by K B Cinder
“Sounds like someone in denial,” he chuckled, voice deep. I swore he groaned at the end, but I didn’t want to know. He always answered the phone at the worst times, unafraid of talking on the can and revealing it with a flush. “Where are you anyway? It’s a little late for you, no? Old men like you need their sleep.”
“I can sleep when I’m dead,” I replied, rounding the final bend before the bungalow came into view, a black truck parked beneath a floodlight with a red hooptie beside it. Judging by the size, there was no way in hell Luke was fitting in that thing. “You got company, brother?”
As if on cue, I heard the one thing no straight man ever wants to hear, as my little brother moaned, “OH FUCK!”
It took everything in me to not puke on the spot. “You fucking pig!”
I pulled in the driveway and parked beside the hooptie, ready to have some fun. If I had any luck, the chick pleasing him would be mid-blowjob and bite his dick off if I banged on the door hard enough.
“What the hell is that?” he asked, rustling on his end. “Who the fuck is here?”
“I don’t know!” a small voice in the background squealed, confirming my suspicions.
“Yo dude, I gotta go! Someone pulled in my driveway!”
“It’s a rental!” the background voice informed.
I killed the lights and hung up, pulling my sweater up over my face and leaning all the way down in the seat. I held still, listening to the crunch of driveway gravel, Luke’s footsteps followed by those of his dog, Tally’s.
“What the fuck? Who the fuck are you?” Luke roared.
“Come in the house! What if it’s some psycho!?” the voice in the distance shrieked.
“It’s some dude with a shirt over his head!” he shouted, banging on my window. “What the fuck are you doing, dude?”
There was more crunching outside the car, the handle pulled but not budging. “Who the fuck are you?”
“Luke! Get in here, you idiot!” the voice pleaded, clearly female. “Please!”
“WHO. ARE. YOU?” By how close his voice was, I could tell his face was pressed to the glass.
I pounced, lurching toward the window, popping my head out in time to see my younger brother fly backward, slamming into the little red car. “You fucking idiot! You could have given me a goddamn heart attack!”
I doubled over in laughter, hooting at his misery.
“Who is that?!?” the other voice shrieked.
I looked over to see a chick with waist-length blond hair on the porch dressed in leggings and a skintight sweater. I could see her nipples in porch light’s glow, no bra in sight.
“It’s my dumb shit brother!”
I stepped out and reached down, knowing I had to greet his pup, Tally, before I touched him, or I’d earn a hell of a bite to the ass. I made that mistake once and wouldn’t do it again.
The brindle beauty loved the rubs, sitting at her master’s side once she had her fair share of lovins. She went everywhere with him, including our get-togethers.
“Come here, you prick!” I hauled Luke into a hug, pinching the back of his arm when I did, earning a yelp.
“OW YOU FUCKING MANIAC!” he shrieked, pulling away. “What the hell was that for?”
“You know what,” I grumbled, popping the trunk and grabbing my suitcase. “I’m crashing on your couch till Friday. Please, and thank you.”
“I have a guest room, you know?” he shot back, crossing his arms, picking up a few more blotches of ink on them since the last time I saw him.
“Even better.” At least I wouldn’t be sleeping somewhere he boned randoms on the regular. I slammed the trunk and strolled to the house, flashing a smile at the blond who was suddenly bashful, twirling a strand of hair as she looked between us.
She was as sweet as I feared, likely still elbows deep in college work and way too innocent for my manwhore of a brother. At a glance, I knew she believed in happily ever after, something she’d never find with a man more fucked up in the love department than I ever was.
“Hi, I’m the older and much wiser Barrett, Jason. You are?”
“Kenzie,” she replied, a voice so tiny it could have come from a mouse.
“Well, Kenzie, how long have you known my dear little brother?”
Luke shot me dead with a look as he approached, his blue eyes as wild as the ones that stared back at me in the mirror every day. His unzipped fly and rumpled shirt told me I interrupted something.
“Uh, oh... a couple days, sir.”
I ached for her, thinking of my daughter in that situation, but she’d have long, wavy locks like her mama. Oh god, what the fuck? I shook my head.
“Well, why don’t you get yourself home? It’s dangerous out there. There are a lot of beasts in rut this time of year.” I shot Luke a knowing look, and he met me with a ferocity that rivaled mine.
“Kimmy and I were just wrapping up.” He pulled her in for a kiss if you could call it that, practically face fucking her with his tongue.
“I’ll be inside,” I declared, trying not to gag as I let myself in, bringing Tally in too because she didn’t need to see that either. I wanted to point out her name was Kenzie, but I’d let him deal with the aftermath.
Stepping into the space wasn’t like going back in time as I expected, the place stripped of the look of yesteryear and refurbished with modern amenities. The worn blue carpet was now hardwood, the choppy yellow walls knocked down in favor of an open concept, huge windows lining the rear wall.
I headed through the living room by a gray cozy sectional with black and ivory pillows, a soft look for the burlier of my brothers. A matching area rug coated the floor beneath, everything facing a flatscreenTV that stood where Nan’s bulky tube television once had.
The kitchen was night and day from our youth, cool tones aplenty while a kitchen island stood in the center, three black stools perched on either side. The eat-in dining area to the right remained undisturbed, the vintage set the same as I remembered it. The only difference was the addition of a large dog bowl, replacing the small ceramic one we had for Kitty.
I avoided the door to the master to my right, making a beeline for the spare room. I wouldn’t touch the doorknob to his room without gloves and some Lysol. In fact, the whole place was probably crawling in cum.
With a twist of the handle, I transported to my childhood, the small room I once shared with my brothers draped in moonlight. Our bunk beds were now a single queen, but as I flipped on the light, I noticed the walls were the same shade of navy that Nan had chosen for her boys.
I smiled, plopping my suitcase down on the bed and sitting beside it. It was a long time coming, but I was finally home.
Elena
Somehow I survived six hours in a car with Marty, though I was tempted to throw open a door and practice stop, drop, and roll on I-81 somewhere in East Bumblefuck, Pennsylvania.
The four of us crammed into the rental sedan around noon, Jason driving while Lee and I crammed in the back, a fat suitcase wedged between us. Marty was in the passenger seat, chattering away, talking over the radio once Jason flicked it on. He also shared the mother of all TMI phone calls with his wife, detailing his latest trip to the urologist that made Lee dry heave.
If that weren’t awful enough, he plowed through six coffee drinks on the way, keeping a supply in an insulated bag at his feet. We stopped eight times for restroom breaks as a result; Jason’s eyes more than homicidal with each new drink he opened.
The four-hour drive was way over schedule, Sunday evening traffic crawling towards the city. We missed the critical window to avoid the snare, Marty’s bathroom trips killing us.
Once we pulled into the parking garage, Marty made a beeline for the bathroom while the rest of us grabbed our bags and agreed to meet him in the lobby.
The clean air of Ithaca was gone, replaced with the familiar scent of my college years, a mixture of food carts, car fumes, and cheap leather. I missed the hustle and bustle of the city, but I�
��d never miss its smell, especially in summer.
Despite the ride down, moods were high, the freedom from Croft reason enough for celebration. Sure, it was a business convention, but it beat being trapped in a cubicle all day with the air conditioning set on blizzard.
Monica pitched a fit when she heard we’d be out of the office, despite not knowing the real reason behind it. Marty lied through his teeth, and with how sensitive things had been, I didn’t blame him. Ever since her epic tantrum, the office was paralyzed, communication between her and Lee nonexistent. It was better that way, seeing that Lee still fumed whenever she looked her way.
Jason, in particular, was elated, his trip to Maine lifting his spirits substantially. I loved seeing the change in him, his smile wider and eyes brighter. It carried through despite his sea of appointments, constantly traveling over the last few weeks. We only saw each other a day or two a week, but video chatting daily made it bearable. As long as I got to see those eyes I was content, the blue pools calming me at a glance.
We made our way inside, Lee cracking a few one-liners at Marty’s expense that had Jason rolling. With each laugh, her eyes widened, peering my way in shock at his playful side. I shrugged, playing dumb, tugging along my bag with its wonky wheel.
Jason headed to the front desk to check us in, the rooms booked on his company card. Lee and I were sharing a room while the men each had their own.
The lobby was packed, but the line for check-in was a ghost town. Jason snakes through the stanchion ropes while I struggled with my wobbly suitcase. Each turn was perilous, the bag more than ready to heave over. Jason taunted my inability to pack light, but hey, a girl needed options.
When Lee and I reached the desk, Jason was already tapping his fingers against the counter. “What are you talking about?” he demanded, cheeks flushed as the vein in his neck popped forth. He was glaring at the clerk, a small blond with large glasses who didn’t look a day over twenty.
“Everything good?” I asked, coming to rest at his side.
“It’s fine,” he grumbled, waving a dismissive hand, earning a raised brow from Lee. “Someone messed up our reservations.”
I sighed. It was getting late, and I was hungry. The food carts were calling my name since the trip was announced. “Okay, well, how do we fix it?” I asked impatiently.
Lee looked my way, mouthing “yikes.”
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “They only booked two rooms, and there are no vacancies.”
Really? He was pitching a fit over a simple solution? “Okay... boys in one room, girls in the other?” I suggested.
“One room has a single bed, and the other has two queens,” he grumbled.
“Lee and I can sleep together,” I assured.
“Not allowed per company policy,” he replied stiffly. “We have an employee handbook, Elena.”
I bristled at his little joke, which did not land. I was hungry, dammit. “Oh, come on!” I groaned. “We’re not sleeping together.”
“Yeah, I’m fine with it,” Lee agreed. “We won’t even spoon. I promise.”
“The double room has a pull-out bed,” the clerk added, a small smile touching her lips. “The smaller room does not.”
“Okay, well, you’ll room with us,” I declared, Lee’s jaw dropping. “Lee and I will sleep separately, and you can take the pull-out bed.” I air-quoted sleep, earning a giggle from the clerk.
He grumbled, crossing his arms, not sold on my proposal. I met his gaze, set on melting those steely blues with my own fire. “It’s that, or you share the double room with Marty. Take your pick.”
He shook his head. “I’d rather get a colonoscopy on live television.”
Lee chuckled, and the desk clerk smirked, sliding a hand up to cover it.
I planted a hand on my hip. “So stop being stubborn! Do you want to room with him or not? If you do, get ready to stay up until midnight listening to him talk to himself or his wife about his overactive bladder!”
On cue, Marty came waltzing into the lobby, his chatter distinct despite the buzz of the room.
“It’s settled,” Jason muttered.
The clerk handed me three keycards for our room and another for Marty’s, uncomfortable dealing with Jason. “Your room is 861 on the eighth floor. The other suite is 223 on the second floor.”
I smiled at her before winking at Lee. “Thank you.”
Jason lifted his suitcase from the marble. “Perfect. I’ll have six floors of peace and fucking quiet between us.”
Lee cackled wildly, gaining Marty’s attention, whose mouth kept moving until he came to rest behind us, another coffee in his hand. He fidgeted with his bag, spinning to take in the lobby, ignoring the keycard I held out to him. “Real nice place here. Real nice.”
“Yeah, it’s great. Here’s your keycard. You’re on the second floor. Room 223.”
“Oh, okay. Where are you?”
I grinned, offering my best lie to date. “Lee and I are on the eighth floor, and Jason is down the hall from us. We figured you’d want the room closest to the coffee shop.”
He smiled ear to ear. “Great thinking! You’re such a planner, Elena!”
“Yeah, you’d swear I had a degree in it or something,” I muttered. “Anyway, we’re regrouping in the morning for day one?”
Marty shook his head. “No need. Jason and I will man the floor and booth intermittently. You and Lee are just here to learn. You two take the time to explore.”
“Great. Well, see ya around.” I hurried to the elevator with Lee in tow, leaving Jason and Marty in the dust. After six hours in a car with the guy, I needed downtime and an order of chicken wings. Maybe a beer too.
“I can’t believe you suggested we double room with him!” Lee squawked as soon as we were out of earshot.
“No one deserves to get stuck in a room with that man,” I grumbled, sighing as I tapped the call button on the elevator. “Not even Monica deserves that.”
Lee groaned, adjusting the hem of her dress. She looked ready to slay in her red plaid number paired with thigh-high boots. “She’s the only person who deserves that fate.”
I giggled, stepping in as the doors popped open, squeezing beside a bellhop and his cart. “Besides, you’ve always wanted to see him shirtless, right? Maybe you’ll catch a glimpse.”
She grinned at my words as she stepped in. “Now you’re talking.”
* * *
Double-rooming with your best friend and secret boyfriend is trickier than one would think. I had to be cautious of every interaction, keeping enough space between the two of us to keep the charade going.
Jason was a natural, ducking out of the room while we showered, returning once I texted the coast was clear. Much to Lee’s disappointment, he did not walk around shirtless, dressing in the bathroom.
Lee and I slept in one bed regardless of his protests, unwilling to force anyone to sleep on a pull-out bed. When he grumbled, I loudly joked about scissoring, and he shut up, turning his back to us in a huff.
Day one was a walk in the park, literally, as we wandered around the convention center for hours. Lee and I mapped the place out, determined to find every potential employment opportunity or promising company.
We crossed paths with the men during the day, and while Jason was pushing Croft’s offerings, Marty sat on his phone, either playing games or talking to his wife. Afterward, we regrouped in the lobby and had dinner at a steakhouse before venturing to Central Park.
Day two was serious business. Lee and I hit the ground running with resumes, handing them out to the previous day’s contenders. We split up to cover more ground and stand apart, making faces at one another in passing.
Luckily, we both packed professional clothing, Lee helping me pick the best of the best. She still beat me in style with her emerald pantsuit, but I wasn’t shabby in my skirt and top combo, though I packed heels instead of flats for a convention, and I paid for it.
So far, I handed out ten copies o
f my resume, each prospective employer loving my credentials. I avoided Marty, too, flying under the radar.
I rounded a corner towards a streak of shipyard vendors, spying a man with a bushy mustache and coke-bottle glasses sitting alone in a booth, frowning at a tablet. He was older, around Dad’s age, dressed in a pale suit straight from the Miami Vice archives.
I eyed up his set up, a few posters strewn about, an open display of adapters spread wide. All around there were flashier booths, everyone fixated on the gimmicks.
I wandered over, clutching my notebook to my chest, fresh copies of my resume hidden inside. “Hello there,” I greeted.
He flinched in surprise, almost dropping his tablet. “Oh, hello there, Miss. I’m Reginald Commons, CEO and founder of Commons Electrical.” He extended a hand, tremors rocking through him.
I shook his hand, smiling wide. “Hello, I’m Elena Julian. I’m from Croft.”
His eyes lit up. “Oh, Croft? That’s wonderful! Let me show you our latest line!”
“I would love that.”
He went through his sales pitch, rattling off facts about their offerings and tinkering with product samples, handing me a few to examine. Several caught my eye, especially smaller devices than the bulkier counterparts I was used to seeing, ideal for tight spaces.
“So, who are your distribution partners?” I asked, curious. They were no-doubt in-demand items. It surprised me more people weren’t circling him like hawks.
“Oh... we don’t have any. We do all direct buys, but we’ve been thinking about distribution.”
I nodded eagerly, wanting to pounce, the product manager in me hungry for the line. It would sell like crazy to my regular customers.
“Can I have a copy of your offerings?” I asked. “My boss would love this stuff.” I skimmed my eyes over the crowd, desperate for a sign of Jason. He’d be all over their product.
“Absolutely, Elena. You said you were with Croft?”