by Dane, Lauren
Could she? What would that be like? For so long she didn’t have close friends because of Ken. She was embarrassed by him, by what her life had turned into, so she just did her thing, and those friendships with the other dancers in the company only went so deep. The allure of having a friend she could share it all with was a heady thing. She already had such intimacy with Brody, but even at that, she hadn’t told him everything. She hadn’t wanted him to be disgusted with her or her past.
“That sounds so good. Thanks, you know? For being . . .” Elise swallowed hard.
“Your friend. And you’re mine.”
“Are you hogging Elise, Erin?” Brody called out from his front porch. “Should I be worried?”
Erin laughed and kissed Elise’s cheek. “She’s pretty hot, but she seems to like you better.”
“If you both change your minds, can we watch?” Ben asked, coming out on the porch to join Brody.
“Ew. That’s my sister, dude.” Brody wrinkled his nose at Ben, who laughed.
“Well, then don’t look. She’s not my sister.”
“Don’t make me hurt you,” Brody said, whacking Ben’s arm.
“Pervs, the whole lot of them.” Erin grinned, looking over her shoulder at the men on the porch before turning back to Elise. “You okay now?” Erin asked quietly.
“Yeah. Thanks for the pep talk, Coach.”
“Let’s roll, ladies. We’ve got a table, a few pitchers and some wings waiting for us.” Ben took one of Erin’s hands, Todd the other.
Brody let them go ahead, strolling slowly up to Elise until he reached her, pulling her in for a kiss. “Hey you. You look pretty.”
“Thank you. Rennie reminded me that you like my hair down.”
He laughed, putting an arm around her shoulders before they began to walk the several blocks toward the tavern. It was one of the big draws of this neighborhood that everything was within walking distance. The air was chilly, but they were all bundled up, and Brody knew that having grown up in Albany, Elise knew how to deal with the cold.
“Excited for the showcase?”
She looked up and smiled. “I am. I think they’re ready. It’s pretty much out of my hands at this point. They’re in charge of themselves. Hopefully they’ll do well. If not, I’ll have to deal with highstrung dancers and their parents come morning.”
Her mother had invited him to the after party she and Paul had planned, and he’d accepted. He liked being included in that part of her world. Wanted to be there for her big night as well. It was a surprise party, but he’d nearly mentioned it twice, so he reminded himself to shut up.
The tavern wasn’t fancy. At first glance one might even call it a dive. But it was a family-owned place, the food was great and the beer was cheap. The pool tables were kept in excellent condition, and all was right with the world when he walked in and saw their group already assembled and ready to go.
And it wasn’t like he was going to complain each time Elise blew the chalk from the cue or when she bent to take a shot. True to her word earlier that year, she was an excellent pool player, cleaning the floor with Ben, Adrian and Arvin.
“How hot is that?” Todd murmured as they watched Erin, Maggie and Elise play against Adrian.
“Yeah. I can’t complain. That’s a whole lot of very pretty, very capable woman there.” Arvin grabbed a wing as he settled in at the table.
They watched as Elise won again and it was Brody’s turn to play.
Elise’s skin broke out in gooseflesh every time he walked behind her, taking care to get extra close. He brushed against her, bringing the line of his cock against her ass or thigh each time he moved around the table.
“If you think you can distract me with sex, you’re totally right,” she murmured as he leaned in beside her to take his shot. And missed.
She grinned and he gave her a hard kiss. “You did that on purpose.”
“Totally. But I wasn’t lying.”
He laughed and she let Todd win because she wanted to sit down, drink a beer and eat some wings.
Brody’s body next to hers in the booth was warm and reassuring, even as he set off hormonal earthquakes within her every time he touched her.
“I’m glad you could come out tonight.” He leaned back and she rested her head against his shoulder. She was utterly relaxed, enjoying herself with her friends, having a moment with the man she liked; all was well in the world.
“I am too.”
“How long has it been?” He played with her hair, sifting it through his fingers, making her feel like a pampered cat. He smelled good, familiar and warm, and totally sexy. She wanted to lick him. A lot. So she gave in and let herself nuzzle his neck, breathing in the way he was, letting that scent lodge in her senses until she shivered.
“You’re distracting me,” he said, amused.
“Sorry,” she said, totally not. “How long has it been since I dated? Played pool?”
“Dated. Somehow, I have a hard time imagining you playing pool on a date before me.”
She laughed. “Am I that much of a fuddy-duddy?”
“Fuddy-duddy? Wow, I haven’t heard that one since first grade.” He squeezed her to let her know he was teasing. “You’re not a fuddyduddy. I just meant I knew you were married and then were on the road and dancing.”
“I happen to like the word ‘fuddy-duddy,’ thank you very much.” She winked at Adrian. “Three years? Yeah, and then it was a few dates. Dinner, the theater, nothing as fun as pool.” She shrugged.
“How long were you with your ex?”
“I was twenty-three when we met, and we were married by the time I was twenty-four. I divorced him when I was twenty-seven, a few months after Rennie was born. It had been a done deal for about a year before that anyway. I’d kicked him out about two months into my pregnancy and then he did jail time. Blah, blah, blah.”
“He sounds like a total tool,” Adrian said.
“He was. But he gave me Rennie, and for that, I’m glad for him. Anyway, I’m out of the dating habit. I have no idea. Am I doing it right?”
Brody leaned toward her and kissed her nose. “You’re rocking it. And Elise, tell me true, have you ever not done things right in your life? I bet you were good at everything growing up.”
“I did well in school. I was a good dancer. Oh, it’s my turn.” She scrambled over him and out of the booth before he could say more.
“Dude, how long as it been since you’ve had a date?” Adrian leaned back and watched Brody, an amused smile on his face.
“What? I’m here with a beautiful woman. How am I failing again? Oh, please do inform me, since you’re here with your steady girlfriend of five years. Oh wait, you’re here alone, rock-boy. How you gonna school me with a record like that?”
“Talk’s cheap, old man. Have you not noticed how she gets uncomfortable with any mention of how perfect she is? She was snuggled up to you, sending all the right signals, and you made the comment about her being perfect and she scampered off. Not very smooth.”
Brody snorted at his brother, partly because he wanted to but partly because Adrian, damn him, was right, and had seen something Brody himself had seen but hadn’t quite put together the same way Adrian had.
“We all have our wounds, Brody. Now you know what hers are about and you can avoid them, or at least poke at them in private.”
Elise hadn’t had such a wonderful time with other adults in ages. Rennie came first, and she didn’t resent that or wish it away. But it meant she didn’t date much and she didn’t have much time or energy for nights playing pool and laughing with friends.
She liked it.
She liked it as much as she liked the weight of Brody’s arm around her shoulders. She liked the sound of quiet laughter and talk as they all headed back home.
Keeping her voice low, she said, “Ben, Todd and Erin are a bit tipsy. You need to offer them a place to crash when you get home. I’ll go back to my place. I don’t want them to feel like they have to d
rive right now.”
Brody stopped and embraced her. “Smart woman but so dumb in some ways. Yes, I noticed, and yes, I will offer them, and Adrian, a place to hang out. But you are not going back home. It’s eleven and everyone is asleep at your house. We’re going to play Rock Band on the Wii.”
“I wanted to have hot, noisy, wild sex for hours,” she breathed against his mouth, and he groaned.
“That’s not fair. We can, by the way, have as much sex as you desire. I have a door on my bedroom. They’re all adults and know what a closed door means. If they knock, I’ll kill them.”
“Get a room,” Erin called out softly, and Brody let her go and they continued to walk.
“I can’t play Rock Band and have sex with you. I’m not that much of a multitasker.”
“Like I need to play on the Wii when you’re there willing to fuck me. Video games are what men invented to fill the sex void. Any man who’d choose video games over sex deserves to live in his mother’s basement with his mint-condition, in-box Star Wars figurines and his real doll.”
She burst out laughing.
But when they got back, there wasn’t time for sneaking off, because the video game challenge was tossed out and it would have felt weird telling them all to play while she and Brody went off to have sex. It would have been good, but weird, and these were his siblings, people more like his kids than his brother and sister.
“I can’t believe they’re still here,” he said on her doorstep an hour and a half later.
“They like to be with you. How awesome is that? I hope Rennie still wants to hang with me when she’s this age. You should be proud, Brody. You give them a safe, happy space and they want to be in it. This is a good thing.” She craned her neck to kiss him quickly. “Well, it’s a sucky thing for our plans of wild, noisy sex, but it means you did your job right. That’s something special. You three are something special. I’ll just masturbate and think of you.”
“You’re really gonna get it when I get you naked again.”
She laughed. “Oh, I do hope so.”
“I want to be with you New Year’s Eve. You’re coming to Erin’s tomorrow?”
That was lovely in its suddenness. Like he couldn’t stand the thought of not being with her. It was nice. “In the afternoon, yes. Then we’ll come back here, put a turkey on to roast, watch movies and feast. I’ve never been away from Rennie on New Year’s Eve. We have a ritual of sorts, sort of a good-luck talisman for the next year. Rennie will stay awake until midnight and then conk out, only to be terribly cranky the next day when she insists on getting up to watch the Rose Parade and eat pancakes. Not very glamorous.”
“Am I invited? It doesn’t sound glamorous, but it does sound wonderful. I’d not expect you to be away from Rennie on New Year’s Eve.”
She warmed. He got to her. “Yeah, of course. My mother and daughter have a crush on you, my father doesn’t hate you, and I happen to like you too. But I won’t be offended if you have other plans.”
“I’ll be here. I’ll bring dessert and some champagne.”
“Yes to dessert, but my father is sort of a champagne snob. He’s already bought the bottles we’ll drink. Drove all over the area until he found just the right wine shop. You’re welcome for breakfast the next day too. There aren’t any spare bedrooms at my house though.”
“I can make it across the street and back for the Rose Parade and pancakes.” He tipped her chin up. “I can’t think of a better way to spend my New Year’s Eve.” He kissed her softly. She wanted more but liked that he didn’t push with her parents inside the house. Yes, she was an adult, but some things died hard.
“How about we all head over to Erin’s together tomorrow afternoon? I know the best places to find a parking spot.”
“You sure? You’ve never been in a car with my parents before. It’s, well, you may need a Xanax before the day is done.”
He laughed. “Looking forward to that. I imagine your dad will sit up front with me and you ladies in back.”
“Or, if we take my van, you can sit in the back with my mom, and my dad will be up front. No matter what, he’ll be up front and they’ll need to be separated. Just wait. Boy, you’re never going to want to see me again after that.”
“I highly doubt that, Elise. I like seeing you. A lot.”
That made her tingly inside. “Night.” She unlocked her front door.
“Night. See you tomorrow.” He gave her another quick kiss and stood back, waiting until she’d closed and locked the door before he headed back to his place.
15
That lovely midnight smooch brought the next year into Elise’s life not with a boom, but in a sweet, gentle rush of wonderful. Brody was part of her life in a way she’d not expected after that first time at her studio.
Her showcase had gone very well. The surprise party afterward had been lovely, made her feel connected and celebrated. She was now working in an adjunct capacity with the Northwest Ballet Company. They’d asked her to come on as staff, but as they were based in Portland, she hadn’t wanted to move. Still, it was a prestigious offer and she’d been quite happy to work something out with them.
She’d tried, and failed, to get together with Erin to talk for about a month but they were finally going to make dinner and have martinis that evening. After her last class she and Rennie headed over to Elise’s parents’ house for a few minutes and then home.
“I feel like I’m sneaking you away from my brother,” Erin said as the three of them settled in to eat. “Brody’s like Mom’s and my best friend. He’s so gigantic and he likes to play catch and also he comes to my tea parties. There’s loads of kids in my class whose dads won’t play tea party with ’em and Brody’s just our neighbor and Mom’s special guy.”
Elise widened her eyes and studiously avoided Erin’s gaze or she’d start laughing. Or die of embarrassment. Or both. “He is our best friend and we all three know how special he is.” Mom? What happened to the very sweet Momma Elise had loved for the last six years. Oh God, seven years. Rennie was about to turn seven the following weekend. Before she knew it, Rennie would be graduating from high school and going off to college and having her own life. It was a thought that simultaneously filled her with giddy anticipation and terror.
“And, he’s very nice to look at. I heard Mom tell him that yesterday. He did look very nice. He had one of those hats, the kind you pull down on your head. I told him he should wear a cowboy hat. He looked sort of scared when I said so though.”
Erin laughed. “I totally know what I’m getting him for his birthday.” She looked back to Rennie. “Speaking of birthdays, are you ready for yours?”
Rennie took a big gulp of milk, eyes wide at what she was about to reveal to Erin. “We ordered the cake today. It has princesses on it.”
“Princesses playing soccer,” Elise added with a wink. “The father of one of my students runs a bakery in Ballard. He’s making it to her specifications.”
“Pretty awesome, kid! I can’t wait to have a piece. This is going to be a very fun party.”
“I’m super glad you’re coming, Erin. I wish Adrian could be there too.”
“I know he does as well. But he’s on tour and can’t get back here until next month.”
Elise appreciated how kind all three Brown siblings were to them. Rennie needed stability, and she had it in Seattle. Now that Elise’s parents were there as well, Rennie had the kind of community and connection any child would thrive with.
“He sent me a present, but Mom won’t let me open it until my birthday. He’s in Australia. I want to go there and see kangaroos and stuff. Do you think he’s going to see any?”
Elise let the sound of the other two talking wash over her. This was home.
It was another three hours before Elise finally heard Rennie’s soft little snuffle, the signal that she’d finally achieved sleep.
“We’re trying for a baby,” Erin said when Elise joined her on the couch.
Elise smiled, genuinely happy for her friend. “I figured it was that, or you were already pregnant, when you said you didn’t want a glass of wine.”
“You’re very easy to talk to, you know? I feel a connection to you. Mother-to-mother maybe? You listen. It’s rare that people actually listen. They talk.”
“Thank you. Really. I haven’t had a close friend in years, and now, between you and Brody, I’ve got two. I imagine it’s a scary step for you to take. Maybe guilt too.”
“I imagine you read or heard most of the details about what happened when Adele was killed. I loved being a mother. It was challenging and exhausting, but every time I even thought of her, my heart would soar. Nothing else is like it.”
Elise nodded.
“So now I want that again. But the situation is complicated. And complicated is, of course, a total understatement when you’re married and live with your boyfriend too. Or our nonlegal husband or whatever the heck you call the third person in your relationship who you love. Part of Ben’s family isn’t speaking to him still. Things are very shaky with Todd’s dad and brother. And I’m afraid.”
Erin sighed out a long breath and Elise just squeezed her friend’s hand.
“Afraid of losing another child. Afraid that if it happened I wouldn’t survive it. I’m getting closer to forty; it won’t be the same as it was in my early twenties. I worry about the pregnancy. I worry about getting pregnant to begin with. And . . .” Her eyes teared up and Elise watched her search for the words, so she gave them to Erin herself.
“Of loving a new child and betraying Adele.” Elise figured that had to be the hardest thing of all.
Erin nodded, tears falling, and Elise hugged her.
“It’s okay to cry. It’s okay to be scared. I think you’re so brave to have made it through all you have. And to be happy. That’s the best part. You have two men who love you so much. Who cares what you call Ben? He’s yours. You’re his. You all have each other and that’s what’s important. As for the other stuff, I’m sure you’ve spoken with an attorney on what to do and all the legal ramifications for Ben. You’re not an operating-inside-the-box person, Erin. You’ll forge a path with this baby, like you’ve forged your own path all the years leading up to now.”
