Jumping Through Hoops

It wasn't until I got to work that I realized that I had left my phone at home.  I honestly had no idea where it even was.  My best guess was the couch somewhere.  Oh well.  I made it through the day with only minimal distraction from thinking about the night before.  One of the perks of being busy--you don't have long to think about everything else.  Lauren had made me promise to come to happy hour for last minute planning for Kinsley's birthday, so after work I dutifully drove to the bar.

When I walked in, I saw their table right away and headed towards it.  Suddenly,  my heart jumped into my throat.  Brody was sitting there.  I didn't know he was going to be back already.  Or here, tonight.  I changed my path and made a beeline to the bar.  I was going to need a drink for this.  He caught my eye right before I turned towards the bar.  Shit.

While I was waiting for my drink, Brody approached me.  "Liv," he said tentatively.  "Can we talk?"  I nodded, and when my drink came, Brody led me to an empty table in a deserted corner of the bar.  I set my drink down and let him embrace me tightly.  I breathed in deeply, his scent rousing feelings that I wasn't ready to feel.  Mountains.  He still smells like mountains.  I squeezed my eyes shut tightly for a second before I pulled back. 

We sat.  "So," I asked, before I could stop myself.  "Are you back to pack or back for good?"  He cringed slightly at me throwing his words from two months ago back in his face.   I meant it as a joke, but it came out sounding childish and confrontational. 

"For good," he said, looking at me carefully.  My heart jumped at the words, and I just stared at him for a second.

"I'm sorry," I apologized, after I had processed what he had said.  "That was not how I meant it to come out." I wasn't really sure what else to say, so I said nothing. 

He nodded.  "Liv, I know that you're upset, and you're probably surprised to see me.  I get it.  But please hear me out, okay?" he asked.  I nodded, running my finger along the side seam of my pants to try to distract and calm myself.  He took a deep breath and continued.  "My dad's people weren't pleased with the boss's son waltzing in and taking over, but once they got used to me, I actually really enjoyed the position.  It felt right, it felt natural.  I was good at it."  I was confused.  If it felt right, why was he here?  He saw my confusion and nodded.  "Miami isn't home anymore.  I remembered how much I hated being in the same state as my dad."  He paused.  "And you're not there."

I didn't say anything.  He sighed and went on.  "I didn't want to be under my dad's thumb anymore, and I knew he'd resent me coming back here.  So I bought out my branch.  I used the bonus I got from the 60 days I was there, my share of the stock, and some money I'd been saving, and I made him an offer he tried to refuse, but in the end he couldn't.  My company is really mine now.  My dad isn't my boss anymore, and he can't make me do anything I don't want to do."  He stared at me, almost desperately.

I paused, trying to figure out what to say.  I made eye contact briefly, but couldn't maintain it and quickly looked down.  "Brody," I started, my voice shaky.  I breathed in and tried again.  "Brody, I need you to know that I've been kind of seeing someone."  The words came out haltingly, even with my best effort to steady my voice.

"I know," he said softly.  "Lauren told me."  I silently thanked Lauren.  At least he was prepared.  He tilted my chin up so my eyes met his.  "Can I change that?" he asked.  My skin hummed with electricity where he touched me. 

I was silent for a long moment.  Then I said, "He jumped through a lot of hoops for me.  He deserves a real chance.  I'm sorry."

He dropped his gaze.  As he lowered his eyes, they fell on the fading, hand-shaped bruise around my forearm.  He reached for my arm, and tilted it towards him, holding it gently by the elbow and wrist.  He inspected it, and I watched the muscles in his jaw and neck tighten.  "He didn't do this to you, did he?" he asked, the fury in his voice barely controlled.  He looked up at me again, and I was surprised at the intensity of the anger in his eyes.  I shook my head quickly.

"No," I said, my voice breaking slightly.  "Actually, it's because of him that nothing worse happened."  Brody looked back at the bruise, and touched his fingertips gently to it. 

"Well, I guess if I ever meet him I'll have to thank him for that," he said, releasing my arm.  "Who was it?"

"Some really drunk guy at a bar," I responded.  I didn't think it was a good idea to say that the really drunk guy was James's brother.  He nodded, and I continued, "I, um, should go see Lauren and Kinsley.  I promised to talk to them today about Saturday."  Without waiting for him to reply, I stood.  He stopped me with a hand on my arm.

"Is he coming?  On Saturday?" Brody asked.

"Maybe, I'm not sure," I responded.

"So...is it serious?" he asked tentatively.

I paused, considering how to answer.  "I'm not sure what it is," I said, honestly.  "It's only been a few weeks.  But like I said, he's jumped through a lot of hoops.  I haven't been an easy person to date lately."  Brody nodded but didn't speak, so I turned to go.  I had taken two steps away when he spoke again.

"Liv."  Something about his tone compelled me to turn.  "I jumped through hoops for you too.  And I'll do it again, as many times as I need to."  His green eyes bored into mine, and I just stood there, our eyes locked, for several seconds.  Then I turned quickly and walked over to the table where the rest of the group was sitting. 

Lauren jumped up as I approached and met me several steps from the table.  "I texted you, I tried to warn you," she said, breathlessly.

"My phone is at home somewhere, I was running late this morning and forgot it," I said miserably.  Then I looked at her.  "Thank you.  For trying to warn me, and for warning him about James.  That conversation could have gone much less smoothly."  She looked at me sympathetically.

"You'll have to tell me about it later," she said, squeezing my hand.  "He's coming back."  We walked to the table and sat, and Lauren stuck me between her and Kendra.  We talked about Saturday.  Kinsley asked if James was coming and I said I invited him but needed to call him with details.  She said Damien was coming, which would probably help my cause with James.  I managed to avoid any more awkward conversations with Brody, and left after about an hour and a half.

I found my phone on the couch when I got home and called James.  I gave him the party details, and he said he had plans with friends Saturday morning but that he'd try to stop by at some point during the cook out, otherwise he'd meet us out.  I felt weird talking to him after my conversation with Brody.  Brody, shit.

"Hey, um, I just wanted to let you know that my...a guy I used to date will be there.  Just so you know," I told him.

"Well, you met my brother, I think I can handle meeting an ex," he joked.

We said goodnight, and I went to bed.