Outside the Box

by H. M. Montes

  “Oh my GOD, is that Ember?!”

  “Jesus shut up!” I told her just above a whisper.

  “I didn’t know you invited her.” She said with a smile.

  “I didn’t invite her, well I did but she told me she had plans with a friend today. That friend just so happens to be my brother. They are friends with benefits none the less.”

  “No way!”

  “Dead serious.” I continued to stare at Alexia. My brother climbed out of the pool, went over to her and shook his hair above her, covering her in little droplets of pool water. She gasped then smiled, he braced his hands on the chair arms and lowered himself so their mouths were almost touching. Alexia leaned back the closer he got, he finally had her backed against the chair and lowered his mouth to hers.

  “Easy there big boy, I think I just heard the beer bottle crack under pressure.” Patricia whispered from beside me. I couldn’t take my eyes off of Derrick and Alexia, he brushed hair away from her face then said something to her. She smiled and shook her head, he leaned down and kissed her again before walking away. “You and Derrick…had no clue you were both in love with the same woman?”

  “Nope, not a clue.” I stared Alexia down, even with her sunglasses covering her beautiful eyes I knew she was watching me watch her.

  Everybody fixed their selves a plate for supper, since it was starting to get dark out the pool lights had kicked on. They changed colors as the music played since they were synced with the surround sound system. Derrick had managed to convince Alexia to get in the pool with him, I walked past the deep end of the pool where he had her pushed against the side of the pool, “Get the fuck out if you’re going to bang her in there.” I stared down at him.

  “Chill out asshole I was just talking to her.”

  “I…Actually I need to use the restroom.” Alexia stuttered out so Derrick moved away so she could swim to the ladder.

  “What’s your fucking problem? Derrick asked me, “She’s nice you don’t need to treat her like shit.”

  I snorted, shook my head and walked over to where Peaches was talking to Destiney. “Keep an eye on my brother I’m going to go have a talk with her.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Destiney said and shook her head.

  I glared at her, “Good idea or not, I’m going to go fucking talk to her.”

  Peaches grabbed my upper arm, “It’s only going to lead to a fight between you and Derrick, is it really worth ruining everything between you two?”

  “I’m just going to talk to her, I didn’t say I was going to fuck her.” I mumbled through clenched teeth. I looked past her shoulder, Derrick looked to be in deep conversation with William and Josh. I hadn’t seen or talked to him in weeks, as soon as I was done talking to Alexia I would find Josh and see how things had been going for him.

  Alexia was sitting on the couch with her elbows on her knees and her face hiding behind her hands. I sat down on the leather ottoman in front of her. “You can either break the news to him or I can, it makes no difference to me.” I told her and leaned forward resting my elbows on my knees, we were only inches apart.

  “I’m not telling him here! It will just lead to a fight!”

  “I’m not going to keep watching him touch you and fucking kiss you, next thing I know you two will be fucking in one of my spare bedrooms.”

  She shook her head and glared at me, “I’m not going to do that with him and I’m not telling him….”

  “Telling me what?” Derrick asked from behind me. Alexia dropped her face into her hands again.

  I knew she could feel me glaring at the top of her head, “You or me, take your pick.”

  “Why do you have her almost in tears Spencer, for fucks sake leave her alone. If you’re going to be a dick we’ll just leave.” Derrick was now standing beside me looking down. “Lexi, we can just go back to the apartment.” He held his hand down to her.

  “You’re not leaving.” I growled out and stood up. Alexia’s head shot up when she realized I had stood up.

  “Fuck you, I’m not going to let you be a total douche bag to my girlfriend just because your ex was a dumb bitch. Lexi isn’t.”

  “I’m not your girlfriend.” Alexia whispered.

  “What?” Derrick asked with a laugh. “I’m pretty god damn sure that it’s my bed you frequent each week.” He told her.

  She shook her head, “I’m not your girlfriend, I’m no one’s girlfriend.”

  “Well this is playing out exactly like I said it fucking would.” Josh walked into the room interrupting Alexia.

  “What?” Derrick and I both asked.

  “Lexi, didn’t I ask you not to hurt Derrick? Didn’t I say it would be just a matter of time before you did?”

  Alexia’s eyes filled with tears and anger, “You knew?” she asked while glaring at Josh.

  “Knew what?” Derrick asked looking back and forth from Alexia and Josh.

  “Are you going to tell him?” Josh said with a grin, “Because I have a feeling shit’s going to get real ugly in a hurry.”

  “Tell me what for fucks sake!?” Derrick yelled then put his hands on his hips.

  Alexia sat back down on the couch, “I’m…I’ve been seeing Spencer.”

  “What?!” Derrick asked with a laugh, “He doesn’t date, what do you mean you’ve been seeing him?” He asked her then glared at me. “What the fuck is going on?”

  “We worked together.” I told him and shrugged a shoulder.

  “Worked together? I thought Peaches was your secretary?”

  “She is, (I nodded my head once), Alexia and I worked together inside the box.” I said then let it sink in about what I had just said.

  He took one quick step towards me and punched me with a right hook but didn’t stop there. He tackled me to the ground. The thing about Derrick, since he was soccer player I knew his legs were the strongest part of his body, as long as he didn’t get an open shot at my ribs with his knees I could walk away with nothing more than a bloody nose.

  “DERRICK…STOP IT!” Alexia screamed. Then Derrick pulled his knee back and kneed me in the ribs twice before I could roll away from him. I knew that he had just broken some of my ribs but I sure as wasn’t going to let him keep beating on me. “STOP IT!” Alexi yelled again. I rolled and tackled Derrick so that he landed on his side, I got one solid punch in to his nose. Blood started seeping out, before I knew it I was being yanked away from him as William pulled Derrick away. My dad’s voice boomed and echoed through the house.

  “BOYS…FUCKING STOP IT NOW! What in the fuck are your two trying to beat the hell out of each other for?” he asked with his hands planted on his hips. Derrick tipped his head back trying to slow the blood that was flowing out of it. I winced at the pain that shot through my rib cage.

  “You’ve been fucking her? That means she hasn’t been working nights taking care of a friends kids…and you fucking knew all along Josh?” Derrick asked.

  Camille handed me and Derrick each a wad of paper towels, I wiped my nose then tossed them onto the couch. Destiney was hugging Alexia that was still crying, “Yes, and in that time we’ve gained some pretty strong feelings for each other. I love her and she feels the same way.” I told him. He tried to lunge for me again but William grabbed him again.

  “Jesus Christ, this shit belongs on Jerry Springer.” My dad told us and shook his head.

  “Why the fuck couldn’t you have just left me a voicemail or sent a simple god damn text letting me know that the woman you recruited was the one my brother was hot after?” I asked Josh.

  “I tried to tell you, then the realtor called, then my psycho ex started calling me, THEN my uncle that lived in Kentucky passed away. I’m sorry that I have a life and had more important things to tend to.”

  “Why the fuck did you give her the second god damn post card then?!” I yelled.

  He shrugged a shoulder, “I didn’t think she would take the job and if she did, I didn’t expect her to stay wo
rking there.”

  Derrick threw his wad of paper towels down and shook his head, “Why the fuck didn’t you tell ME that you were giving her the god damn things? I would have told you to find somebody else!”

  “This isn’t my fault assholes, shouldn’t you be asking her why she didn’t bother to tell either of you about the other?” he crossed his arms over his chest and stared at her.

  Camille walked over to Destiney and Alexia, “I think the three of you need to talk, Lexi, you need to put into consideration that if you do choose to be with Spencer…you’re going to be hurting Derrick. I’m not saying all of this is your fault, it’s actually a big fucking mess in my opinion.” She shook her head and gave a small laugh, “Boys you better play nice, everybody else out.” She shooed everybody out, it was now Derrick, Alexia, and me.

  Alexia sat down on the couch so I moved to set beside her, she shook her head ‘no’ at me. It felt like she had just shoved a knife into my chest, I was now waiting for her to add to the pain and feel that knife twist deeper. Derrick sat in one of the recliners so I leaned against the fire place mantle.

  We both were staring at Alexia, she finally looked up when Derrick spoke, “So, you’ve been banging my brother Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and me on Sundays? I take it he’s the asshole that took your virginity too?”

  “Yes, but…”

  “There’s no but to it Lexi! Christ, you fucking lied to me by telling me you were fucking babysitting. He said that he loves you and that you love him, how the fuck can that even be possible considering how you two met?”

  “It just happened, I sure as fuck wasn’t looking for a woman and you know it.” I told him.

  “How can you even want to be with her, last I knew you thought all women were fucking disposable! Lexi, these last few weeks, have you really been going to hair school or have you been seeing him after you get out at Columbia?”

  That pissed her off, “YES! I’ve been working my ass off at both Columbia and the salon! (She didn’t stop there though) Derrick I TOLD you, I told you that I didn’t want a relationship, friends that was it, the sex was an added bonus. Now you’re both making me feel like a slut, I hope you’re happy.”

  “Alexia…” I used a warning tone, I couldn’t handle hearing her say that about herself.

  “What Spencer? I’ve been screwing brothers!”

  “Do you love him?” Derrick asked.

  She paused, looked at me then back at Derrick, “Yes.”

  He shook his head, “How can you, fuck, you two surely can’t know each other that good.”

  “Derrick, please, I don’t know how it happened but it did. I….God, I’ve tried to figure it out myself but I can’t. I miss him when I can’t see him or talk to him, I miss his kiss, his touch, I miss how much of an arrogant asshole he can be when we are together…”

  “Okay, Christ I think that’s enough I don’t need to hear every detail. You knew how I felt about you though.”

  “Derrick you don’t love me, you love the idea of me. What you feel for me is lust, what Spencer feels for me and what I feel for him is love.”

  “Whatever Lexi, things change, don’t come crying to me when he gets bored with you and toss’s you away like he does every other woman.”

  “Fuck you, I’m sorry okay. Even if I would have found out before today that you are her little god damn cuddle buddy, friend with benefits, whatever you two were doing. I would have put a stop to it, the thing you two had going on I mean.”

  He shook his head, “I guarantee you, you would have had to put up a hell of a lot better fight than what you did earlier. Can I talk to her alone?” We both looked at Alexia, she gave us a single head nod so I walked out of the room and back out to where everybody else was.

  Peaches was the first person to stop me, “Did you seriously get your ass whooped by your baby brother? I would have put my money on you, but I think he…” She laughed.

  “I’m giving them five minutes in there, tell everybody that I said it’s time to leave. I want time alone with Alexia this evening. By the way, had I been ready for him it would have been a little more even of a fight.” I walked past her to the cooler and got me another beer. Peaches announced that it was time for everybody to start leaving, so people gathered their stuff and left stopping and wishing me a Happy Birthday.

  Dad came and sat down beside me, “Have you ever heard the saying Blood is thicker than water?”

  I glared at him as I took a drink of beer, “Ever heard the saying practice what you fucking preach?” I countered back.

  “Don’t try to turn this on me, I just want you to make sure that you know what you’re getting yourself in to. I’m guessing your brother is going to be pissed for a while, is she really worth ruining a brotherly friendship over?”

  “You’re the one that said Blood is thicker than water, you’re the one that couldn’t stay around your own family. Things will settle down in time, we’ve been through too much in our life. We’ll get past this.”

  “Damn it Spencer, I’m sorry…” He was going to say more but Derrick walked out so I stood and walked towards him.

  He clenched his jaw muscles, “I swear to god if you fucking hurt her, I will finish what I started. I don’t know how she could fall in love with an arrogant rich bastard like you, but she did. Just a little FYI though, I’m still coming over on Sundays to hang out with her, not you, her.”

  I laughed, “She doesn’t live here, hell, I don’t even know where she lives.”

  His eyebrows shot up, “Good, we’ll just keep it our little secret.” He told me.

  I shook my head at him, “I don’t think so, I’m going to go see if she’ll even talk to me.”

  I walked in to the house she was standing at the sink with a glass of water in her hand, our eyes locked on each other’s. I slowly stalked towards her, my heart was thundering in my chest, I would lose my mind if she told me that we were done with each other. I took the glass out of her hand and placed in the sink, with my hands resting on the edge of the granite counter top I caged her in. Her breathing was getting fast and her eyes growing darker.

  “Alexia…” I was cut off by her jumping against me and crashing our mouths together. I smiled and so did she, then I slipped my tongue into her mouth. She sighed when our tongues touched, I lifted her by the back of her thighs and she tightly wrapped her legs around me. And that’s how I carried her up the staircase to my bedroom, where I was going to take my own sweet time exploring every single inch of her body and making love to her.

  Derrick

  ****

  The very second I laid eyes on Lexi, I knew I had to get to know her. There was just something about her, she was always smiling, she didn’t have to wear makeup or wear skimpy clothes. She was naturally a beautiful woman. I had overheard Destiney say something to Lexi about being a virgin the day that we crossed paths in the park. The night that we all went clubbing together, I knew that I was in trouble, her sweet smell, laugh, touch, and that fucking kiss. Normally I never second guessed myself with a woman, if the woman wanted to fuck that’s what we would do. I’d take her to a hotel, fuck her, then leave. I hadn’t always been like that but the last girlfriend blindsided me when she cheated on me, after that I concentrated on school and soccer.

  When I told Lexi my reason for not wanting to have sex with her until she lost her virginity the look on her face told me she thought I was crazy. It was just something that I couldn’t do, most guys would do it and not think twice then beat on their chest like Tarzan. After my ex cheated on me to “try different things” I told myself that I couldn’t fuck another virgin, because in my mind I wasn’t good enough for her so more than likely I wouldn’t be good enough for any woman.

  Lexi and I started spending time together, I loved it, I loved having her in my bed, in my arms. Her soft skin against mine, her lips against mine, I loved feeling her body tremble as she come undone with me inside of her. And that scared the hell out of me, she had ma
de it very clear that she wasn’t ready for a relationship since she had just moved and was in school for cosmetology and had a job babysitting in the evenings. My schedule for the soccer team would send me out of town for sometimes an entire week, she said that we were both too busy to have a real relationship. So I settled for having her on Sundays, sometimes we would stay in my bed most of the day and sometimes we would go explore the city so she could see the sites and get more acquainted with the city life.

  The weekend her ex-boyfriend Carter come to visit, I was pissed that she had failed to tell me she would be spending time with him. I was walking through the lobby to leave and go run some errands when I overheard a guy say that he was there to see Lexi Davenport. The front desk buzzed her apartment but she didn’t answer so I offered to take him up with me, I wanted to know who he was and why he was here. I should have known something was going on when Lexi confronted me in her room after I called myself her boyfriend in front of the guy. I didn’t know the guy, therefore I didn’t trust him to be alone with her, Lexi said I could go out with them that night so…I did. We weren’t even at the club thirty minutes before they were on the dance floor together. I watched them from the bar as they danced and talked, when the song ended I figured they would go back to our table. I turned to walk back upstairs with our drinks, but Carter was the only one that came back. He told me Lexi had gone to use the restroom. He and I talked and he reassured me that even though he did love her, he knew she didn’t have the same feelings for him. We talked for a while about their relationship their senior year of high school, he told me how he had cheated on her. I shook my head and called him and idiot. “I know that now, I regret it every day trust me. I’d rather have Lexi in my life as a friend than nothing at all.” He told me. Another thirty minutes had passed by and she hadn’t come back so I excused myself to go find her. Carter jumped up from the table and followed me, I was interrupted by a group of guys from school so I asked Carter to see if he could find her. I was just going to see if he had found her when I spotted them, Lexi looked flush and like she was about to be sick. I knew she had been busy and was wearing herself out, when she said she was ready to leave, we all left. I wanted to stay the night with her but she told me that she really just wanted to sleep. That struck me as odd because I had no problem laying in bed with her while she slept, but I didn’t argue with her instead I kissed her before I got off the elevator.