by Harlow James
Hayley just laughs. “No, it’s not. It’s going to be fine. You need this Vic. You have a month and a half with nothing to distract you from focusing on your feelings. Two gorgeous men want to date you. You are a beautiful, single woman who deserves to be wined and dined. Just take a deep breath and see what happens. I know that’s hard for you, but your life is yours now. Take a leap of faith and see where it lands you. It might be the furthest place from where you thought you would end up. But it could also be exactly where you are meant to be.”
Hayley and Pauline start making their sundaes while I let Hayley’s advice swirl around in my brain for a minute. She’s right. I have no distractions for the next six weeks to cloud my mind, allowing me to focus solely on my dates with both men. Ben, the handsome and clean-cut bartender who never crossed my mind until yesterday. Mike, the boy and now a man, that has always held a place in the back of my mind and undoubtedly my heart as well, for years. The rugged man who has the power to destroy me or cherish me for years to come. Dating two men is something I never thought I would do in my entire life. It sounds so complicated. But could it really be that simple?
Chapter 6
Mike
“Read ‘em and weep, boys!” I shout as I lay down my full house on the table, effectively sweeping the round of poker and robbing my brother and Tyler blind of their money for the evening.
“Damn it! You’ve got to be cheating, Mike! You’ve never won like this before!” Tyler bellows into the game room while pointing his finger at me. An evil grin flashes over my face while I soak in our boy’s night at Dean’s house, the house we both used to own, but he now lives in with Pauline. I sold over my half of the mortgage to him when they found out that Pauline was pregnant and after I found my house with my shop. The whole house has been redecorated to reflect a womanly touch, except for this room. This room still screams all man.
“Nope, just winning in every aspect of my life right now, boys,” I tease, scooping up the chips in front of me that I organize into neat stacks.
“So I take it last night went well then?” Dean asks as he makes his way back over to the table from the custom-built bar I made with a beer for each of us.
“Well, yes, and no.” I shrug and drop my gaze back down to my winnings. I’ve been struggling with my feelings about how last night unfolded all day long. There wasn’t enough wood to be cut or hammered to help me sort through my frustration.
“What do you mean? You asked out Vic, right? Please, for the love of God, tell me you didn’t chicken out again!” My brother rolls his eyes as he takes a long drag from his bottle.
“No, I didn’t chicken out. There was just a slight wrench thrown in the plans, but I made the most of it.” I move to stand as my brother grabs my arm, pulling me back down to my seat. I’m met with eyes and a face that mirror mine, the two of us looking more like twins than brothers separated by less than a year.
“You’re not going anywhere until you spill. What happened?” Dean’s elbows hit the table as he leans in to listen.
I let out a long sigh and recount seeing Vic with Ben, his lips meeting her cheek before he walked away. The anger and desperation I felt threw me for a loop, causing me to abandon my plan for the night. I recall Vic’s reaction when I demanded a date too but left out the details of me stalking her down the hallway, even though I am beyond proud of my confidence at that moment.
“So did you ask her out then?” Tyler interrupts my story, not fully convinced I secured the date.
“No, I told her it was happening, and she nodded in agreement. I was not about to let Ben weasel his way in without me getting my chance too. I mean, this isn’t exactly how I envisioned our relationship starting, but I’m not giving up you guys. I can’t.” I look back and forth between my brother and Tyler, who’s also become a close friend. The three of us can hang out and shoot the shit, but when one of us needs our head pulled out of our asses, we offer that service as well.
Dean dips his head before speaking. “Damn right, bro. Fight for your woman. Lord knows I wouldn’t be where I’m at with Pauline right now if I had given up. By the way, you guys still set to help me with the proposal next week?”
Dean has been waiting until the end of June to propose to Pauline on the day he first kissed her many years ago. I’m beyond happy for my brother that the two of them could work through their shit and come out on the other side utterly in love and now expecting a baby. Pauline doesn’t want to get married until after the baby is born, but he wants to put a ring on her finger before the birth, and I don’t blame him. I’d put a ring on Vic’s finger right now if she’d let me and people didn’t think I was crazy.
“You know it, bro. We’ve got you.” I look over at Tyler, who agrees with a handshake before clearing empty beer bottles from the table.
“So how is this going to work then? You and Ben both dating Vic? Will there be games or competitions? A point system?” My brother chuckles through his joke, which only serves to piss me off.
“Fuck you, bro! I get that this isn’t ideal, but what was I supposed to do? Just sit back and watch them fall in love? I had to stake my claim too.” My chest is rising and falling rapidly while I attempt to control my fury. “I honestly have no idea how this works, but all I know is I’m going to do everything in my power to show her that we belong together.” The huffs escaping my mouth cause the surrounding air to warm, or it might just be the heat coming off of my body from the rise in my blood pressure. But I know my brother is just trying to get a reaction out of me and it’s working.
“Hey, calm down, okay? I was only kidding. I get it, Mike. This sucks that now there’s another guy in the picture. As long as you focus on the two of you though, he won’t matter. Everyone knows you and Vic belong together. You just need to prove that to her.” Dean pats my shoulder and squeezes, releasing some tension I was holding there.
“How do I do that though? How do I not think about him taking her out, holding her hand, touching and kissing her?” Just thinking about it right now makes my skin crawl and fists clench. I shake my head while downing my beer. I need to get ahold of myself.
“Well, you need to be different. Ben has money, not that you don’t, but he will probably try to buy her, show her the finer things, you know?” Tyler chimes in. “But you understand Vic better than he does. You need to focus on the things that matter to her. That’s how you win her heart.” Tyler tips his beer towards me, solidifying his advice. When he had to convince Hayley to give him another shot, he went all out and showed her how he felt by building her an easel and stool for her painting hobby. Knowing my way around wood, I helped with that, of course.
I take a minute to absorb Tyler’s advice. He’s right. Money won’t impress Vic. Extravagant dinners and expensive gifts aren’t the way to her heart. She likes the simple things, and I’m going to need to do some digging into our past to make sure I come up with the perfect way to show her how easy being with me should be.
“You’re right, Ty. Thanks. I hate to steal all your money and run, boys, but I’ve got a table that needs finishing tomorrow, which means I must rise with the sun to get it done. Thanks for the extra money, though. This will definitely come in handy over the next few weeks,” I joke before draining the last few gulps of my beer and setting the empty bottle on the table.
Dean chuckles at me. “No problem, bro. Glad we could help. Now get your mind working and figure out how you’re going to convince Vic that you’re the only man she needs.” He smiles over at me, and for the briefest second, he looks just like our dad. The realization hits me hard, my stomach clenching at the notion that my dad would never have been there for me the way my older brother has. Even though Dean is only eleven months older than me, he’s always been the protector of the family and strove to guide me in the best way he knew possible. I admire him immensely for being a man nothing like our dad was. He’s honest, hardworking, protective, and loves fiercely. Pauline is lucky to have him, and so am I.
&nbs
p; “Thanks, bro. And you too, Tyler. See ya soon.” I smile back at my brother and my friend before turning and walking out the door.
The ride home is filled with nothing but the rumble of my truck beneath me as I contemplate my next move with Vic. How do I show her what she means to me? How do I accept the fact that this other guy is vying for her attention now too? I’m so conflicted and wrapped up in different scenarios in my head that I almost miss the turn I need to take to get home. I shake it off and brace my hands on my steering wheel as I shift into park in front of my house. Simple. I need to keep things simple. But what happens next is anything but simple.
Chapter 7
Victoria
“What do you think, Lilly? Is it too much?”
I’m standing in front of my full-length mirror, twisting from side to side as I judge my choice of outfit. Ben is picking me up for our first date tonight and he told me to dress up. The emerald green dress I chose was actually an outfit I purchased for my future teaching job as a graduation present to myself, but the silky fabric and curve-hugging fit made it appropriate for a date as well.
“You look like a model, Vic,” Lilly squeals from her cross-legged position on my bed. Her eyes are perusing my body as I slip on my black peep-toe heels and fluff my hair cascading down my back. I’m not a stick figure by any means, but my long legs and ample hips allow me to carry my weight well. I wasn’t as blessed in the boob area though, my subtle B-cups providing just enough curves to balance out my bottom half.
“Who knew I could pull off an outfit besides jeans or my uniform for the diner, huh?” I joke as I turn and take in the expression on my younger sister’s face. The hazel eyes that mirror mine are staring at me in awe, pure adoration without one ounce of judgment. I yearn for the naivety of her age again, the time in your life where your doubts and insecurities don’t run your mind. I turn to look in the mirror again, picking apart every flaw or imperfection I see in my appearance, but I vow to keep them to myself. I never want my sister to hear me speak about myself negatively, aiming to set the example so hopefully, she won’t desecrate her own self-image one day. As women, we know our own worst critics tend to be ourselves.
“You should wear that dress every day. Where are you going tonight anyway?” Curiosity fills her voice, reminding me that I need to come clean to her about my dating situation.
I tell my sister everything, within age-appropriate reason of course. And I know that trying to keep this from her would prove to be more challenging than the actual dating of the two men. I figure being honest with her about the prospect of two men vying for my attention is the best approach to the situation I’m still having trouble accepting.
Huffing out my despair, I take a seat next to her on the bed. “Come here, Lilly. I actually need to talk to you about something.”
She scoots closer to me, her hand reaching out to play with my hair before she smiles up at me. “I wish my hair looked like yours,” she exasperates, causing me to chuckle.
“It does, silly. You are basically my younger twin.” I wrinkle my nose at her before nuzzling our noses together.
“Um, no it doesn’t. But whatever.” She rolls her eyes before continuing. “What do you need to talk to me about?” She’s acting all grown up and irritated like I’m keeping her from living her life right now.
“So, I have a date tonight,” I start slowly, absorbing her reaction before continuing.
Her eyebrows shoot up fast. “A date! With Mike?” My sister’s smile beams across her face, which makes me grin back at her, but then I shake my head.
“No. It’s with Ben.”
“Ben? Who’s Ben?” Disgust clouds her voice, her scowl confirming she’s less than enthusiastic about this news.
“He’s a friend of mine who asked me out the other night. And I said yes.”
“But what about Mike?” Lilly has always been Team Mike, ever since he played with her one day at the park about three years ago. I was pushing her on the swings when he showed up randomly, casting me aside while he chased her up and down the slides and helped her tackle all the obstacles she couldn’t complete on her own. That was the day Lilly fell in love with Mike, and I think I did too a little.
“Well, I’m going out with him next week.” Mike had called last night, asking what my plans were the following week. I was honest and told him that I had a date with Ben this evening, but that I was free any time really since I was finished with school and it was too early to get the keys to my classroom. His business was keeping him swamped with orders to fulfill, but he offered to take me out next weekend and I agreed, reluctantly. I mean, I know I want to go on a date with him. But the idea of dating two men at the same time is still a reality I’m trying to wrap my head around.
“Um, I’m confused. You are going on a date with both of them? Are they both your boyfriends now?” Her face is wrinkled in a way that makes me laugh, the wheels so obviously turning furiously in her nine-year-old mind.
“No, Lilly. They are not both my boyfriends. You should only ever have one boyfriend at a time, okay?” She nods in agreement. “But both of them wanted to spend time with me, so I’m taking turns being their friends. Does that make sense?” My hand reaches out to caress her shoulder, trying to put her at ease.
“I guess. So when do you decide which one wins? It’s like a competition, right?” I chuckle at her, grasping the fact that everyone seems to think this is some kind of game.
“No, it’s not a competition. But I hope something, or someone, will help me decide who wins, I suppose. I’m not sure, but I’m trying something new, taking a risk. It’s unfamiliar and different for me, but I wanted to be honest with you, since I always tell you I will be.”
Her head dips down, her eyes focusing on her hands in her lap before she looks back up at me. “Okay,” she nonchalantly shrugs. “But I hope Mike wins.”
She hops off my bed and races out of my room before I can get another word in edge-wise, silently replying in my head, “Yeah, I hope he does too.”
Standing back up, I take one final glance in the mirror as I hear a knock at the front door. My dad’s voice echoes in the house as he greets Ben, their hands shaking one another the only image I see as I make my way down the hallway. Turning the corner, I’m greeted by Ben looking stunningly handsome in a blue suit, his jacket buttoned securely around his trim waist, his dark brown hair styled to perfection while his pearly white smile beams at the sight of me.
“Wow, Vic. You look incredible.”
I look down at the ground shyly before flicking my eyes back up to him, taking a moment to appreciate his attire as well. “So do you. Who knew you cleaned up so nice,” I tease, which makes him grin back at me.
“Are you ready? We have a little bit of drive ahead of us.”
“Yes, let me just grab my purse from my room.” I saunter down the hall, asking myself whether I’m going to last all night in these heels as my pinky toes rub on the inside. I decide to change into a more comfortable pair before making my way back down the hall with my clutch in hand.
“Well, you two have fun. Be safe.” My dad pulls me in for a hug, kissing my head before releasing me. His eyes show hesitation as he frees me, and Ben takes my hand instead.
Even though I’m twenty-five, I will always be a daddy’s girl. He’s always been so protective of me, so watching him absorb the fact that I’m going on a date tonight is a critical moment for us. Reluctant to let me date at all, I was sixteen before I was ever allowed to mention the idea of seeing a boy outside of school, preaching to me the only thing I should focus my energy on was my education. I’m extremely grateful to him for hammering that notion in my head though because it was his voice of reason and encouragement on some days that pushed me to keep going when I felt like giving up.
When I finally had my boyfriend in high school, my dad was always working when he picked me up from the house occasionally, so now the sight of me walking away with my hand in another man’s for the first time
has to be fearsome for him. He knows I’m an adult and he wants me to be happy, give him grandchildren one day, and find a love like he did with my mom. But he has no reason to hold me back anymore, my education now complete, my twenty-five years of age a huge factor in why I should be dating. I’m not getting any younger, obviously.
“See you tonight,” I yell back behind me as Ben leads me to his car, opening the passenger door for me as I slide inside. He shuts the door once I’m seated and runs around to his side before making himself comfortable and taking off for the highway.
“Vic, I still can’t get over how beautiful you look tonight. I mean, I’ve always thought you were gorgeous, but tonight, I’m speechless.” He looks over at me as we’re cruising on the highway, taking his eyes off the road for just a moment to glaze over my entire body. The action alone makes my insides heat, his perusal one I’m not used to receiving.
“Well, thank you. It’s not every day I get to dress up like this, you know? There’s no way I could work a shift at the diner in these heels,” I joke, warranting a laugh from him.
“Well, good thing you won’t be working in that diner for much longer, huh?” His question seems innocent, but it strikes a chord with me, my defense instantly rising.
“I actually don’t mind working at the diner. It’s definitely not a job I want for the rest of my life, but it’s honest work that helped me pay my way through school. And Hayley and her dad have been nothing but supportive of me and accommodating with my class schedule. In all honesty, I’ll probably miss it a bit once I start teaching.” My words are strong, my reaction not entirely bad-mannered but confident enough to make sure that Ben understands my lack of shame for the job that has allowed me to pursue my dreams.
“I’m sorry, Vic. I didn’t mean to offend you. I just mean you must be excited to start your career finally, right?” I can see the concern on his face, his fear that he’s insulted me, which makes me feel bad for assuming that he was trying to be an ass.