by M. A. Lee
“How do you feel this morning?” he asked, picking up a fork and stabbing two pancakes and then placing them on his plate.
Taking a sip of my warm coffee, I allowed the liquid gold to soothe me. “I feel ok,” I lied. “Thanks for staying and helping me last night. I am really sorry you had to stay over, I acted like a child,” I admitted as I cringed inside. I wanted to crawl into a hole and die.
“No problem,” Brandon said as he stuffed his mouth with a large forkful of pancakes. The maple syrup dripped like golden rain from his fork and for some reason, I couldn’t explain or understand, I wanted to reach over and lick the maple and sugar straight from his mouth. Closing my eyes tightly, I shook away the thoughts and told myself I was not thinking clearly. Sure, I had always found Brandon attractive and had once, years before, thought about Brandon in more intimate ways, but now I knew those ideas were just thoughts of a crazy woman.
Remembering Brandon was my friend, I lightened the mood as I tried to compose myself. “Seriously, though, you didn’t have to stay. I feel terrible I ruined your night.”
Laying down his fork, Brandon lowered his head and stared a hole through the kitchen floor. His expression grew dark and serious, and I felt myself scooting even further back in my seat. Across the table, Kylie eyed both of us cautiously as she slowly ate her syrup-drenched pancakes.
“You have nothing to apologize for,” Brandon began. “Jamie screwed up and did this. I should beat his ass for what he did to you. It makes me angry that I thought he was my friend; that I thought I knew the guy I once admired.” His voice was full of anger as he talked and I could see him clutching the sides of the table in rage. “I just can’t understand why he would risk his relationship with you because you are amazing and so beautiful. That other girl, the whore he messed with, I’m sure doesn't even compare to you.”
I sat there as if I were having an out of body experience. I had been called a lot of things in my life; loyal, honest, genuine, compassionate, but never amazing or beautiful. Those adjectives just didn’t feel right describing me; whom I imagined was plain and at the moment a complete mess in everyone’s eyes.
Breaking the awkward tension floating through the room, Kylie chimed in. “Well, I think we can all agree that Jamie is a piece of shit. However, that doesn’t fix anything now. We need to get Leigh moved into my apartment ASAP and we need to help Leigh move on from this mess,” Kylie said, her eyes fixed on Brandon.
I wasn’t sure why she was focusing so much of her attention on him, but something inside of me didn’t like it.
A smile now spreading across his face, Brandon looked up again. “You are moving out?” he asked.
Nodding my head yes, I responded. “Yes, now that I know who Jamie really is, I can’t marry him and I can’t live there anymore. Kylie is letting me live here, so I guess I at least have one plan set in moving forward with my life.”
“Let’s take today to recover and rest and then tomorrow we can get Leigh moved in here.” Kylie offered as she continued to eat. “I don’t know about you all, but I have a hangover from hell and I would be no use if we tried to do that. Plus, I think if I saw Jamie today I would kick his ass.”
Nodding, I understood and agreed. Not wanting any more drama to occur under my watch, I decided to lay low today and just allow myself to prepare for the storm that would come once I had to walk back into the whirlwind that was my life now. Besides, I knew an awkward and uncomfortable conversation with my parents would have to take place, and that would require more strength than I had at the moment.
Agreeing, Brandon offered to help us and because I didn’t have anyone else to rely on, I accepted.
Excusing myself from the table, I felt bile rising in my throat. I guess eating pancakes after filling my stomach with every type of liquor I could find, wasn’t the brightest idea.
“I have to go,” I said as I ran to the bathroom just in time to see my breakfast make a reappearance.
Want to find out what happens with Brandon and Leigh? Find this novel and more at:
https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Us-M-Lee-ebook/dp/B072ZTKMYK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518891169&sr=8-1&keywords=chasing+us+by+ma+lee
“
“
