by M. Sembera
Reaching around to swing the door closed, he offered, "Wanna see for yourself?"
"You wish," she laughed, pressing against him.
"I do." Pat replied before leaning in saying, "You're hard on the outside with your tattoos and bad attitude but I bet you're soft and warm on the inside."
Tilting her chin up, Liv invited his kiss.
Liv had known Pat for years. She even went out with him a few times before she met Kieran at one of his parties. He wasn't exactly trustworthy though, and she knew most of his business practices were shady. However, there was an undeniable attraction when it came to Pat, one that was never going to move past making out in the back of the shop every so often. But still, it was something tangible that made her feel like a woman and that in itself was reason enough to keep it going.
While his hands roamed the front of her clingy t-shirt, his lips glided softly against hers.
With a deep breath, Pat pulled away, swearing, "You know, it's gonna take me a good hour to come down from this."
"Best get on with the recovery process then."
Pat gave a slight laugh and kissed her again before saying, "You say the sweetest things to me."
Liv winked at him with a smirk on her face as she motioned towards the door.
"Admit it. I'm wearing you down."
Snapping her fingers, she pointed at him, declaring, "Keep hope alive."
Shaking his head with a smile, Pat walked out of the room.
Focusing on her lips in the small rectangular mirror on the wall as she reapplied her lipstick, Liv waited to hear the bell above the door ring before stepping out of the back.
"You can do better." Jimmy griped as she walked past him.
"I'm not doing him."
"I figured, since he keeps comin' back."
Turning back to him, she shot him a questioning glare.
"And word has it he's quick on the draw, without packin' a whole lot."
"That's the word, huh?"
Jimmy's expression was dead serious as he nodded, causing Liv to laugh at his way of being a friend to her.
M3H
Braden was expecting a much larger crowd when he walked into The Dog House late Saturday night. It was usually packed. He preferred it that way. When the bar was full it was easy to ignore the music inside. Tonight, with little chatter from the handful of customers he could hear 'The Man Who Broke His Own Heart' by Everclear playing throughout the bar.
A pint of Guinness and an empty stool were waiting on him when he reached the bar.
"You scare off all the customers?"
Auggie gave a hard scowl before running his hand down the front of his red beard.
"They all heard you were comin' and left."
Braden lifted his beer, taking a long sip before smiling, "How's it goin', brother?"
"Can't complain. You?"
"All good here." Braden answered, taking another sip of beer before Penny, slid onto the barstool next to him.
"Where's Mina?"
Glancing behind his sister to give her husband Seth a nod, Braden replied, "A friend of hers needed the night off so she picked up her shift."
Penny smiled wide as she cheered, "She's so sweet. Are y'all getting serious? Y'all have been dating for almost a year now."
Wondering why everyone was suddenly bringing up their dating time span, he shrugged and shook his head before returning his focus to the beer in front of him.
The fact that the song playing overhead switched to 'Believe' by Mumford & Sons, mixed with the inquisitive stares of all three of them, gave Braden and uneasy feeling. So much so, that when Charlotte, Auggie's wife, made her way behind the bar with her blonde hair pulled into a loose ponytail, he grabbed his half full pint of Guinness and downed it in one gulp. Turning away from the bar, he was prepared to walk out and let them judge him behind his back, when a familiar face caught his eye.
It took a minute of staring before Braden could admit to himself that what he was seeing was real.
"Looks like Pat's still trying to 'collect' on that invoice." Charlotte remarked as Penny giggled at what must have been and inside joke between the two of them. Braden didn't find it funny.
Without taking his eyes off Liv, he questioned, "From the chairs at the shop? That was three months ago. Why hasn't she paid it?"
"I don't think he wants her to." Charlotte replied before Penny shared, "He comes into the shop every once and a while. They always go to the back so she can write him a check, then...um... he says he forgot to bring the invoice."
In Braden's mind, the rational explanation was that of course he was hitting on her. Surely, she would give him hell for it before letting him go.
That was until Penny continued, "I don't know what they do back there, but she's always in a real good mood for the rest of the day after he leaves."
Uneasy was now an understatement as Braden watched Liv allow Pat to run the palm of his hand slowly up and down the tattoos on her arm.
"I think it's good, she needs..." Charlotte started to say before he cut her off, snapping, "He's not good for her. He's... Not good for her."
Unable to take any more of the situation in, Braden pushed away from the bar and walked out.
He only made it a few steps out of the doors before Seth stopped him.
"Hey, wait up."
Shaking his head Braden turned to Seth, venting, "Out of everybody in this damn town, that's who she picks to hook up with?"
"Instead of you?" Seth asked in a cautious yet serious tone.
"You know I'm not into her like that."
Seth's expression bordered on disbelief as he suggested, "I think you might like her more than you're willing to admit."
"Nah, man. I mean if one night she wanted to play naked twister I'd be all in, but I don't think about her like that."
"Never?"
Braden paused for a moment to think before answering, "I'm a guy. I know what she looks like but I don't dwell on it because...there's more to her than that."
"And you don't think that's reason enough?"
Disliking being put on the spot, Braden replied, "I think I have a girlfriend."
"Mina? The girl, who after almost a year, everyone loves but you?"
Surprised at how outspoken Seth was being, he questioned, "Why are you so interested in what I've got going on?"
With a loud exhale, he confessed, "Penny's making me crazy."
Wanting to laugh, the look on Seth's face was so sincere Braden held back.
Seth paced back and forth for a moment before settling in one spot.
"I look at her and she just seems like she would be fertile."
"What now?" Braden questioned, thinking he must have misunderstood.
Shaking his head at himself, Seth continued, "I was excited. I've been thinking about her having my babies since before the first time we slept together."
Braden started to glare at his brother in law, but allowed him to continue.
"At first it was great. I could barely keep her off of me to go to work, but now she's got these designated sex days that coincide with her ovulation..."
Holding his hand up, Braden had to stop him, "You know that's my sister, right?"
Appearing genuinely regretful, Seth replied, "I'm sorry. I know, but she's crazy."
Braden patted him on the back, reminding, "She's a Caffrey. You were warned."
Taking a deep breath, Seth nodded.
"Come on, let's go back in and get you a beer."
Jumping back a little, Seth exclaimed, "That's another thing! I'm only allowed one beer a week!"
"That's insane!"
Seth appeared serious as a heart attack as he declared, "The struggle is real."
Laughing out loud, Braden followed Seth back into The Dog House.
It wasn't long after they were back inside that Liv joined them at the bar.
Braden tried to block out what he had seen earlier but couldn't as he blurted, "I thought you were on a date," ear
ning a disapproving expression from everyone, including Liv.
She narrowed her eyes at him for a minute longer than everyone else before announcing, "Did y'all hear? This one's gonna be my man servant," pointing her thumb at Braden.
"Your what?" Braden choked, almost spitting his sip of beer everywhere.
Ignoring his question, she continued, "Now I don't have to worry about hiring a stranger that'll go through my stuff."
"I would've come out there if you needed something fixed." Auggie informed.
With a light smile, she nodded, "I know but he doesn't have anything better to do."
"You know I'm sitting right here." Braden griped as they continued to talk as if he wasn't there.
"You should make him wear an outfit." Charlotte advised.
Auggie scowled at his wife as Penny wrinkled up her nose and shook her head.
"Come on, if the situation was reversed you know Braden would try to get her to wear one of those frilly maid dresses."
"True." Liv agreed before questioning, "What's the guy version of that?"
Penny's eyes suddenly went wide as Seth replied, "Penny likes naked."
Scowling at Seth, Auggie stepped away to fill a drink order, while Liv gave a loud, "Ha!" and Charlotte said, "Well, oh-kay..."
"I like my man Seth's idea." Braden replied, flashing a smile at Liv.
"No." Liv stated, pointing a finger directly at him.
Charlotte smiled, suggesting, "Suits are sexy. I love when Auggie wears one. He's all scruffy and polished at the same time." Then looking Braden over she added, "But you're kinda pretty so, that might not work."
"Ya know, he is kinda pretty." Auggie shared, back in the conversation.
"Maybe I should get you a frilly maid outfit then." Liv smirked at him.
Penny pursed her lips into a smile as she swept her long auburn hair over her shoulder, teasing, "I've always been jealous."
Seth remarked, "He really is."
"Thanks, man." Braden replied, thinking at least Seth would have had his back.
"Hey, I said Penny and naked in the same sentence. I'm lucky to still be alive at this point."
At that moment, even Auggie couldn't help but laugh.
M4H
When the night came to an end Braden ended up with a hard buzz from several pints of beer, and a ride home from Liv. Crossing his arms against his chest, in the passenger seat of her Dodge Challenger HellCat, he worked at focusing his attention on the road ahead. Although he appreciated the silence, it was starting to feel uncomfortable.
Leaning his head in her direction, Braden said, "You are seeing someone."
Liv responded with a slight frown, but didn't reply.
"Why Pat?"
Shaking her head, she remained silent.
"You won't answer me 'cause you know the kinda person he is."
As soon as they came to the red light, Liv stopped the car and looked directly at him, "Didn't I tell you who I see is none of your business."
Making a disgusted sound he shared, "I would never get with someone you disapproved of."
Glaring at him she stated, "Lily," then turned away, staring straight ahead.
The second the light turned green, she sped off down the road.
No matter how much he wanted to, there was not a thing more he could say. Liv's detest for Lily had been made clear long before she and Braden were friends. He never knew why she disliked her so much, but by the time it was finally over between them every single member of his family did too.
Liv pulled into a parking spot right in front of his apartment. He knew she was angry with him because he heard the doors unlock as she shifted her car into reverse.
"I don't like it when you're pissed at me." Braden shared, remaining seated with no intention of getting out of her car.
Keeping the car in reverse, she revved her engine with her foot planted against the break.
"You don't like it either."
Liv's arms tensed as she gripped the steering wheel and closed her eyes, demanding, "Get out of my car."
Holding back a smile, he coaxed, "Not until you say you're not mad."
Shifting her car into park, she turned and looked at him, saying, "You're like a damn kid."
"I'm older than you."
With a slight smirk, she assured, "It doesn't seem like it. You still dress like a sixteen year old boy."
After glancing down at his faded jeans and Vans, he looked over at her black and white Converse, dark jeans and Ramones T-shirt.
"So do you."
Liv let out a laugh before shaking her head at him saying, "Come on. Its late and I'm tired."
"You wanna stay over?"
Braden noticed a confused expression fall across her face, as if she didn't know how to answer.
"Do you?"
Looking away from him, she replied, "Mina."
"She won't care. I stay at your house all the time."
Shaking her head at him, Liv pointed towards the windshield, saying, "No. Mina."
Braden looked out seeing his girlfriend waving at them with an interested yet sweet expression across her face.
"See you Monday then."
With a nod, Liv shifted her car back into reverse.
Stumbling a little as he got out of Liv's car, Braden barely closed the door when Mina was right there by his side. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she pressed up against him.
"I missed you."
Braden waited for Liv's car to pull out of the parking spot before leaning down to kiss her.
~
Flipping the lights on in the living room, Liv swiped the playlist open on her phone at the same time. 'Back To The Shack' by Weezer instantly thundered through her house bringing a smile to her face. The disruption of silence in her house paused for a second as text flashed across her cell.
B: You make it home okay?
She found it odd that Braden was texting her. He seemed pretty invested in Mina when she dropped him off.
L: Safe and sound.
B: OK
Even though it was a simple text, it didn't feel right.
L: You okay?
Waiting for his response, her phone rang.
"What's up?" Liv asked, answering Braden's call.
His tone was flat as he replied, "Nothin'."
"You havin' some sort of a moment?"
There was a long pause before he replied, "I'm just drunk."
"Probably," she replied without knowing the issue, but recalling he had about seven pints at the bar.
"'Night."
"Later." Liv replied before ending the call.
Walking to her bedroom, she considered calling Pat and taking him up on his offer.
She was surprised to see him at The Dog House and even more surprised that he was flirting with her there. The anticipation of him standing close, wondering how far he was willing to go in public excited her. Then he gave her that inviting smile as he slid his hand down her arm. It was such a high, until she glanced towards the bar and saw Auggie scowling at her.
By the time she made it to her room and looked at her bed, she changed her mind. She knew there was no reason to feel guilty but how could she help it. Her husband's death had done nothing to remove him from her life. It simply made her feel even more alone. Over two years had gone by and she couldn't even bring herself to spend the night at Braden's. Thursday night had been an institution long before his death, but staying the night in another man's home, even his, was completely different. Though she had moments of freedom where there was physical thought or action with no emotion involved, Liv couldn't let go long enough for anything real. It was a painfully agonizing feeling to know what she wanted and needed, and at the same time riddled with doubt and disbelief that it was a possibility. That was where she and Braden differed. He was able to move on. Not fully and be complete as a whole, but in a physical way. Liv envied that about him. The damage Lily had done scarred him in so many ways beyond repair, but sex wasn't
one of the losses of being with her.
As she laid across her bed, Liv reflected back on the last time she and Kieran were together. It had been months since they were intimate and after trying everything she could think of to get him interested in her, she decided an out of character for her, sexy dress and heels at Charlotte and Auggie's wedding might do the trick. Initially, it worked. He couldn't keep his hands off her. They didn't even make it all the way to the house. Pulling off on an old dead end dirt road on the way home, he swore he couldn't wait a second more. In the moment, she felt wild, alive, and desired. Unfortunately, making it home wasn't the only thing he couldn't wait for, leaving her feeling empty, used and unsatisfied. Still thinking it was a start, the promise of rekindling their relationship soon vanished as he fell right back into ignoring her the very next day.
She once considered turning Kieran's marking room into sex room as her way of giving his deceased ass the finger, but aside from the fact that that would require her having sex, it was just a little way to make herself feel like she had some control over what was happening. She didn't though. Liv was just as hurt as she was when he was alive. Except with him gone, the wound would never heal.
M5H
Dragging himself off his couch, Braden went down on his knees on the carpet before pushing up on the couch cushions to stand. He rubbed his eyes, staggering toward his apartment door to see who was banging on it. Peering out of the peephole, he rubbed his eyes hard and looked again. Stepping back and cursing under his breath, he ran his fingers through his hair in an attempt to look presentable.
On the other side of his door stood a medium height older woman with auburn hair pulled into a long braid and lips pursed up into a somewhat judgmental forced smile.
"Hey... Mom," he greeted, leaning forward to hug her.
Sarah leaned away, fussing, "When was the last time you showered."
Running his hands down the front of his t-shirt, Braden stepped back and let his mom in.
"I swear, son. This is a pig sty," she declared the moment she stepped in.
Flashing her a quick smile, he wrapped an arm around her, suggesting, "You always said, if you can't do something right, don't do it at all."
"Go clean yourself up." Sarah ordered, pushing him away from her.
