Phillipe

by Becca Fanning

  He stepped into the house, careful to stay on the mat. “How’s school going?”

  “Good. Really good.” She closed the front door. “Only a year, maybe a year and a half left and then I can start looking for a job.”

  “Sounds like you’re almost at the end then. That’s good.”

  They stood there smiling at each other for a moment, then Brigid realized not only that she was staring but that they were standing awfully close to each other, and blushed. “Uh, I think Patrick is down stairs.”

  “Oh, yeah, thanks.” He put his shoes away and headed across the living room. He didn’t look back even though he could feel her eyes burning into his back as he walked away. As he passed the kitchen he said, “Smells delicious, Katherine.”

  “Thank you. If you’re going downstairs tell Patrick supper is basically ready.”

  “Will do.”

  Behind him he heard, “Brigid, fetch your sister and you’re dad.”

  “Yes, Mom.”

  He padded down the stairs. Patrick was sitting in front of the computer with an oversized pair of headphones on. He was hunched over the desk, his whole body tense as he navigated some battle or other. Phillipe was tempted to drop his hands on Patrick’s shoulders and startle him but then he’d probably lose the match or level or whatever, and then he’d be grouchy so Phillipe just stood back, waiting.

  Finally, Patrick sat up and stretched. The screen was displaying a set of statistics and points. Phillipe cleared his throat. Patrick spun around in his chair, yanking the headphones off.

  “Oh, it’s you. Shit, you scared me.”

  “You’re acting like you’re twelve and just got caught playing an eighteen-plus game by your overprotective mother.”

  “You just startled me.”

  “Uh-huh. Did you win?”

  “Kicked some serious ass.”

  “Well, your mom says it’s time to eat.”

  “Okay. Give me a minute to log everything out and tell my team I have to run.”

  “Take your time. I’m waiting upstairs where there’s food.”

  Patrick waved over his shoulder, his attention already back on the screen.

  Phillipe shook his head and jogged back up the stairs. Christopher was setting out glasses but it looked like the rest of the work was already done. “Used to be you made me help in the kitchen,” Phillipe said.

  Christopher looked up and grinned. “I haven’t seen you in months. How’ve you been?”

  “Good, thanks. What about you? How’s work?”

  “Well as it can be. I’m sure you still come around to see Patrick but it really has been too long since we’ve seen you. You practically lived in our house for a few months.”

  “It was closer to a year. Yeah. My parents didn’t like me visiting much, remember.” The conversation was moving towards tricky territory and Phillipe could feel his shoulders tensing.

  “You’ve been out of their house for twelve years now. Don’t worry about it, I’m sure you’ve had enough of family obligations over the years. We’re just happy to see you.”

  “Thanks.” Like always, Christopher seemed to understand, and for that Phillipe was grateful. He didn’t want to spoil the evening with his difficult past.

  The girls were already sitting at the table, tucked into the two chairs in the back against the wall. Christopher took a seat on one side of them, and Katherine on the other, leaving two chairs open. Phillipe sat down beside Christopher and they waited.

  After a few moments they heard feet on the basement stairs and Patrick appeared in the doorway. “Sorry. I’m here.” He skidded into his seat.

  “Glad you could join us,” Christopher said. “I wasn’t sure if you were eating with us, or eating downstairs again.”

  “I’m here, okay?”

  Katherine forced a smile and said, “Phillipe, please, dig in. There’s lots.”

  “I see that,” he said, grabbing a bun from the bowl. “I don’t think I’ve eaten this well in months.”

  Katherine laughed. “You haven’t even tasted it yet.”

  “I’ve had your cooking before.”

  “Michelle, how’s work?” Christopher asked.

  Phillipe focused on serving himself and passing the dishes around the table while Michelle talked about the interview she’d completed for a possible promotion. Beside him, Patrick sat hunched in on himself, staring at his plate.

  “What about you, Patrick?” Christopher said. “How many shifts this week?”

  “Five. And four next week.”

  “Will you have time to cut the lawn?”

  “Yeah, I can do it.”

  Katherine passed Patrick the ham. “You’ve been working there, how long now?”

  “Two years,” Patrick mumbled.

  “You should be due for a promotion soon too,” Katherine said.

  “Doesn’t work like that,” Patrick said. “There’s only one position higher than me and it’s full and he’s not quitting anytime soon.”

  “Don’t quit,” Christopher said. “Work is work. But you should have your eye on a job where there are advancement opportunities. You don’t want to be stuck putting cans on a shelf your whole life.”

  “I’ve already gotten two raises,” Patrick said. “Maybe I won’t get an official promotion but I can get more hours, and I’m doing more than just stocking shelves now.”

  “Yeah,” Michelle said. “He gets to do seasonal displays now too.”

  “Oh shut up,” Patrick snapped.

  Michelle smiled at him and blew him a kiss.

  “That’s enough,” Katherine said. “Brigid, when are your midterms?”

  “Soon. A few weeks.”

  “How many exams are you writing?” Phillipe asked.

  “Just two. My other three classes are full-year so I write the mid-terms in December at the same time as I write the finals for these two. Then two mid-terms at the end of February and five finals in April.”

  “Wow. I hated writing tests in school. I mean, I knew the stuff and I could do the assignments, but tests and exams? No thanks.”

  Brigid laughed. “I couldn’t imagine you being afraid of anything.”

  “Afraid? Who said anything about being afraid?”

  “Sounds like you were scared of your exams, Phil.”

  “Yeah right. I wasn’t scared. I just didn’t test well.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  Patrick glanced at Brigid, who was smiling, and Phillipe, who was trying not to smile, and frowned. “Hey, Phillipe, how’s work at the club?”

  “Fine. No real problems. We’re not a huge club, or famous, but we’re popular. That means we have a lot of regulars, and regulars tend to know and respect the rules. We don’t get a lot of tourists, they tend to go to the famous clubs, or the ones closer to the hotels. Those are the people who can get rowdy.”

  “Why do you work there?” Katherine said. “Sounds dangerous.”

  “Look at him,” Brigid said. “I’m not sure anyone would choose to mess with someone with arms that big, no matter how drunk they are.”

  Phillipe looked down at his plate.

  Patrick’s frown deepened. “I’ve seen Phillipe in a fight,” he said.

  “Oh sure,” Phillipe said. “It happens. These guys get drunk and think they’re ten feet tall. But I don’t work alone. The other bouncers are good guys too, they have my back. No one’s been seriously hurt on the job.”

  “That’s good,” Katherine said. “I worry, you know.”

  “Thanks, but you don’t have to. I’m perfectly safe.” He glanced over at Brigid to find she was staring at him the same way guys at the bar stared at Coraline.

  She gave him a little half-smile when their eyes met and then turned to Michelle. “You still seeing that guy? What was his name?”

  “No, we broke up. But there’s this guy down in the mail room, really cute. And I heard some of the ladies chatting in the lunch room, apparently he’s in a band.”

  “J
ust your type then,” Patrick said, his voice dry, almost sarcastic.

  “Have you got your eye on anyone?” Michelle asked him.

  “Well no, not right now. I mean, there’s not a lot of girls at work and most of them are already seeing someone.”

  “So, who’s Coraline?” Brigid asked.

  Patrick glared at his sister. “No one.”

  “Then why were you talking to Phillipe about her?”

  “You’re not supposed to be eavesdropping,” Patrick snapped. “It’s rude.”

  “I wasn’t sitting on the stairs listening to your every word, I was just going down to put something in the freezer for Mom and heard you on your headset.”

  “Who is Coraline?” Christopher asked. “Someone from work?”

  “Sort of,” Patrick said.

  “Another staff member? A customer?”

  “She works,” Patrick said, “Just not with me.”

  “She works at the club with me,” Phillipe said. “We were just swapping work stories and Patrick was nagging me to make a move on her.” He saw something flash across Brigid’s face, something that could have been disappointment.

  “Why don’t you?” Michelle said.

  “She’s not my type. And bears are more solitary, so I don’t really feel the need to just casually date.”

  “Don’t knock it ‘til you try it,” Michelle shot back with a grin.

  “So, what is your type?” Brigid asked.

  “Hmm?”

  “This girl, Coraline, she’s not you’re type, so what is?”

  “Oh, uh, I don’t know.”

  “Don’t tease,” Katherine said. “Phillipe, please, have some more. Don’t be shy.”

  “You don’t have to tell me twice,” he said and started filling his plate again.

  After seconds there was pie and then Katherine packed a large container of leftovers and set it in front of Phillipe.

  “Oh, you don’t have to do that,” Phillipe said.

  “Nonsense. Someone has to look after you.”

  “I eat,” he said. “I can cook. And I have a good job so I’m not short on groceries.”

  “You’re supposed to compliment her cooking and say ‘thank you’,” Brigid said in a whisper that was loud enough for everyone at the table to hear.

  “Oh, sorry,” Phillipe whispered back. “Thanks, Katherine,” he said in a normal voice. “I bet it’ll taste just as good reheated.”

  She swatted his arm. “You’re impossible. Are the four of you ever going to grow up?”

  “Not likely,” Christopher said. “Oh, I think I could sleep for a week, I’m so full.”

  “You’ll be raiding my fridge in an hour,” Katherine said. “Girls, you get to do dishes tonight.”

  “But he’s Patrick’s friend,” Michelle said. “And I have plans tonight.”

  “You clear the table and clean up,” Brigid said. “I’ll wash. But you owe me.”

  “Fine,” Michelle grumbled.

  “I’ll walk Phillipe out,” Patrick said.

  “Oh, no rush,” Katherine said. “I can put on some coffee.”

  “No, Phillipe was telling me earlier he has some stuff to get done tonight.”

  Phillipe let his friend push him towards the door. “Thanks again,” he said over his shoulder.

  “You’re welcome any time,” Katherine said, waving.

  Patrick handed him his shoes and herded him out the door.

  “You didn’t have to walk me to my car,” Phillipe said as he and Patrick walked down the driveway. “It’s a good neighborhood and I’m big enough that most people would think twice before jumping me.”

  “I’m not here to protect you, Phillipe.”

  “I didn’t think so. You barely gave me a chance to put my shoes on. What’s on your mind?”

  “Are you flirting with my sister?”

  “I don’t think I’m Michelle’s type. Doesn’t she like musicians and artists – like the long-haired, sensitive, talented types?”

  “I meant Brigid.”

  Phillipe snorted. “Brigid is a child. My best-friend’s pesky little sister. Why?”

  “You didn’t notice? She was totally flirting with you over dinner.”

  “Are you sure? You’re just reading into things.”

  “I hope you’re right, man. We have a plan and she’s not part of it.”

  “Nothing has changed. I mean, I’ve got my mandatory play-nice day coming up again. If we could be gone before then I’d be out of here in a flash. But things aren’t ready. I’m not stalling for anyone or anything.”

  “That’s good to hear. I’ll see you around.”

  “Sure.” Phillipe got in the car, waved to his friend, and pulled away from the curb. His mind went right back to Brigid. He knew full well he was flirting and he couldn’t help it. He didn’t even mean to do it, it just slipped out. Was she really flirting with me, too? I thought I was just making a fool of myself. She doesn’t have a thing for me, does she? Ah well, doesn’t really matter. I’ll be gone in a few months anyways.

  They didn’t often meet at Remy’s apartment. The warehouse was for full moons because of the sheer amount of space they needed and most mid-month meetings and casual gatherings were held at the Tandell’s house because they had a house. Remy and the rest of the clan lived in apartments. But tonight’s meeting wasn’t with the clan. Tonight was just between Remy and Phillipe. Tara had made plans to visit Gia, who was entering the uncomfortable stage of her pregnancy, according to Brock, so Phillipe would be able to speak to his clan chief in private.

  He parked in the visitor lot and came into the entry way as Tara stepped off the elevator inside. She waved and hurried over. “I’m running late,” she said as she opened the door for him. “He’s already up there. I’ll see you later.”

  “Thanks Tara. Say hi to Gia for me. And Connie.”

  “Will do.”

  He texted Remy from the elevator and let himself into the apartment without knocking. Remy had a couple of beers and a pizza on the table.

  “The place is looking snazzy,” Phillipe said as he came in.

  Remy shrugged. “She hasn’t gone overboard, thank-god, but I like that she’s making herself at home around here.”

  “No, it looks nice. She’s got good taste. Feels more like a home now.”

  “Yes, it does. Do you work tonight?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Then sit, grab a bite, and we’ll make this quick and painless.”

  “I don’t know about painless,” Phillipe said, sitting down.

  “Why? What’s this about?”

  “I want to leave New Orleans.”

  There was a moment of silence and then Remy said, “Because of your parents?”

  Phillipe nodded and said, “In part. It’s a large part. Look, your dad, Christopher, you, Brock, you’ve all been good guys. But I need to get out. I need to get away from it. Everywhere I look is a reminder of what I went through and I’m getting tired of it.”

  “Is this because I insist you keep in touch with your parents?”

  “No. Look, whether I have to have dinner with them or not there’s still the chance I’m going to bump into them somewhere. New Orleans is a big city but we all live in the same little corner of it and I don’t want to move across the city and have to drive forty minutes for clan stuff. I want to move to another state and live close to a clan and get a new job and just start a new life.”

  “It’s a big thing, moving clans. Any idea where you want to go?”

  “You said good things about Montana and I’m thinking maybe some fresh air and trees would be a good change for me.”

  “The clan chief there is a good man. I’ll talk to him for you. You’ll need a place to stay.”

  “A place for two.”

  “Oh?”

  “I don’t know if he’s talked to his Alpha yet so don’t say anything, but Patrick is leaving too. We’ve got plans to move in together, at least at first.”
<
br />   “Well, I won’t mention that in Jules’ hearing, but I think you two will be fine out there. I don’t know anything about the pack out there though.”

  “I’m sure Patrick can figure that out.”

  “Why didn’t you ask me to leave sooner? This has been an ongoing thing for you.”

  “I didn’t have the money to leave. Moving is expensive.”

  “You could have asked for a loan. We have money set aside for clan use.”

  “I don’t want to owe you money, Remy, or Brock either. I want to leave and not look back. I don’t want to have to call every month to tell you when the money is coming. I want a clean break, a fresh start.”

  “I’ll be honest, Phillipe, I’ll miss you. You’re level-headed and honest, and you’ve been a good friend. But if this is what you want, I’ll talk to the chief in Montana and see about making it work. If he can’t take you I’ll try to find somewhere that will, somewhere with a wolf pack nearby.”

  “Thanks.” Somehow, during the course of their short conversation, they’d eaten most of the pizza and both polished off their beers. “And thanks for dinner. I should go. It’s going to be a busy night tonight. Live music.”

  “Don’t bust any heads.”

  “But that’s the best part of the job.” He managed a grin. “Hey, don’t tell the others yet, okay?”

  “I won’t. I’ll leave that to you. See you at the warehouse.”

  “Yeah. Thanks again.”

  He got to the club, tossed his stuff in his locker, and headed out on the floor to help the bartenders get the floor in order. Chairs had to be taken down, tables wiped, bottles topped up, and so on. The DJ was there already doing an equipment check. He didn’t see Bastien anywhere but assumed he was in his office working on the schedule, or counting his money.

  Michael was already there taking down chairs. Coraline was behind the bar pulling glasses out of the dishwasher trays and stacking them under the bar. She called to Phillipe as soon as he walked out on the floor.

  “You want to run to the back and grab the vodka? I need all new bottles.”

  “I can grab a case, sure.” He turned and headed the other way. He was easing a cardboard box off one of the shelves when he heard someone come in. They didn’t have a large storage room, or pantry as they all called it since really all they stored here was the extra booze and peanuts, and he was a large man. He said. “Hold on, I’ll be out of the way in a sec.”