by JA Huss
He’s gonna try. He already admitted it.
So do I play hard to get? Or just be honest and take what he’s offering?
I suck in a deep breath of air and walk over to the closet. He takes a step back to give me room to search. It’s not a small closet, but it’s not a walk-in, either. Just one of those double sliding doors.
“How about this?” he says, pulling out a dress. “I like this.”
“OK.” I shrug. And he drapes it over the back of a chair.
“You have a lot of new clothes in here.”
“I kinda went on a shopping spree last week. Trying to lie my way into all these ridiculous jobs. So I was trying to look the part and—”
He turns me around, places his hands on my cheeks, and… kisses me.
And there it is. My choice.
I make it. I kiss him back and he holds my face there. Pinning our lips together with force.
And I don’t even try to back off. I open my mouth and begin twisting my tongue with his.
Then he ends it. Removes his hands from my face and takes a step back.
“What was that?”
“A kiss,” he whispers. “I’ll let Joey have all the other firsts. But I want this memory for myself.” Then he shrugs. “I have a greedy side to me.”
“Wald, what are you doing? Are you trying to fuck this whole thing up?” I touch my lips with my fingertips, wanting to hold on to the feeling of his kiss.
“What?” He laughs. “I’m not trying to fuck anything up. You’re not cheating, Brooke. You can’t cheat on a guy you’re not dating. It’s fine. He’s not gonna care.”
“How do you know? Maybe… maybe he feels like we are sorta together? Maybe he’s gonna be pissed?”
“Trust me. I know Joey better than Joey knows himself. I’ll even tell him when we get back.”
“Don’t tell him, for fuck’s sake!”
“Why not? I’m not gonna hide the way I feel. And neither should you. Nothing good will come of that.”
“Nothing good is gonna come of this either.”
He taps his head. “I’ve got it all up here.”
“All what? I don’t even know what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah, you do.”
“Whatever,” I say, turning back to the closet. Because I’m not prepared for this. I like the idea of friends. And dating Joey, pretend or otherwise. But I don’t know what to do with these other two. And that makes me a little panicky. Because Mila says you have to be prepared when the opportunity presents itself. And what if my indecision fucks it all up?
That drawbridge won’t lower and I won’t walk across the moat separating me from the new life I want so badly.
I grab several outfits, not even caring what they are, then throw them on the bed and start shoving shoes and boots into a tote bag.
He takes my suitcase down from the top shelf and begins packing my things.
I grab some underwear, and my toothbrush, and some other stuff from my little bathroom, stuff it all into a giant Ziploc baggie, and toss it inside the suitcase.
Wald closes the top and zips it up. Takes it off the bed and snaps the handle up into position like we’re ready.
“You have a passport?” he asks.
“Of course.”
“Grab it.”
“Why?”
“Because eventually, Brooke, you’re gonna need it. Do you think you’ll come back here?”
“Of course,” I say again. Only louder. “I live here.”
“Not anymore you don’t. But I’ll have someone pack it up for you if you want.”
I am actually speechless. I cannot recall the last time a man has rendered me unable to talk and Wald did it without even trying.
He walks towards me. Stops. Leans in. Kisses me. Gently touches my face with his fingertips, letting them caress my cheek as he backs off and licks his lips, gazing into my eyes.
“You might be a champion liar. That’s fine. We need that right now. But here’s the deal, Brooke. You don’t lie to me. You don’t lie to Huck, and you don’t lie to Joey. If you’re serious about sticking around after we get what we need, then you need to understand that going in.”
“Do you think I’m lying to you?” I ask.
“Of course you are. You don’t even know me. But there’s gonna come a time when you do know me. And I know you. And you’re gonna have to make a decision to keep lying or let us in. I hope you make the right decision. Because if we can’t trust each other, then this friendship thing won’t be what you think. It is possible to know people in all the wrong ways. And trust me on this. You do not want to know the Boston Brothers in all the wrong ways.”
“Are you trying to scare me off?” I ask.
“No. I’m trying to prepare you.”
“For what?”
“Listen. Joey Boston has dark things inside him. Dark things he’s never even told me. And I’ve never asked him. You know why I’ve never asked him?”
“Because you don’t want to know.”
“That’s right. If he tells me one day, fine. I’m in. I’ve been with Joey and Huck my whole adult life. So I’m in. I’ve got his back one hundred percent. But you? I don’t know you. So whatever secret you’re hiding… make sure you don’t drag us into something we’re not prepared for.”
A chill runs up my spine.
“Do you understand me, Brooke?”
I nod. “There’s nothing,” I say. “I swear. My life is… weird and unconventional. But I swear to God, it won’t touch you.”
“Good,” he says, leaning forward to kiss me again. “Good.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN - JOEY
Brooke and Wald finally come back almost an hour later carrying takeout Chinese food.
“What?” Huck says. “Are you kidding me? We can’t eat American Chinese food.”
I laugh a little. Because he’s right. It’s not gonna be the same.
“Better get used to it,” Wald says, tossing his keys onto the kitchen counter. “It’s gonna be a long time before we go home.”
“Really?” Huck says, looking at me with raised eyebrows. I know what that looks means. See. Wald’s already thinking about staying.
But just to feel him out and make sure I say, “It doesn’t look likely that the Kane family will ever let me take Maisy out of the country. But of course, if you guys want to go back—”
“We’re staying,” Wald says.
“I thought you said you can’t stay?” Huck teases.
“I’ll make do. But Brooke brought her passport just in case.”
I look at Brooke and she’s staring at me, weird expression on her face. “What?” I say. “What’d he do?”
“How do you know I did something? Maybe Brooke did something?” Wald says.
“No.” I laugh. “It was you.”
“I kissed her,” Wald says.
“Oh, my God,” Brooke says, whirling around to face him. “What the fuck, Wald?”
“Oh,” I say, looking at Brooke. “Well… did you like it?”
She opens her mouth to say something. Closes it. Opens it again. Lets out a long exhale of breath. Then says, “Sure. I did. I liked it. So…” She throws up her hands. “He told me he’s going to fuck me—”
Huck guffaws.
“—and you’re not going to care because we’re not real. But then he said he can’t fuck me until you fuck me. So… I have no fucking idea how any fucking is going to happen.”
Huck laughs again. “I’ll fuck you. I’ll even go first.”
“Forget the fuckin’ fucking,” Wald says. “We have memories to make. Brooke, go put on some winter clothes. I want to see you sweat.”
And even though my life is kinda up in the air right now and my long-lost daughter comes with a lot of “it’s complicated,” I smile pretty big at Wald’s display of dominance and Brooke’s confused reaction.
Because this is the old us. This is the old Wald, and the old Huck, and maybe I’m even the old J
oey.
This is how I fell in love with them as friends. Wald saying and doing weird shit to make people uncomfortable, Huck joking about it and going along, and me… I just kinda like to watch them play with people.
“So you’re OK with all this?” Brooke asks me.
I hunch up my shoulders in surrender. “Brooke, I have no say in this. You’re not my girlfriend. I didn’t even see you first. Huck did.”
“Fuckin’ A.” Huck laughs. “That’s right. She’s mine because I saw her first!”
“What the hell is going on here?” Brooke demands
“Uh… well,” I say. “It appears you’ve got yourself a team.”
“A tag team,” Huck says.
“Should I be afraid?” Brooke asks.
“Do you feel afraid?” I ask.
“Are you kidding? Do you even know who I am?”
We all laugh. Even Brooke.
“Oh, my God,” I say. “You sound just like Emma when she confronted Johnny.”
“Who’s Emma?” Brooke asks.
“My little brother’s girlfriend.” Then I look at Huck and Wald, because I never did tell them this. “There was all this fucking family drama up in the Bossy that night we came home last month and Johnny’s telling Emma she needs to walk away and forget about this shit. We all just need to go back where we came from and let it go. And Emma looks him straight in the eye and says, ‘Do you even know who I am?’” I laugh just thinking about it. “It was fucking classic.”
“More questions about that later,” Wald says, pointing to me. “But right now”—he turns to Brooke—“you’re good?”
“Good? I don’t even know what’s happening!”
“Just go with it,” Huck says. “It’s gonna be fun. Hell, it’s already fun.”
“Fun,” she says, like she’s trying out the word. “We’re gonna have some kind of orgy? Gang bang? That kind of fun?”
Huck looks at me and laughs.
“Fuck all of you,” Brooke says. And then she grabs her suitcase and starts wheeling it down the hallway. “I’m going to get changed.”
“Joey’s bedroom is the last one on the left,” Wald says. “You stay with him.” Then he looks at me all serious. “You do have to fuck her first.”
“I heard that!” Brooke calls.
“But she’s technically mine,” Huck complains.
“I can still hear you!”
“Just get dressed in something wintery,” Wald calls. “We have memories to make!”
“Look, you guys,” I say, lowering my voice so Brooke can’t hear me. “I’m not into it. If you two want to do this, fine. I’m not gonna interfere. But don’t piss her off, OK? I need her. And she’s sorta perfect for this job.”
“Why would this piss her off?” Wald asks. “I’m not gonna fuck her over. I like her. I’m gonna make her feel good.”
“I know,” I say, looking down the hallway. “But she’s got this idea in her head that she and I are a thing.”
“We did sort of plant that idea,” Huck admits.
“Yeah, we did. And you know how girls are,” I say. “They like to feel claimed. And if she thinks I’m not doing my job in this fake fiancée scheme—not playing my part, so to speak—then she might walk out. Or worse, fuck things up for me on purpose.”
“She won’t do that,” Wald says.
“How do you know?” I ask.
“Do you even know who she is?” he says.
And our laughter is loud.
But underneath I think we’re all thinking the same thing.
No.
We really don’t know who she is.
I walk down the hallway and knock on my bedroom door. “Hey,” I say. “Can I come in?”
“Sure,” she calls back.
I open the door and find her pulling on a pair of boots. “Someone please, for the love of God, turn the AC up.”
I smile and hold up a finger. “BRB.” Then I walk back down the hallway and adjust the AC to snowstorm levels.
When I go back to the room she’s looking at herself in a mirror over the chest of drawers. “How’s this?” she asks, turning around. “Wintery enough?” Then she scowls at me. “You can’t wear that.”
I’m wearing a pair of old jeans and a plain blue t-shirt. “I don’t even have winter clothes,” I say, looking her up and down. Because she’s damn cute. Brooke is wearing light-wash jeans with a few strategic rips in the thighs, brown leather knee-high boots, and a brown hoodie that says ‘Ski Zermatt’.
“Have you skied there?” I ask, nodding my head to her hoodie.
“Haven’t you?” She smirks.
“I have, actually. All three of us go there at least once a year. When was the last time you went? Maybe we’ve met each other before and didn’t know it?”
“Never mind that. What’s going on?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean, Joey. With Wald. And Huck. And you, for fuck’s sake.”
“Oh, that whole thing back there?” I motion to the living room with my head.
“Don’t play dumb. It’s not attractive on you.”
I step farther into the room and close the door. “Well… I mean, I don’t know what to say. If you wanna play around with Wald and Huck, be my guest.”
She glares at me. “I’m supposed to be your girlfriend.”
“Yeah, just don’t flirt with them in front of the Kane people and I think we’re all good.”
“So you’re OK that Wald kissed me?”
“I’m only OK with that if you’re OK with that.”
“Joey, stop it.”
“Stop what?”
“Stop playing games with me.”
“This whole thing is a game, Brooke. Every fucking bit of it.”
She glares at me in silence for a few moments, then says, “I’m not going to.”
I shrug. “Totally up to you. I’m not telling you to mess around with Wald and Huck. But I will warn you that Wald is gonna try. Probably Huck too.”
“Again, you’re OK with that?”
“Do you want me to not be OK with that? Because that’s the impression I’m getting.”
“I’m with you.”
“You are,” I say. “But… you know. It’s fake. So do whatever you want.”
“But I’m sleeping in here?”
I groan, close my eyes for a prolonged moment, then shake my head. “I’ll take the couch. That make you feel better?”
“I’m so confused.”
“About what? Because honestly, I’m the one who’s confused. You’re playing a part, Brooke. And can I just say, I think you’re doing a really good job. And I really fuckin’ appreciate you helping me out like this. And that house hunt was fun. I kinda love that place and you can stay there as long as you like, because of course, it will be half yours. But I… I’m not looking for a girlfriend. OK? That’s not really how I operate. I just want my kid back.”
“What do you mean, that’s not how you operate?”
“We…” I shrug. “Huck, and Wald, and I we’re…”
“Gay?”
“No. Not exactly.”
“Gay for you?”
I shake my head and smile. “Maybe a little bit of that.”
“But you like girls?”
“Brooke—“
“I’m just confused, OK? Spell it out for me.”
“I can’t spell it out because I don’t really understand it. We’re just… us. That’s all.”
“That’s all? And there’s no feelings? About me, or them, or otherwise?”
I get it. I’m not a dumb dude. I know what she’s saying. This only goes two ways. One. She wants me to be jealous. She wants me to claim her as mine and tell Huck and Wald to back off. Or two. She wants me to admit that Huck, and Wald, and I sometimes… share. And that she could be that girl.
She feels this to be true and we all know Wald and Huck feel this to be true. So she wants me to admit that there’s something m
ore going on here than just a custody scheme.
But I’m not gonna.
I’m not playing this game.
She’s not mine. She’s just a girl. A very… interesting, but also nice, girl, from what I can tell. With a specific skillset I need to get my daughter back.
“That’s all it is,” I say.
“OK.” She nods. “Fine. Because Wald is kinda my type.”
“Good,” I say. “He’s a pretty great dude. You have my blessing. But he should probably not come with us tomorrow.”
“What’s tomorrow?”
“We’re buying a house?” I say. Like duh. “And I’m taking you ring shopping. I think you should have an engagement ring.”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“What?”
“Nothing,” she says, shaking her head. “Better get changed. We have memories to make.”
She brushes past me, opens the door, and disappears, closing it behind her.
I don’t have winter clothes so I stand there for a minute or two, trying to figure out if Wald’s little plan is gonna fuck up my chances with Maisy.
Girls are weird about this boyfriend stuff. And Brooke could become a problem if she can’t get past me and move on to Wald.
Because while I like her, I’m truly not interested in playing this little game right now. I have more important things to think about than sex.
I grab a zippered hoodie from my closet—because that’s the only semi-warm clothing I have at the moment—and go back into the living room. Huck is wearing the jacket he came with when we arrived in the city—just a lightweight black bomber—and Wald has on a classic Harrington in dark brown.
“OK,” Wald says. “We’re just gonna do some selfies for this. Gather round, kids.” We all squish together, my arm around Brooke’s shoulders, her arm around my waist. Huck crowds me on the other side and Wald leans in to Brooke.
I glance at his hand as it slips down to rest on her ass.
She shoots him a look. He smiles and shrugs at her.
“Everyone smile!” Huck says, holding the phone at arm’s length. Then he says, “Closer. We’re not all in the frame.”
And we squish closer, our cheeks all pressing together so I can feel Huck’s stubble on one side and Brooke’s smooth skin on the other.
And it’s weird, because I think she’s probably experiencing the same thing. My stubble and Wald’s smooth shave.
