by Amy Brent
“Maybe we could bring it up to your sister.”
I knew the moment the words flew from my mouth that I was in trouble. Luke slowly panned his gaze over to me, studying me carefully as he clocked my entire body, and for a split second, I thought he was going to find out. He was going to find out I’d just fucked his sister in this new office space and everything was going to go straight to hell and never come back.
“My sister,” he said.
“Yeah. That dance studio stuff. It’d be a decent enough space for her.”
“With you living overhead,” he said.
“I mean, I could always split the loft in half. Make the half above her dance studio that consignment shop you told me she wanted,” I said.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” he asked.
“What!? It was just a suggestion, dude! For someone who wants to support his sister, you sure are shit at it,” I said.
“This isn’t about Amber,” he said. “This is about whatever infatuation you’ve got going on with her. I see you staring at her and how you defended her with my dad the other day. What the hell gives?” he asked.
“I want to make Amber’s dream come true. You said so yourself in the beginning when we both started this: had it not been for your parents’ support, we never would’ve gotten our business off the ground. So, why the hell isn’t anyone supporting Amber’s dream?”
“So, you’re just going to make that your job? You’re looking out for Amber’s dream?” he asked.
“Who the fuck else is? It’s a good dream. I hear you talk all the time about how she’s an awesome dancer, and she obviously wants it. Why shouldn’t someone support her?” I asked.
“Back the fuck off my sister,” he said.
“I’m not on your sister,” I said. “I just want her to have the same opportunity you did. I didn’t have parents supporting me in this shit, and there’s no reason why a girl like her who’s got a family should feel that way, either.”
“Back. The fuck. Off,” he said.
“Why?” I asked. “Give me one fucking good reason why the only person in her corner should back the fuck off.”
We were nose to nose in the middle of this new office space arguing about his sister. This was not how I saw this day going at all, and I knew everything could be ripped away at a moment’s notice.
But, I didn’t care. This was absolute bullshit that he was this fired up over a hypothetical train of thought that spiraled because of his fucking insecurities with the building.
He wasn’t going to make me feel like a little bitch just because he was acting like one.
“Because you’re not going to pull the same shit with Amber that I did with Rebecca,” he said.
“Who the fuck is Rebecca?” I asked.
“A girl I’ve been seeing on and off in New York,” he said.
“I didn’t even know you were seeing someone,” I said.
“Yeah, no one did. Because I wanted to give it time to grow. She’s a good woman and a hell of a support system, and I threw that shit away the moment I started sucking face that night with Kelly,” he said.
I just stood there and looked at him as he shook his head. He turned his back, running his fingers through his hair, but when he turned back around he was no longer the angry Luke I’d just squared off with.
He was guilty, and I could tell it was eating him alive.
“I fucked up with what I did in the club. I haven’t talked to her much since we got here, then I completely disrespected her the night we went out, and I’m supposed to be the good guy.”
“So, I can’t be a good guy?” I asked.
“Not with your track record. I’ve seen what you do to women. Much worse than what I’ve done to Rebecca, and yet you feel no remorse for it. And that’s fine, it’s just how you are. But Amber, I won’t let her go through that. I won’t let her be someone you just fuck then spit back out,” he said.
“Are you wanting to end things with Rebecca? Is that why you’re ignoring her?” I asked.
“Yes. No. I don’t know. The fucking point is whatever infatuation you have with my sister ends now. You might think you’ll be different with her and shit, but I know you better than that. So fucking stop. I won’t ever say yes. I won’t ever approve.”
“Dude, there's nothing to fucking approve because there’s nothing there. I’m sticking up for your sister and supporting her because none of you people will. Let that be a reflection on you instead of me, huh?”
I started for the door, leaving Luke in my wake. I was done with this bullshit conversation that was brought on by some idiotic fuckery he had dove himself into. It was a waste of my time, and I had phone calls to make to multiple contractors.
“The space is signed for, so get over it. Let me know if you want to split it in half or not. And Luke?”
“Yeah?” he asked.
“Keep that Rebecca shit to yourself. Amber would kill you.”
And I left him standing in the dusty office space as I made my way to my car.
Chapter 16
Amber
The air was cool and crisp this morning. Things seemed a bit lighter, the house appeared to be a bit brighter, and I couldn’t get him off my mind. Our encounter in the office had permeated every single thought I had, from my dreams to my free thoughts in the shower. We hadn’t talked since Tuesday, which was something I expected, but there was this odd sensation I kept having. I kept wanting to pick up the phone and text him just to see how he was doing.
Weird.
I was over at my parents’ house helping them wrap presents. Even though we were grown and understood that Santa wasn’t a thing, they still enjoyed the thrill of wrapping gifts and putting them out the night before Christmas. My dad enjoyed the idea of surprising us on Christmas morning with our “big presents,” and Mom enjoyed watching Dad be happy. He spent very long days at the production company during the year in order to provide for us the type of lifestyle and holidays we had, so Mom always threw her wishes out the window in favor of his.
“Honey, could you pass me the tape?” she asked.
“Sure. You got any more bows over there?” I asked.
“Does red work?” she asked.
“Yeah, the present I’m wrapping is silver,” I said.
“Here you go, honey.”
I heard the front door of the house burst open, but I didn’t think anything of it. Dad was out getting more presents, and he was probably stumbling in with an armful of goodies that would trap me in this house for another hour. I knew my parents would try to get Tyler some stuff last minute as well, which meant I got to spend even more time around people who wanted to berate me some more.
But, when I felt a strong hand come down onto my shoulder and whip me around, I realized it was Luke.
And he looked pissed.
“We need to talk,” he said.
“Luke, sweetheart. Is everything alright? Can it wait until Amber’s done helping me?” Mom asked.
“I’ll bring her right back. I promise, Mom,” he said.
He grabbed my arm and ripped me away from the decorating bench in the basement. He dragged me up the stairs while Mom looked at the two of us as if we had grown another head, and everything around me started to swim. He slammed the basement door as we stood in the kitchen, his nostrils flaring and his eyes wide, and before he even opened his mouth I knew exactly what this conversation was going to be about.
“I know there’s something going on with you and Tyler,” he said.
“Alright, Mr. Paranoia. You got proof of this fun little theory of yours?” I asked.
“Yeah. His defense of you and your fucking dance studio and the way you just sassed me,” he said. “Tyler never defends anything, and you never sass unless you’re uncomfortable.”
“The defense of my what? The hell’s gotten into you?” I asked.
“You need to stop. Whatever the hell the two of you are doing, it ends now,” he said.
“Uh huh. So, exactly how do you expect me to end this imaginary charade with your business partner?” I asked.
“I don’t know. Tell him you’re a bitch or not looking for love or whatever the fuck it is you usually tell guys in order to keep them away. You seem to be a pro at it,” he said.
“What the fuck’s your problem, Luke?” I asked. “Even if there was something going on between Tyler and me, I’m a grown ass woman. I’ll suck whoever’s dick I want.”
“Holy shit, have you sucked his cock, Amber?” he asked. “Because if you have, I’m going to kill him. I’ll kill you both.”
“What in the world has gotten into you?” I asked. “Did someone spike your coffee this morning with roids?”
“He’s not a good person when it comes to women, Amber,” he said. “I’m just trying to protect you.”
“Newsflash: I’m not a freshman in high school anymore. You don’t need to beat up the little boy who stood me up any longer. Breaking news: it wouldn’t be any of your fucking business anyway,” I said.
“He’s my business partner and my best friend. Everything in his life is my fucking business,” he said.
“Funny, because I don’t think a guy like Tyler would see it that way,” I said, crossing my arms.
“Guy like Tyler. What do you mean, ‘guy like Tyler’?” he asked.
“You think you’re entitled to the lives of those around you that you care about, but you’re not. See, loving you and being around you comes with strings. You enjoy being in control and you enjoy making sure people are dependent on you. It’s a very unhealthy, weird little tick, Luke. You should really get it checked out,” I said.
“I do not! Damn it, Amber, he’s no good for you,” he said.
“And how would you know? Did you try to date him at one point?” I asked.
“I just know, Amber. I’ve seen how he treats women. The one night stands he has and the little trysts in the clubs we go to. He plays the field, nothing more,” he said.
“Trysts. That’s a very grown-up word for someone acting like a little child. You’re making it seem like I’m making you share your favorite toy,” I said, giggling.
“Amber, I’m not fucking around.”
“And neither am I, Luke. You’re freaking out over something that doesn’t exist. Sorry your best friend puts his dick in women. I’m pretty sure that’s what a dick is for. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’d rather be with Mom right now than you, which is saying something,” I said.
Just as I said that I heard Mom’s footsteps on the staircase. She opened the door and found Luke and me in the kitchen, and she furrowed her brow before she shut the door behind her.
“Everything alright?” she asked.
“Yeah, Luke’s just pissed because apparently, I can’t be an adult very well,” I said.
“Luke, stop pestering your sister. Amber, you’re a wonderful adult,” she said.
“Thanks, Mom,” I said flatly.
“Luke, sweetie, if you have any presents that need to be wrapped, I can get us out of the house for a bit if you’d like,” Mom said.
“And by us, she means her,” I said.
“No, thanks. I’ll get to wrapping some things tomorrow,” he said. “Tyler’s actually meeting me here in a few. We’ve got some things we need to accomplish today since he signed for a building in LA,” he said.
“You found an office space?” my mom asked. “Oh, my gosh! Sweetheart! I’m so proud of you!”
I rolled my eyes as my mother wrapped her arms tightly around the child prodigy. Of course, she would be ecstatic that he owned two places for his business. Of course, she would act this excited right in front of me.
Did they honestly not see how much bullshit they were throwing in my general direction?
“Luke? You here?” Tyler asked.
“In the kitchen, hot stuff!” I called out.
If Luke wanted to be a little bitch about some imagined scenarios Tyler and I were keeping under wraps, and if Mom really wanted to play the game of favorites, then I was at least going to give them a show.
“Uh, hey there, Amber?” Tyler asked. “How are you?”
“Doing alright, love that jacket,” I said, reaching out to fondle the collar. “Makes your eyes pop.”
“Uh huh. Luke, you ready to go get that stuff done?” he asked.
Luke’s eyes were screaming with anger as Mom let him go, but all I could do was smirk. I could play this game with him, and he’d pop before I ever would.
“Oh, let me make you boys a quick lunch,” Mom said. “I’ve got sandwich meat and chips, it’ll keep you from spending so much money out.”
“How are you doing, Tyler?” I asked.
“Doing alright,” he said, smirking. “I like that shirt on you.”
“Thanks. It’s got tape on it somewhere. I was downstairs wrapping presents with Mom earlier,” I said.
I watched his eyes search my body while Luke’s fists balled up beside him. I watched as Tyler’s hand disappeared behind my back before I heard the soft sound of something sticky being pulled from my lower back. He held the green-colored tape up to me, and I plucked it from his fingertip, but not before I made a show of our hands brushing one another’s.
“You’re too kind. I could hear it crackling every time I took a step, but I just couldn’t reach it,” I said.
“I’m here whenever you need me,” he said, winking.
“Mom, Tyler and I really should get going,” Luke said.
“Nonsense, sit down. I’m almost done throwing things together,” Mom said.
Luke groaned as we made our way to the table, and I made it a point to sit by Tyler. He threw me a curious look before I winked at him, and that’s when I felt his hand slide over to my thigh. His touch lit my leg on fire, causing a light flush to paint my cheeks, and his eyes kept dancing all over my form as Mom set the plates of food in front of us.
“Never would’ve thought green would look so good on you,” he said.
“Oh, this old thing? It was in the back of my closet. Never comes out except around the holidays,” I said.
“I don’t even think you wore it last year, honey. He’s right. It looks good on you,” Mom said, smiling.
“Thanks, Mom. You’re such a champ. And lunch looks delicious, thank you,” I said.
Luke was tearing into his food, and I couldn’t help but snicker. Tyler was taking painfully small bites, obviously latching onto what I was doing-, and he was probably trying to soak up as much of this as he could. He would crack a little joke, and I would playfully shove him with my shoulder, and the eye contact we made with one another intentionally lingered a bit longer than normal.
I was pretty sure Luke’s head was about to pop off and roll onto the floor.
“Alright, business stuff,” Luke said as he stood up. “You coming or not, Tyler?”
“I guess I could take the last part of my sandwich with me,” he said.
“Oh, going so soon? I was hoping we could have coffee or something after lunch,” I said.
“Maybe I’ll take you to coffee later when we’ve got some free time,” Tyler said, winking.
“You won’t take my sister anywhere, but I am taking you to the office. Come on,” Luke said.
“So demanding,” I mouthed to Tyler.
“You two have fun!” my mother called out as she took another bite of her sandwich.
The door closed with a thud, and I couldn’t help but start laughing. That was way too easy and way too much fun. I picked up the rest of my sandwich and tossed it into my mouth, but as I looked over at my mother, I could tell she had something she wanted to say.
And I knew it wasn’t going to be pretty.
“So, you and Tyler. Are you an item?” she asked.
“Nah. Luke was getting on me earlier about some imaginary relationship Tyler and I are apparently having, so I openly flirted with Tyler to piss him off,” I said.
“Does Tyler know that?” sh
e asked.
“Yep. Sent him a text message beforehand,” I lied.
“So, you have his number?” she asked.
Fuck.
“Look, sweetheart. Tyler’s a good boy. He’s smart, responsible, and let’s face it, kind of hot.”
I slowly crinkled my nose and tried to keep the vomit from rising to my throat. My mother, in the span of one three-letter word, just became a cougar.
