Unsocial

by Dykes, Nicole

  She sits on the couch, “Brooke, I don’t want to see this go south.”

  “And you think I do?”

  She shakes her head. “No, I know you don’t, but I’m just worried about you giving in. I think you deny how much you actually want him.” She says sadly.

  “Okay, I think I need a shower. You two don’t kill each other while I’m gone.” Trevor evidently has heard enough and is wanting to escape. He’s never been comfortable with having to play referee.

  After he’s left the room, Alex smiles over at me. “I was thinking, you need a distraction.”

  Oh Lord, here we go again. “Alex…”

  She puts her hands up, “Just listen to me.” She looks toward the bathroom when we hear the shower start. She still lowers her voice, and I get nervous. “What about Trevor?”

  I look at her horrified, “What are you talking about?”

  “Well, you know him, and you trust him. Why not use him as a little distraction.”

  I scrunch my nose; she is not going there. “Are you suggesting I sleep with your brother?”

  She shrugs, “Why not? Obviously, I wouldn’t want to know about it, but he’s here and.…”

  “And he’s married.”

  “He’s separated, and she’s already filed for a divorce. He is as good as single.”

  “No, he’s not. He’s legally married, and that is something I would never do.”

  She just stares at me before speaking again. “But sleeping with a client is?”

  “I’m not sleeping with my client, Alex!” I’m so over this conversation. I turn to go to my room.

  “Just think about it, Brooke. From what it looked like tonight, you need to relieve some tension, and he’s right here.”

  I whirl on her. “First of all, I don’t need you to worry about any tension I might have sexual or otherwise. I’m a grown woman. Second of all, you just got through saying a minute ago how I would hate myself if I had a one-night stand. If you knew me at all, my friend, you would know how I would despise myself if I engaged in a temporary distraction with a man who is married, whether he’s filed for divorce or not, and I absolutely cannot understand why you would even suggest it. I’m going to bed.” I turn and walk out of the room.

  I’m mad, confused, and stunned. But most of all I’m exhausted. The long night, and yes the sexual tension between Dylan and I, not to mention all the butting into my sex life by Jackson and Alex have taken their toll on me. I fall back on my bed trying to make sense of everything that happened tonight. I realize how much I wish I were still at Dylan’s.

  I hear Alex enter her room and close the door. I love my best friend, but I am so over her warnings and distraction plans. I admit I want Dylan. The man gets to me more than any man I’ve ever known. Everything about him pulls at me. But as much as I want him and want to be with him, I don’t know that I could sleep with him and walk away unaffected. And then there’s my job. Risking my career when I’m just beginning it would be irresponsible and stupid. It would be the end of me professionally to cross that line. There’s a problem that still exists, however; I tell myself all this over and over until I have myself convinced, but then with one text, one phone call, one sight, or one thought, it all goes out the window.

  I hear Trevor leave the bathroom and then a light knock on my door. “Yeah?”

  He opens the door and watches me for a second before speaking, “You alright?”

  “I’m okay.”

  “Adulthood sucks doesn’t it?” He smirks.

  I laugh, “What would you know about it? Your life is all making music and parties.”

  Talking with Trevor has always been easy because he rarely takes anything seriously. “Hey, I pay a phone bill every month, so that’s something, right?”

  I shake my head, smiling. “You’re right, I take it back. And color me surprised, I had no idea you had grown up so much.”

  He runs his hand through his wet hair. “That Jax guy is pretty cool.”

  I think back to my most recent conversation with Jax. “I’ll have to take your word on that. I know he’s not a fan of mine.”

  “He hung out with us for a while, and aside from him wanting to fuck Alex, I like him.”

  “You hung out with Jax?”

  “Yep, for a while. And you’re right, I’m not sure he’s a fan of you.”

  “Let’s just say he didn’t hide that fact when he drove me home tonight,” I say grimly.

  He looks at me seriously, “There isn’t anything going on with you, and that Dylan guy is there?”

  Really? More interrogation. “Oh, my God! Not you too. No, there is nothing going on.”

  He sits back, “Well good. I don’t want to see you fuck up what you have going. But…..”

  I stand up from the bed and interrupt him, “But what?”

  “Settle down. I understand that you guys hooking up would be all kinds of bad, but Alex is right, Brooke. Whatever you two had going on tonight was way too intense just to ignore, and I don’t think either of you can ignore it. In fact, I don’t think until you two fuck that you’ll be able to get over it, and it’s just going to get worse the longer it is ignored.”

  “I wish everyone would just stop already. Dylan and I aren’t going to do anything. We understand where things stand, and neither one of us are going to mess it up.”

  “Deny, deny, deny,” he says before turning to leave. “Have a good night, Brooke.”

  “Good night.”

  I lay back on my bed and close my eyes. I know what people are saying about Dylan and me are true, and I also know tonight was crazy on both of our parts. But we did nothing wrong. Keep going Brooke, convince yourself of that.

  Sunday I wake to an empty apartment. There is no note, so I decide to head to the mall. Last night I made the decision to update my wardrobe. I don’t want to keep dressing like I’ve become used to since dating Will. He’s gone, and I want to go back to my pre-Will days. I blow through dress shops picking out dresses, skirts, tops, and pants that are much more age appropriate for me but still say professional. I think sexy-professional about sums them up.

  Monday is more of the same. I wake to an empty apartment. I’m guessing Alex is keeping her distance to let things between us cool down. I know we got heated, but I’m honestly just over the whole subject of Dylan and me. That’s precisely why I haven’t said anything about me helping Dylan with Halloween. Trevor did leave a note saying he would be in Topeka until late visiting an old high school buddy.

  The morning, fortunately, is uneventful. During my lunch, I decide to pick up some Halloween decorations for the front of Dylan’s house for the trick-or-treaters the next evening. While I’m at the party store I pick up a little costume for myself, I couldn’t resist. I had texted Dylan earlier asking what the kids were going as, and all he told me is that they wanted to surprise me. I figured me dressing up for trick-or-treating would be my surprise to them. I can’t lie, thoughts of tomorrow night have me excited, and one of those thoughts is seeing Dylan. That evening I eat alone. Alex doesn’t come in until after I have gone to bed. I decide I need to make the first move to fix things, as usual, because Alex has a way of letting things stew when she doesn’t get her way.

  It’s Tuesday, and I’m surprised how quickly it came and how excited I feel when I wake up. I rush through getting ready and practically skip into the kitchen to get an apple on my way out. I have a bag packed for going to Dylan’s after work. Trevor is asleep on the couch with the covers pulled over his head, but Alex is wide awake and sitting at the dining room table drinking a smoothie. “Hey, you look happy.”

  So we’re talking.

  She looks down at the gym back I’m carrying and raises an eyebrow at me in question. It’s not lost to her that today is Tuesday and where I’ll be. I have to keep my composure. I shrug, “Well, it is Halloween. You know how much I love Halloween.”

  Both eyebrows go up now. Yeah, she’s not buying it. “Right. Well does that mean
you’re going to go out with Trevor and me tonight?”

  “Where?”

  “We’ve been invited to a Halloween party at one of their friend’s house.”

  I laugh, “Well that sounds like fun, but I don’t think so,” I hedge.

  “We’ll have you home early, so you’re okay for work tomorrow.”

  “I’m sure you would, but I still think I’ll pass. I don’t have a costume anyway.”

  “Don’t worry about that. We can find a costume if you leave your home visit early. I know its last minute, but I’m sure we can put something together.”

  Shit, there’s no way I’m getting out of this without coming clean why I’m not going. “Well, I told Dylan that I would help with the kid’s Halloween and dinner.”

  Yep, there’s the scary Alex again. “Are you shitting me? You’re making his dinner?”

  “Well I’m going to help him make dinner for all of them, and then help him with costumes and trick-or-treating tonight. It’s Halloween and all about the kids.”

  She throws her hands up. “Brooke that is totally fucked up. Helping with your clients costumes and taking them trick-or-treating is not fine. Making them dinner is not fine. Why can’t you see this?”

  I rub my temples; I got out of bed in such a good mood. “Alex, I’m not going to fight with you about this. I’ve made plans with Dylan tonight, and I’m not backing out. You have to lay off me about this and have a little faith in the fact that I’m grown up enough to make good decisions. I’m not crossing any lines. Now I have to go to work.”

  She shakes her head, “You may not be crossing them, but you are erasing them until there won’t be any lines left to cross.”

  I leave amazed that Trevor didn’t even stir in the living room during mine and Alex’s “conversation.” It was a little loud, and our apartment is small.

  I have had a shitty day, so I decide to leave early to grocery shop before heading to Dylan’s. I change clothes in the employee restroom before I leave the office. I’m ready to shed the professional uniform and get comfortable for this evening. My fight with Alex put me on edge most of the morning which left me having little patience with one particular asshole client. I think a part of me feels she may be right, but I refuse to cave on my decision to be there for Dylan and his family. I know that they need me, and I think I may need them also. I just haven’t figured out why that is.

  After picking up what I need for making stuffed pork chops and roasted potatoes, I head to the Monroes. Dylan answers the door and helps me with the groceries, and I don’t miss how mouthwateringly gorgeous he is in faded jeans and a gray Henley. Dylan returns my appraisal, and I notice he spends a little longer focusing on my hair. He shakes his head and smiles. “Hi.”

  For some unfathomable reason, his simple greeting leaves me speechless. All I get out is a simple, “Hi, yourself.”

  He takes the bags to the kitchen, and I join the kids already gathered in the living room. I smile because I’m happy to see things are getting back to casual. I greet them all and I sit down in a chair in the living room with Michael, Cassie, and Gabby sitting on the floor around the coffee table with Luke on the couch. Dylan joins him, and we get started catching up.

  I turn to Luke first, “How is everything going?”

  “Pretty good, except I’m still grounded until Friday.” I nod, he really should be grounded for Saturday night, but I don’t say anything. “Is school going okay?”

  He nods but doesn’t give up any more on that subject, so I have to ask him about football. I want to show him I’m interested in what’s going on with him. “How’s the team feeling about this week’s game? I figure it’s pretty good since you’re still undefeated.”

  “No worries. They aren’t going to beat us. Their O-line is weak, and we’ve got the number one defense in our conference.” He says smugly. I swear this kid has more swagger than most grown men when he decides not to act like a pissed off teenager. We discuss who else will probably be going to the playoffs for the next few minutes, and I’m feeling proud of myself that we’ve managed a decent conversation.

  I notice Cassie out of the corner of my eye chomping at the bit in order to have her turn, so I turn to her next. “And how have you been since I saw you Saturday night?”

  “I’m okay. I’m still grounded which means I have to stay in and hand out candy with Luke while you and Dylan take Gabby and Michael trick-or-treating.” She pouts.

  Dylan looks over at her, “I told you that you can go with us.”

  “I’m fifteen Dylan. I’m not going trick-or-treating.” She huffs.

  I laugh, “I think it would be fun, Cass. I’m excited.” I tap her leg with my foot. “I’m even dressing up.”

  “As what?”

  “It’s a surprise.” This could be a chance to have some fun and get the kids to loosen up even more with me. “You could save me being the only adult in costume by dressing up and coming with us. Then I look over a Dylan with a brilliant idea rolling off my tongue before I can stop it. “How about I take the kids, and you stay with Luke and pass out candy?”

  He raises and eyebrow, “Are you serious?”

  “Why not? It sounds fun to me. Cassie can help me, so I don’t get lost.” I tease.

  “Hell, I’m fine with that. You sure you want to do that, though.”

  “I would love to.” I turn to Cassie, “How about it?”

  She lights up, “Okay, let’s do this.” She says enthusiastically.

  “Great.” I turn to Michael, “So how is everything going with my Brainiac, ready for that spelling bee?”

  He nods, “I’m excited, but no one around here will help me study.”

  “Well, I can help, I’ve always been a pretty good speller.”

  He lights up just like Cassie, “That would be awesome, Brooke.”

  I feel really good that things are going so well after my crazy attempt to distance myself from them. We all seem to be falling back into place, but this time, it feels better. I talk to Gabby a little, but the poor thing still isn’t using her words. I do notice that she smiles a lot more, and her eyes aren’t as distant. Eventually, I wrap everything up, eager to get dinner cooked and our trick-or-treating on. I get up and pass the bag with decorating supplies out to the kids with instructions to transform the front porch into Monroe Monsterland.

  I follow Dylan into the kitchen and head straight to the grocery bags. I think briefly that maybe I should have invited Cassie to join in cooking dinner because damn Dylan looks good. Maybe I’m reacting to him so strongly because of our night at the bar and remembering for the millionth time how his body felt pressed against mine. I won’t be forgetting that anytime soon.

  “So what are we making?” He asks.

  “Stuffed pork chops and roasted potatoes,” I announce.

  He nods approvingly, “Nice, but it sounds kinda hard.”

  “It’s actually not. I’ll walk you through the whole thing.” I tell him everything we’ll need to cook with, and he starts gathering them up. Then he joins me at the island.

  After a moment of opening packages, he finally says. “So I have to ask you something.”

  I look at his face to gauge if he is serious or not. He’s serious. Moving around the kitchen, I gather all the ingredients, “Okay.”

  “Why is Trevor staying with you?”

  I’m confused. This is about Trevor? I thought it was something serious. I pick up a bowl to start mixing up the stuffing. “Well, his wife kicked him out, so he’s staying with us for a bit before the band picks up touring again.”

  “He’s married?” His voice sounds relieved almost.

  I hand him a sharp knife and grab the first pork chop, show him how to cut into it to create a pocket for the stuffing, and then answer. “Yeah he is, but I guess not for long. They’re supposed to be getting a divorce.”

  He nods and looks to be in deep thought about this. What the hell is this about? “I see. And how long is he staying with yo
u?”

  “Just til after Thanksgiving sometime. I know they have a tour starting after that, and he wants to go to Florida to visit his parents. Alex is excited that he’s staying with us.”

  He studies me, “And you aren’t?”

  I laugh, “I guess I am. I’ve missed having him around a little, but not having him in my space all the time.”

  He doesn’t laugh, in fact, he looks irritated. “Why can’t he stay in a hotel or with friends or something?”

  Is that jealousy? “Well, technically he’s staying with a friend and his sister. And who wants to stay in a hotel for very long.”

  He smiles, “Okay, I guess.” He shakes his head. “Yeah, you’re right. Besides, it’s none of my business.”

  He opens finishes the last of the meat then turns to me. I give him a serious look. “You can ask me anything. Remember, open book policy?”

  He smirks at me, “Right.”

  We finish preparing dinner, and I’m pleased with how comfortable he’s become in the kitchen. We work together like we’ve been doing it for years. At the table, the kids are all in a good mood. Even Gabby seems excited to be going out.

  After we clear the dishes, I get my costume from my car and just pull it on inside the garage. It’s easy to change into, but I think Dylan and Luke will probably appreciate it. Since the kids want to surprise me with their costumes, Dylan and Cassie help them get ready. After 30 minutes we all meet back in the living room. Luke looks up from where he’s filling bowls with candy. “Oh, shit. I need pictures. Come on, Dylan, get your phone, and let’s get pictures of these nut jobs dressed like this.”

  Gabby and Michael have been transformed into Super Man and Wonder Woman. Cassie has simply put on her cheerleading uniform and glammed up her hair and makeup. Sexy cheerleader. At least, that’s the look she’s created. Dylan passes by me and bends to whisper in my ear. “I’m digging the costume, Brooke. Hottest fucking thing I’ve ever seen.”

  I have to smile at this. The thing is, I’m not showing an ounce of skin. In fact, my body is completely covered. My costume is a racing uniform. Coveralls, gloves snapped to the shoulder. I even have the helmet that goes with it. I’m suspecting what he thinks is so hot about this particular get up is that I stenciled Monroe Racing on the back and helmet. I figured he would like that, and I’m secretly pleased that he likes it so much.