brother was just trying to cause problems. Not sure how to explain the child, though,” Becca says sympathetically. “Do you think this thing between you two is worth trying to save?”

  I stare at my hands unwrapping more chocolate mint goodness, thinking about that question but my thoughts are interrupted.

  “More importantly, is the sex worth it? Because if he’s a bad lay, then maybe it’s best to move on,” Christin says with a shrug.

  “That’s horrible,” Becca says, but I can’t help the laugh that bursts out of me. Only Christin would think like that.

  “Actually,” I say once I’ve caught my breath, “It was the best sex I’ve ever had in my life.”

  “Well, that complicates things even more, doesn’t it?” Christin replies and we all laugh again.

  “It sounds to me like he’s the kind of guy who doesn’t give up very easily. Maybe there’s a logical explanation and he’s figuring out how best to give that to you,” Becca says patting my shoulder. I give her a doubtful look, but inside I hope that she’s right.

  I’m pulling my truck out of the parking lot, not sure what the fuck just happened. The only thing that makes sense is that Jacob had something to do with the one-eighty that happened between Stephanie and me. That fucker has always been an asshole.

  There’s only one person who can help me with this problem. So I pull up the hands-free calling and place the call.

  “Hey, Runt, what’s up?” John answers.

  “I have two words for you. Fucking. Jacob.”

  “Are you on your way over? I’m headed home now so I can meet you in twenty.”

  “I’ll be there and just so you know, that fucker has to pay for this one.”

  “I hear ya, see you soon.”

  I drive as quickly and legally as I can, trying to keep my anger at bay. This isn’t the first time my brother has done something to screw with my life. He’s been a jealous little bitch for as long as I can remember.

  I pull up to John’s house, but he’s not home yet. I scroll through my phone while I wait. There’s a text from Joe.

  How did last night go?

  I want to answer him honestly, but I’m going to need his help too.

  Great until Jacob. At John’s. Get here ASAP.

  It takes less than a minute to get his reply.

  Jason and I are on our way.

  I wait another fifteen minutes and the three of them pull up at the same time. I get out of my truck and see my biggest support system walking toward me. I would die for these guys, and I know they feel the same about me.

  “Let’s go inside, get a beer, and figure out what we’re going to do about the little shit,” John says.

  “It’s time he learns his lesson,” Jason adds. “I’m so sick of his bullshit.” The rest of us nod and follow John into his house.

  Once we have our drinks and we’re sitting on the back porch, John starts the conversation.

  “What happened, Runt? All I know is that you were going on a date with that computer girl and now we’re here. Fill me in.”

  I look at my other brothers and they’re all wearing the same look of concern.

  “Last night was fucking amazing. Stephanie is a great girl, you know? I haven’t been able to get her out of my head since I met her and it’s worse now. She’s the first since…”

  “You’ve got to be able to say her name if you want to move on, you know?” Jason says sympathetically.

  “I know, but it’s not that easy. I’m feeling things that I didn’t think would ever come back and now it’s shot to shit. Fucking Jacob.”

  “How does he fit into all this?” Joe asks.

  “Stephanie and I were going to spend the day together so we ran by the house so I could change,” I start.

  “Uh, what? You took her to the house? After your first date, you took her to meet Ma? Have you lost your fucking mind?” John says as he shakes his head.

  “I had to change clothes and I didn’t really think about it. They got along great. While I was upstairs, apparently Jacob stopped by looking for me. He must have said some shit to Stephanie. Apparently he knows her because they worked in the same building. Judging by the look on Ma’s face he did or said something to upset her. When I got back downstairs, she wasn’t speaking to me and demanded that I take her home. I couldn’t get anything out of her so I did as she asked. I had tried one more time before she went in her apartment and she asked me who Danielle was. I was so shocked I couldn’t answer her and she slammed the door in my face. I pounded on her door until she called security and had me removed.”

  I look up and all three of them are staring at me, mouths open, eyes wide.

  “What?” I ask irritatedly.

  John is the first to snap out of it.

  “She’s the one, isn’t she?” he asks, and I feel like he’s punched me in the gut. I look at the other two and they’re nodding and smiling.

  “I’m not sure, but she could be. I haven’t felt like this for years,” I admit quietly.

  “Don’t bullshit us,” Joe says. “It was obvious at the office that this girl is different and she’s got you wrapped around her little finger. I couldn’t be happier about it because I’m tired of you being a dick all the time. Since she’s been around, you’ve been much more pleasant.”

  I flip him off and look at Jason. He shrugs but nods in agreement.

  “I’ve really been that bad?”

  “No, not really,” John jumps in. “But we don’t like to see you how you’ve been. This Runt is a much happier Runt, and that is what we want,” he says with a grin.

  “All right, enough of the touchy-feely bullshit. What are we going to do about that fucker that seems intent on ruining the best thing that’s happened in my life in years?”

  We kick around ideas for the next hour, drinking John’s beer and having a few laughs. When I get up to leave, I feel a little better. I have the beginning of a plan to get my revenge and get my girl back.

  Saturday morning and I’m back to questioning the situation with Stephanie. I texted her last night, but she never responded. I’m not surprised, but I was hoping for something. I check The Shady Sprocket’s Facebook page to see if Vixen is dancing tonight, but her name’s not on there. One less thing to worry about, I guess. The thought of other men looking at her makes me violently angry. I know I can’t stop her if that’s what she wants to do, but I hope that someday I can reason with her and find out why she does it.

  Before my thoughts turn to scenarios that will land me in jail, I get up to face my other challenge of the day. Something I’ve been putting off for a long time and it needs to be done if I ever want to move on with my life.

  “Where are you headed so early, dear?” Ma is sitting on the couch drinking a cup of coffee.

  “Um, I’m going to go talk to Danielle,” I reply quietly, looking at the floor.

  Ma nods solemnl
y. “It’s time, James. I’ll be here when you get back.” I move to give her a kiss on the cheek, kneeling down to look into her eyes.

  “I need to move on. I need to go forward, but I’ve been stuck for so long,” I whisper.

  “You can do this. She’ll understand,” Ma says squeezing my hand. I look up and she has tears in her eyes. “It’ll be just fine,” she says with a small smile. I nod, get up, and walk out the door without another word.

  The drive is slow and interminable. Traffic is heavy today and it takes twice as long to get there as normal. I stop at the convenience store and pick up Danielle’s favorite flowers. I don’t know why she likes the artificially colored daisies, but she does so that’s what I get.

  The last few minutes of my trip are the worst. Seeing all the stones decorated, shiny marble reflecting the sun’s rays like mirrors makes me wonder who really benefits from this kind of display. I wind my way around the narrow drive, hoping that no one else will be around for this. When I get to the top of the small hill, I put the truck in park and take a deep breath. It’s been a long time since I’ve been here, but I feel the pain like it was yesterday. The song, “Day Is Gone” by Noah Gunderson is playing on repeat in my head as I walk through the grass to the third row.

  I drop to my knees in front of the polished black headstone. I can’t stop the tears as they fall down my face when I brush some dirt from the names carved into the stone.

  Danielle Armes

  February 23, 1989 – May 3, 2011

  Madison Owens

  February 28, 2010 – May 3, 2011

  The day my life ended is mocking me. That drunk son of a bitch took everything I had and ruined it. My precious baby girl and her mother, stolen in the blink of an eye.

  “I’m sorry I haven’t been here for a while, Danielle,” I say. “This is so much more painful than I expected it to be.” My hands are shaking and it’s getting harder to breathe.