(Then) Kinsley: An Ending and a Beginning

"Put some clothes on," Kate instructed me.

"I have clothes on," I replied, rolling my eyes and looking back at the TV.

Kate walked over to the TV and turned it off, then stood in front of it.  "Real clothes.  Going out clothes.  Remember?  You told me you'd go to that party with me."  I didn't move and she sighed.  "Kinsley, it's the end of the year!  We need to celebrate."

"Fine," I grumbled.  I hauled myself off the couch and walked towards my room.  "Come help!" I called over my shoulder at her.  I laid on my bed while Kate picked out something for me to wear, then I dutifully put it on.  "Whose party is this?" I asked, plugging in my hair straightener.

"My friend Kendra's boyfriend's.  He and some friends have a really great house, I guess.  I've never been there."  She shook her head and unplugged my straightener, swapping it for my curling iron.

"You want curls on my head, you're putting them there," I informed her.  She shrugged and started pawing through my makeup.

An hour later, I was dressed, curled, and made up to Kate's specifications, and we were in a cab on the way to Kate's friend Kendra's boyfriend's house.  Wherever that was.  We pulled up in front of a house that was not too far from campus and Kate paid the cab driver. 

There were already a ton of people there, but Kate managed to find Kendra quickly.  She introduced me.  Kendra seemed really nice but I could tell that big parties like this weren't really her scene.  She took us into the kitchen to get some drinks and we were in there for all of 5 minutes before I felt someone walk up behind me.  Before I could turn around, I heard Michael's voice say, "Kate, you look great.  It's good to see you."  I turned and gave him a 'what the fuck?' look.  "Oh, hey Kins.  How's it going?"  Seriously?  My roommate gets a compliment and I get an 'oh, hey Kins'?  I glared at him.  He just smiled back.   I hadn't seen or talked to Michael since the night we had sex in my bed, and this was how he made his re-entrance?

Being the perfectly reasonable, mature 21 year old that I was, I smiled sweetly and scanned the room for a guy to flirt with.  I located two possibilities and managed to catch one of their eyes.  I smiled my best flirty smile and he grinned right back.  A few minutes later, he wandered over.

"Hi," he said, staring at me.  "I'm Eric."

I shifted my eyes down just for a brief second, then raised them back up to his.  "Kinsley."  After a beat, I introduced Kate, Kendra, and Michael.  He nodded at them but was clearly there to talk to me.  I laughed to myself, turning away from Michael to give Eric my full attention.  After a few minutes, I let him lead me away into a different room.

As we walked out of the kitchen, I couldn't help but throw a glance over my shoulder at Michael.  He was watching me walk out, shaking his head.  I smirked at him before turning back to follow Eric. 

Eric and I found a quieter corner to stand and drink and talk.  He was horrifically stupid, but that didn't matter for now.  When he realized my drink was empty, he jumped up right away to go get me a new one.

I was waiting for him to come back when I became aware of someone approaching from behind.  Before I had a chance to turn, assuming it was Eric, whoever it was was pressed against my back.  I started to turn my head, but an arm snaked around my chest, holding me in place.  "Having a good time?" Michael purred in my ear.  I shivered when his lips brushed lightly against my earlobe.

Before I could answer, Eric came back.  "Dude, what the fuck?" he said, looking at us in confusion.  I squirmed a little trying to turn to face Eric.

"Sorry," Michael replied, flashing a smile at Eric and tightening his grip on me.  "Need to keep her on a shorter leash."  I tried again to wiggle free again, furious at his words.

"You should probably let her go," Eric said.  "She doesn't look too happy."  He took a step closer.  Michael laughed.  He had several inches on Eric and was clearly completely unconcerned with his apparent desire to defend me.

"I'm fine, Eric.  I'm sorry, this is awkward."  I smiled weakly at him.  He glared from me to Michael, then turned and walked off.

As soon as he was gone, Michael let go of me.  I spun and stared at him.  "I fucking hate you." I spat.

"I know, I know.  And you'll hate me forever.  And ever.  Do we really have to go through this part, or can we skip it and find somewhere to have sex?"  He looked at me with a completely expressionless face, as if he was perfectly bored by this interaction.

"You hit on my roommate to antagonize me," I accused him.

"And you hit on Eric to antagonize me," he tossed back easily.  He yawned, further solidifying his bored appearance.

"You did it first!" I snapped, my voice starting to get loud.

"Shhh," he hushed me, pressing a finger to my lips.  "People will think you're a damsel in distress."  He moved his fingertip a bit lower, running it across my lower lip. My lips parted automatically and I knew this was happening again.

Without saying a word, I turned away from him and walked up towards the stairs, trusting that he'd follow.  I sensed him close on my heels as I went upstairs.  A door opened as we walked past, and a girl with blonde hair came out, almost walking right into me.  "Watch it," she snarled, as I peeked around her.  The door was to a bathroom, and I walked in.  Michael followed.

I leaned against the counter and watched him close and lock the door.  It wasn't a large bathroom, and he turned and took half a step and was even with me.  "Want to tell me more about how much you hate me?" he asked, running one finger across my exposed collarbone and staring blatantly at my cleavage.  "I know it's your favorite foreplay."

"Shut the fuck up and kiss me, asshole," I replied, grabbing him by the belt and pulling him against me.

He laughed before pressing his lips hard against mine.  He only kissed me for a couple seconds before spinning me around so my back was to him.  Sandwiched between him and the counter, I couldn't do anything but gasp when he grabbed a handful of my hair, close to the scalp, and tilted my head to the side.  My gasp quickly turned to a whimper of pleasure when he kissed my exposed neck.  He slid his lips up to my ear and whispered, "Too hard?" while he loosened his grip on my hair just a little.  I shook my head the tiny bit that I could and I felt his lips curl into a grin against my neck.  He continued moving his lips and tongue up and down the side of my neck, torturing me until I was almost ready to take matters into my own hands.

He seemed to sense the moment I was about to get too frustrated and let go of my hair to unbutton my pants.  He pushed them and my underwear down to my knees and somehow managed to lose his pants too.  He moved one hand in front of me and pressed two fingers against me.  I moaned softly as he pushed his hips against mine, pushing me harder against his fingers.  I cried out as he suddenly thrust into me.  His other hand slapped quickly over my mouth.  "Quiet," he advised softly against my ear.  "Unless you want to be interrupted."  I shook my head frantically, moaning quietly against his hand. 

Thanks to Michael's skillful attention, I came twice in mere minutes before he groaned and leaned forward, shuddering against my back.  I wiggled my arms out from where they were trapped and placed my palms on the counter to steady us both. After about 30 seconds, he straightened and stepped away from me.

We both got ourselves together and left the bathroom.  I walked downstairs to find Kate, but I didn't see her.  I walked into the kitchen to get a drink, and as I was pouring, an unfamiliar voice said, "Lose your boyfriend?"

I turned and saw the blonde girl that had come out of the bathroom before Michael and I went in.  I snorted.  "He's not my boyfriend.  Actually, I can't fucking stand him."  She gave me a look that was somehow simultaneously skeptical and judgmental.  I shrugged.  "The sex just happens to be incredible."

Her look melted into a smile and she chuckled.  "Well in that case, good for you.  I'm Lauren."

"Kinsley," I replied.  "Where are you from?"

She rolled her eyes.  "Wisconsin.  Is it that obvious?  I've lived here for 3 years and I still get people asking me if I'm from Canada."

"Sorry," I apologized.  "It's not super obvious, but I can tell."

She shrugged.  "Oh well.  So, are you here with someone?  Besides that guy that you claim to not be able to stand?"

"My friend Kate.  She's friends with Kendra?  I don't know where she is," I said.

"Funny.  I'm here with Kendra.  Who is currently upstairs banging her boyfriend.  So I guess we both got ditched!"  She laughed.

"To be fair, I ditched Kate first," I responded, laughing with her.  Lauren and I talked for nearly 45 minutes while we waited for Kate and Kendra to reappear.  We had a ton in common and it didn't take long for us to exchange phone numbers and make plans to go shopping.

When Kate finally did make her way into the kitchen, she said she was ready to go.  I said goodbye to my new friend Lauren and we walked out.  We decided to walk back (probably not the best choice, but it happens) and were walking down the front walk to the sidewalk when someone called my name.

I turned and saw Michael.  Kate continued up to the sidewalk as I waited for him to approach me.  He stopped in front of me and just stared at me for several seconds.  Then he kissed me softly, tenderly.  Everything about it felt wrong, and I pulled away.  He smiled sadly at me and said, "If you ever decide you want something more than hate sex from me, call me."  I nodded, but we both knew I'd never call.

Meet the Parents: Mom

I'm feeling a bonus post today.  Happy Wednesday :)
___________________________________________ 

I woke up earlier than I needed to Thursday morning, and nerves didn't let me go back to sleep.  I got up and washed the couple dishes in my sink and got stuff out to make breakfast.  As I was finishing up, Brody came down the stairs, looking perfectly disheveled.

"Just in time to eat and not have to help!" I teased.  "Seems about right."

"I'm so glad you noticed, I've worked hard to perfect this ability," he said with a grin, sliding his arms around my waist from behind and kissing my cheek.  He let go and walked to the cabinet, taking out plates, then silverware.  After we ate, I started to get up to clear the dishes, but he stood quickly and grabbed my plate.  "I've got it," he said.

I let him wash the dishes and went upstairs to pack.  I had been putting it off because I wasn't sure what to bring.  I packed the basics first.  When Brody came upstairs, I made him help me choose an outfit for dinner with his dad.  He helped me pick out a dress and I quickly found shoes and accessories to go with it.  Lauren would have been proud.  Brody showered while I finished packing clothes, and then I showered.  I dried and straightened my hair, put on just a little makeup, and after trying on about 5 different outfits, trotted downstairs to get a second opinion on the one I choose.

Brody approved, though I'm pretty sure he'd have approved a paper sack.  I went back upstairs, threw my hair dryer, straightener, curling iron, and makeup in my bag, and then I was ready.  It was a little after 11, and we decided to head out.

As we drove, Brody glanced over at me.  "So, ready to hear about the family?" he asked.  Now he looked nervous.  I was definitely ready to hear about them though, because he had been so tight-lipped about them up until now.  I nodded.

"Okay, my mom is a wonderful woman.  She obviously took my sister's death really hard, but she does well now.  She shows her love through food, so she'll probably shove food at you all weekend.  It's okay to say no."

"Do you know anything about me?  Like I'd ever turn down food," I joked.

"Good point," Brody replied with a laugh.  "My sister Jen is almost 27, so she's your age.  She's kind of got youngest child syndrome, so she can be whiny and a bit spoiled.  But she's really fun and she's been really successful at work.  She's a hard worker.  She lives in Philadelphia now so I don't get to see her as much as I'd like."  He paused. I wondered why he was so nervous.  So far it seemed like a normal family.

He continued.  "My brother Ken is...well...he's Ken.  He still lives in Seattle, and I'm not entirely sure if he'll be there.  He does what he wants.  After Heather died, he really had a hard time with everything.  He started drinking a lot, staying out until all hours.  He lost job after job.  Finally, my mom kicked him out.  I was shocked, because my mom is not really the kicking-out type, but I think she realized that it was the only way.  He's mostly sober now, and he's usually got a job, but Ken's a lot like my dad, so he can be unpredictable and abrasive.  He gives me a lot of shit for not coming to visit him more often.  Of course, he never comes to visit me either."  There was a trace of bitterness in his voice, and I guessed that Brody and Ken had been pretty close at one point.

"And your dad?" I asked tentatively.

Brody sighed.  "I don't even know what to tell you about him.  I guess just don't even worry because if he finds fault in something you say or do, it's not a reflection on you at all.  My dad is a liar and a cheater, and you already know he's controlling and overbearing.  My best advice to you with my dad is just to say as little as possible."  How reassuring.  Needless to say, I was not looking forward to that part of the weekend.

Brody changed the subject and we talked about other things the rest of the way.  I got more and more nervous as we got closer.  When Brody parked in the driveway of a beautiful house that was immaculate from the outside, I decided I would just stay in the car.  This house outclassed me all on its own.  Brody squeezed my hand and gave me a reassuring smile.  I took a deep breath, and we got out.

As we were gathering our stuff, the front door opened.  A petite woman with thick, dark hair came out onto the front step and waved happily at us.  When we got to the step, she ushered us in.  "Hi mom," Brody said, setting his bag down and giving her a hug.  "This is Olivia."  Brody's mom turned to me, beaming.  Her smile put me immediately at ease.

"Hi, Mrs..." I trailed off.  I realized I didn't know her last name.  Or her first name, for that matter.

"It's still Adler--I never changed it back--but please call me Thalia, dear."  She pulled me into a hug, all while keeping hold of one of Brody's hands.  I could see now why he's constantly touching me, it seemed like the thing to do in this house.  Brody's mom had to be in her 60s, but she didn't look a day over 40.  I hope I look that good when I'm old enough to have grandchildren. 

"Nice to meet you, Thalia, thank you so much for having me this weekend."  I tried to be polite, but it came out sounding stiff and rehearsed.  She didn't seem to notice.

"Brody, I just sent Ken off to pick up Jennifer at the airport.  Take your stuff to your room and I'll get you guys something to drink.  Are you hungry?"  She looked from him to me.  We both shook our heads.  "Okay then, what would you like to drink?  Coffee?  Tea?  Hot cocoa?  Water?  Something else?"

"I'll find something, mom," Brody said.  "What would you like, Liv?"

"Tea actually sounds really great," I replied.

Brody's mom smiled warmly.  "I was just going to make myself some peppermint tea, is that alright?"  I nodded and returned her smile.  She hurried off to the kitchen and Brody and I grabbed our bags again.  He led me up a flight of gleaming hardwood stairs and to a room at the end of the hall.  It was set up like a guest room, but had a few relics of Brody.  Track medals, football pictures, a framed newspaper article.  I looked around at them, smiling at this glimpse into Brody's life before I met him.

"I never lived in this house, and neither did any of my siblings, but my mom put some of our stuff up in each of the bedrooms." He rolled his eyes as he said it.

"I like it," I said, fingering a gleaming medal hanging from a hook on the wall.  "I didn't know you were a high school track star." 

"I wouldn't go that far," he replied.

I spotted a photo of him and a black German Shepherd--the same dog in the picture at his house that I had admired the first time I was there.  "Who's that?" I asked, pointing at the dog.

"Heath," Brody replied, grinning at the picture.  "He was awesome."

"He's gorgeous," I said, looking at the picture a little longer.

Brody interrupted my thoughts, asking, "Would you like to see the rest of the house?"  He took me around, showing me where everything was.  I paused at a wall full of pictures.  He told me about some of them, then pointed to what looked like a senior photo of a beautiful girl that looked a lot like his mom, but much younger.  "That's Heather," he explained.  I nodded, unsure of what else to say.  I was completely intimidated by all the photos, because it was clear that Brody's entire family had more than their fair share of attractive genes.  They were all olive skinned and dark haired, and I felt out of place with my fair skin and blonde hair.  A completely ridiculous way to feel, of course, but it was there.

When we made our way back down to the kitchen, there was a steaming mug of tea sitting on the marble island.  "Do you want any honey, sugar, or milk, dear?" Thalia asked.

"No thanks, this is great."  I replied.  "Your house is beautiful."

"Thank you, it took me awhile to get things how I wanted it, but I'm pleased with it now."  She was fussing over something in the oven.  Brody walked past her to look in the fridge, and came back with a Dr. Pepper.  As he walked past, his mom turned to him and whispered, "She's so pretty!"  I blushed.

Brody laughed.  "She can hear you," he whispered back.  She shrugged. 

"Sit, please, keep me company while I cook!" she instructed us.  I offered to help, and she quickly turned me down.  "Guests don't help with dinner," she admonished.  We sat and chatted with her while she cooked.  She asked me questions about my job, where I went to school, and Wisconsin, and I managed to answer without saying anything stupid.  Brody kept his hand on my leg, and his touch was reassuring.

About an hour after we had gotten there, the door opened and two people walked in.  I assumed they were Ken and Jennifer, and Brody got up to greet them.  Jen went to take her bag upstairs and Ken came into the kitchen.  Brody introduced us, but he seemed largely uninterested.  He gave me a brief, insincere smile and then walked back out of the kitchen. 

Jen was much friendlier, hugging me and asking about my boots that she had seen by the door.  She was sweet and made me feel welcome very easily.  When we sat down to eat, Ken reappeared.  He sat down across from me and I could feel him studying me.  I was turning to Jen to ask her a question when Ken interrupted.

"So, do you know that you're the first girl Brody's brought home since high school?"

"Um, no, I guess I didn't know that," I stammered, caught off guard.

"You are."  He said it matter-of-factly and didn't elaborate.  After an uncomfortable pause, Jen turned to me and we started talking.  We made it about two sentences in before Ken interrupted again.

"You don't look like a slut."  Again, it was very matter-of-fact.

Brody's mom exclaimed, "Ken!" at the same time Brody said, "Jesus, are you serious?"  I just stared at him while my face got hot.

"What?" he asked.  "That was sort of a compliment."  He rolled his eyes.  "I'm sure she's really classy and honorable compared to the other chicks Brody used to 'date'."  He rolled his eyes again and used air quotes when he said "date", making his meaning very clear.

I felt Brody stiffen next to me. "Knock it off," he growled to Ken.  Jen started talking loudly about something that happened at work the day before, and Ken went back to his dinner, completely nonchalant.

"I'm so sorry," Brody whispered to me.  I just shook my head and took a bite of the roasted lamb on my plate.

"This is amazing," I said to Brody's mom after a pause.  "I don't think I've ever actually had lamb before."  Across from me, Ken snorted.

"What the hell?" Ken said, suddenly.  "Don't kick me."  I was starting to understand why Brody grew uneasy when talking about Ken.

"Then stop being an asshole," Brody shot back.

"Both of you need to stop right now," came Thalia's firm voice.  She turned to me.  "I apologize for the behavior of my sons.  Both of them."

The rest of dinner was quiet, but uneventful.  Everything was amazing and I ate a ton.  I tried to help Thalia clear the dishes and clean up but she firmly shooed me away.  Brody took my hand and led me up to the room our stuff was in.  He closed the door firmly. 

"I'm really sorry.  I didn't think he'd actually be such an asshole in the middle of dinner.  He was really out of line," he apologized.

"At least he didn't assault me a bar hallway," I said in a terribly timed attempt at a joke.  Brody's face darkened more.  "I'm kidding, I'm sorry.  That was a bad choice.  Am I really the first girlfriend you've brought home since high school?"

"You're really the first actual girlfriend I've had since high school, hence Ken's reference to sluts," he said miserably.  "I mean, I've sort of dated a couple girls since then, but nothing really serious.  No one I felt strongly enough about to subject to this disaster.  I actually broke up with a girl in high school to avoid bringing her to meet my family."

I smiled.  "So you feel strongly about me, huh?"

His face finally softened.  "Of course," he said, brushing a piece of hair away from my face, and kissing me gently.  "Strongly enough to trust that you won't hate me for bringing you here."

"Your mom and your sister are lovely," I said.  "And I couldn't hate you.  I am a little relieved that you're just as nervous as I am though!" He laughed.

There was a knock on the door.  "It's me," came Jen's voice from the other side.  Brody told her to come in.  She sat down next to us on the bed.

"I'm so sorry about Ken," she said, taking my hands in hers.  "I had a talk with him, and I'm pretty sure he's gotten his head out of his ass.  He's leaving tomorrow anyway, but there was no reason for him to be so rude."

I was blushing again.  "Thanks," I said quietly.

"Anyway, do you guys want to go get a drink or something?  There are usually a few places in town open tonight."  She looked at us both hopefully.  Brody looked at me.

"Sure, that sounds nice," I agreed.  Jen offered to drive but Brody shook his head and said he would.  We went into the city and he found an open bar.  We went inside, and I was surprised to see how many people were there.  We stopped at the bar and then found a table in the back.  We spent two hours there, Jen and I getting to know each other, and Jen and Brody catching up.  It was really low key, and relaxing after what had happened at dinner.

When we got back, the kitchen was spotless and Brody's mom was sitting in the living room watching the news.  We sat with her and passed a pleasant hour or so chatting and watching TV.

After we got ready for bed, Brody pulled me away from my bag, where I was searching for my Kindle.  He hugged me tightly.  "Thank you for putting up with my family," he said.  He pulled back and kissed me.  After a few seconds, he deepened the kiss and grabbed me by the hips, pulling me against him.  I pulled away.

"We can't have sex here," I hissed.

"Why not?" he asked, kissing my neck and running his hands over my ass.

"It's your mom's house!  And your sister is literally on the other side of the wall!"

"Nah, she's still downstairs watching TV.  She's a total night owl.  We just have to be quiet."  He kissed me again, sliding his hands back up my hips and running a finger along the inside of the waistband of my shorts.  He used his other hand to move my hair and craned his head to kiss the back of my neck.  I shivered.  I could feel his lips move into a smile against my skin.  He continued to tease the back of my neck with his lips and tongue and that was all it took for me to change my mind.

What is it about needing to silent that lends itself to seriously amazing sex?  I have never had a harder time being quiet.  Afterwards, he curled around me, pressing his chest against my back.  I was almost asleep before I realized that putting some clothes on, just in case, was probably a good plan.  Brody laughed at me, but I still pulled on shorts and a t-shirt.  I climbed back into bed and wriggled back into the same position I'd just been in.

"This isn't as much fun when you have clothes on," he complained.  

"Sucks for you," I responded, yawning.  He chuckled softly.

"Yes, it does," he agreed.  He pushed himself up on one elbow to kiss my cheek.  "Goodnight, Liv."

I was already almost asleep and barely heard his whispered, "I love you."  I couldn't make my mouth move, so I just squeezed his arm.  Then I was out.

It's Just Dinner

Brody skipped Thursday's happy hour, but he picked me up after and drove me home before he went home for the night.  He said Cassie had sent her resume and he was impressed by it and was going to have her come in for an interview.  I was surprised she had sent it already, but she had seemed excited about the idea when I had texted her earlier today.

"So," he said after updating me about that.  "Next week is Thanksgiving.  You still want to come, right?"  I nodded apprehensively.  He glanced at me and chuckled.  "Don't be nervous, seriously.  At least not for Thanksgiving."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, my anxiety increasing.

He paused before continuing.  "My dad.  He always comes up for Thanksgiving.  He doesn't actually come for dinner because my mom won't invite him, but it's really the only time of the year that all the kids are in one spot, so he does individual dinners with us over the weekend."

"Oh," I said, my stomach dropping.  I had no desire to meet Brody's dad.  I didn't have a very high opinion of him and he didn't sound very nice.  "Thanks for not telling me that before I agreed to go!" I tried to keep my tone light and joking, but I don't think it came out as light as I was going for.

"It'll be fine.  It's just dinner," Brody assured me.  "But if you're really uncomfortable with it, you can stay at my mom's while I go with him.  I'm sure my sister would love someone to hang out with."  The idea of hanging out with his family without him was even more scary.  "Or, you can take my car and go to a coffee shop or the mall for an hour or something.  You don't have to decide now."  He looked uneasy now too.  Was he upset that I was balking at meeting his dad?

I took a deep breath, "You're right, it'll be fine," I said, aiming for a breezy tone.

"My mom lives outside of Colorado Springs," he said, changing the subject quickly.  "Dinner is always at 4, so I thought I could spend Wednesday night at your place and we could leave around lunchtime on Thursday.  Dinner with my dad is usually Friday, so we can head back here Saturday afternoon."

"Sounds good," I agreed.

"I'm really happy you're coming," he said, slipping his hand around mine.  "I'll brief you on the family on the way down."  I nodded.

We were at my house by this point, sitting in the driveway in his idling SUV.  He turned it off and got out.  As I was unlocking my door, his phone rang.  He looked at it and frowned, then looked up at me.  "Go ahead," I said, taking off my shoes and closing the door.  He sat on the steps and had a quick conversation before hanging up.

"Sorry," he said, shoving his phone back into his pocket.  I shrugged.  "I'd better go."  We kissed goodbye and he left me alone with my anxious thoughts about Thanksgiving.

The next week flew by.  Brody ended up flying to Dallas Sunday morning to deal with a client issue, and he didn't get back until Tuesday.  By the time we went out for dinner on Wednesday, I was a bundle of nerves.  I was quiet while we waited for our food.

"Is everything okay?" Brody asked.  "You're very quiet."  I nodded and looked over his shoulder.

He reached across the table for my hand and I jumped when his fingers brushed mine.  "Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure you're lying," he prodded gently.  I blushed.  For a second I considered denying it, but since Brody had turned off his phone when we sat down, I figured I could try to be open for once.

"You're right.  You know I'm super anxious about tomorrow," I started.  He nodded, running a finger over my knuckles.  "I have a really great track record of royally fucking up my first time meeting boyfriends' parents.  So, I'm terrified I'm going to do that, and your family is going to hate me, and I care because I want them to like me because, well, because it's important."  I stopped and took a deep breath, trying to stop the rambling.  Brody squeezed my hand.  "And if I'm nervous to meet your mom and siblings, I'm positively terrified to meet your dad.  You've made him sound, well, not terribly friendly."  Brody laughed at this.

"Well, that's accurate," he agreed.  "Go on."

"And to be honest, I'm really mad at him." I stopped.  Brody didn't look surprised.  He didn't say anything, so I kept going.  "I'm mad at him for yanking you back to Miami and everything that happened because of it.  And at the same time, I'm worried he's going to hate me and somehow influence you to hate me too."  There we go.

Our food came then, and we put the conversation on hold while our server set down plates and refilled waters.  When he left, Brody looked at me.  "My dad has lost all his influence over me now that he doesn't own my company and my job," he said firmly.  "Going head to head with him to negotiate his demand for my change in position is probably one of the most nerve racking things I've ever done, and I did it because of you.  So if I can manage that, I'm pretty sure I can resist him trying to get me to not like you, if he even tries."  I blushed again, feeling a little silly.

"And," he continued, looking at me seriously, "I don't blame you one bit for being angry at him.  I'm still a little angry about the whole thing too.  I don't expect you to like him.  In fact, I will be shocked if you do.  I'm fully aware of what a dick he is.  But, I want my family to know you, and it will help me get through dinner with him if you're there."  I nodded.  His words had relieved some of the pressure of meeting his dad.   "Anything else bothering you?" he asked, studying my face.

"No," I said, smiling.  "That was all, and I do feel a little better."

"Good," he said, his face relaxing.  The rest of dinner went a little more smoothly and I felt much more relaxed.  After dinner, he parked his SUV in my driveway and grabbed his bag out of the back.  It was already 9:30 by the time we got inside.  I was glad we didn't have to be up early to go tomorrow.  Little things.

"You still look stressed," Brody commented as I got some water from the kitchen.

"I am.  I mean, work this week was just not good, even for a short week.  And I'll probably have crises to come back to on Monday, because that's what happens on holidays.  I haven't heard back from any of the places I've applied to yet, and I'm not sure how much longer I can keep my head above water at this place," I admitted.

He hugged me.  "I think you're the one that needs a massage this time," he said.  He pressed both thumbs into the base of my skull before working down my neck.

I leaned into his touch, flinching a little as he hit a sore spot.  "If you're trying to seduce me," I said with a smirk, "your chances are 100%."  He laughed at my spin on his warning from last week and leaned down to kiss the back of my neck.

"In that case, I guess we'd better go upstairs and do this the right way, huh?" he asked, pointing me towards the stairs.  Once up there, he worked out all the knots in my neck and back before moving to my arms, then my legs.  When his hands began kneading the muscles of my inner thighs, I flipped over and stared up at him.  He wasn't able to hold my gaze for long, and his eyes drifted down over my naked body.

I reached up for his hands and pulled him down to the bed with me.  "This massage better come with a happy ending," I said, sliding my hands under his shirt and tugging at his belt.  I got it undone and went for the button and zipper next.

"I think that can be arranged," he said.  His lips found mine and his right hand moved up to cup my breast, his thumb brushing across my nipple.  I pulled at his shirt, and he stood up long enough to pull it off and step out of his pants.  He pushed my knees apart and lowered his head between my legs.  I gasped as his tongue touched me but was soon pulling him back up.  He nudged my knees further apart and pushed into me.  I moaned and wrapped my legs around his back.  He moved slowly on top of me, and I dug my fingers into his arms.

After, I laid curled against Brody's side with my head on his chest.  He wrapped both arms around me, pulling me tightly against him.  "Feeling any better?" he asked.  I nodded, tracing abstract patterns across his shoulder with one finger. 

"Just tired now," I replied.

"That's way easier to deal with," Brody said.  He ran his fingers lightly up and down my arm.  The repetitive sensation was soothing and quickly put me to sleep. 

Work Sucks

Hi, readers!  I just wanted to give some quick updates and ask a quick question.  Remember that Thanksgiving starts on Wednesday this week, at least in Liv's world!  Due to several requests, Friday's post will be a continuation of Kinsley's story.  Apparently angry hate sex is where it's at ;)  Also, in response to a couple emails I've gotten, I wanted to ask you all to try to be patient with some of the current posts that aren't as exciting.  Not every post can be a grand slam, and some need to be a little more boring to lay some groundwork for the storyline.  Unfortunately, we're kind of to that point.  There's lots to come for Liv in the next couple months, so hang in there for now!

After Kinsley's post on Friday, I'm out of pre-written Friday posts.  I'm brainstorming a list of posts for upcoming Fridays, so I wanted to see if there were any requests.  I'll gladly do backstories, other perspectives of current events, or just random Liv and Brody posts that don't really continue the storyline, since all those things have been requested/well received.  If you have a general or specific request, please email or leave it in the comments and I will do my best to get you all what you want to read, within reason, of course.  Some requests just might not be possible because of the storyline or other factors, but I think you guys know I try my hardest to accommodate the requests that I get! 

As always, thanks for reading, commenting, and giving your feedback in polite and constructive ways!  I truly think I have some of the greatest readers in the blog world!
______________________________________

Getting out of bed on Tuesday morning was almost painful.  What was it about long weekends that made going back to work even harder?  Shouldn't it be the opposite?  I got there a little early to get everything organized for the week.  I walked into the conference room for our staff meeting at 8:25 and felt the tension in the air.  Most of our meetings have felt similar for the past couple months.  It was leading me to seriously dread the meetings, which I had once enjoyed.

The meeting started out the same as always, with announcements and updates from Jeremy.  As we were staffing one of my coworker's tough cases she was stuck on, the discussion got a little heated.  Two of my coworkers disagreed on the best approach to take, and began loudly arguing their respective sides, interrupting and talking over one another.  A third coworker interrupted and stated that the original staff member was too emotionally involved, and everything erupted into yelling and chaos.  Since one of my main goals in life was to avoid conflict in the workplace, I attempted to melt into my chair and disappear.  While they were arguing, a couple other people got involved, trying to mediate, and Jeremy simply walked out of the conference room. Charlotte and I exchanged looks.

Jeremy returned and raised his voice to be heard over the arguing people.  He got the situation under control and then tabled the matter.  We were then subjected to a 20 minute lecture about respectful interactions and constructive feedback.  What a delightful time.

After work, I knocked on Cassie's door.  I hadn't spent any appreciable amount of time with her in what seemed like ages, and she had invited me over for dinner and wine.  I was happy to see her, and we quickly caught up.  She, like me, had been applying at other jobs, and she'd had a couple interviews and even an offer, but she had declined because she wanted better benefits and they hadn't been willing to negotiate.

"If I'm going to leave the job I'm at, which I actually like even if I'm underpaid, I want it to be for something that will be quite a bit better you know?" she said around a mouthful of pizza.  I agreed, and filled her in on my job search and that day's staff meeting.

"Wow, you people are animals.  All pent up rage after spending hours listening to other people's problems, huh?" she asked with a laugh.  I laughed with her.

"How's the love life?"  I asked, cocking an eyebrow at her.  She blushed, which was highly uncharacteristic of her.

"Well," she said, "I sort of met someone.  He's really great but I'm pretty sure he has no idea I even exist."  She explained that he was a new coworker of one of her friends, and her friend had brought him to something they had all done together.  She admitted that she had spent most of the day coming up with stupid reasons to talk to him, and while he had been friendly, he hadn't really seemed interested.  "His name is Ben, and he's a pharmacist at the hospital," she continued.  "I just hope that Justin brings him along again sometime."  I was sure that if he got to know Cassie, he'd definitely be interested.  She's pretty fabulous.

We hung out and caught up until nearly 10, when I finally headed home for bed.   I called Brody, but he didn't answer.  He called back while I was laying in bed, and I answered sleepily. 

"Sorry, did I wake you?" he asked.

"No, not yet, it's okay," I replied.

"How was your day?" He sounded tired.

"It sucked," I replied.  I filled him in on the staff meeting, then asked how his was.

"Also sucked," he said with a short laugh.  "I'm paying for being gone for 4 days, but that's okay.  It was completely worth it."

I heard voices in the background.  "Wait, are you still at work?" I asked.

"Yeah, I'm leaving shortly but I could probably stay another hour or so and not run out of things to do."  Now I felt like an even bigger asshole for my little outburst on Saturday.  If it wasn't for that, he would have spent a full day at work on Monday and wouldn't be quite as behind.

"I'm sorry," I said contritely.  "I shouldn't have been such a brat this weekend."

He laughed.  "Liv, I'd be crazy busy even if I hadn't only worked half of Monday, I promise.  Don't feel bad.  I'm glad we stayed Sunday night."

"If you say so," I replied.  "Well, I can let you go so you can finish up and get home."

"Thanks.  We're on for tomorrow still, right?"

"Yeah, why don't you just come over?  I'll make dinner and we can have a relaxing night," I suggested.  "Just give me a rough estimate of about when you'll be able to make it and I'll get dinner made."

"That sounds perfect. I'm thinking it will probably be around 8, but I'll let you know tomorrow, okay?  Goodnight, Liv."

"Goodnight," I said.  I paused, and then, "I love you."

"I love you.  Sleep well."  We hung up, and I fell asleep quickly.

Work went fast the next day, and I got home around 7.  Brody had called at lunch and estimated he'd be closer to 8:30.  I changed into comfortable clothes and at about 8:20, I threw some water on the stove to boil and sauteed chicken, garlic, onions, and mushrooms in olive oil and a little lemon.  While that was cooking, I threw together a salad and picked out a bottle of wine.

At 8:40, the doorbell rang.  "Come in!" I yelled, since I had a hot pot of pasta in my hands to drain.  The door opened and Brody stepped in.  He took off his shoes and his jacket and walked into the kitchen.

"Sorry it took so long," he said, kissing me on the cheek.  "Smells amazing though."  I finished draining the pasta and poured two glasses of wine.

"Actually," I replied, handing him a glass, "Your timing is perfect."  He caught me around the waist and kissed me, his lips lingering on mine.

"Good, because I'm starving.  I accidentally worked through lunch and didn't even realize it until after 5."  I looked at him carefully.  He looked exhausted, with dark shadows under his eyes and two days worth of stubble on his face.

"Sit," I commanded, pulling out a chair.  I filled a plate with food and put it down in front of him before getting my own plate.  I watched him for several seconds and then asked, "When are you going to get some more help?"

He laughed drily.  "Soon, maybe.  But I don't have time to make an ad and screen resumes and do interviews."  The wheels started turning in my head.

"Cassie used to do HR stuff, you know," I said carefully.  "If you don't need or want a full time HR person, maybe she'd be willing to help out temporarily until you can get the people you need."

He looked at me, still chewing.  "That's actually not a bad idea.  And I definitely do need a full time HR person, or even two, because all the HR stuff was done through the main office in Miami.  I just have been so focused on trying to keep my marketing person and dealing with that that I haven't even had time for look for an HR person."  He thought again for a second.  "Have her send me her resume if she's interested."

I was a little nervous, because if for some reason it didn't work out, I didn't want to be responsible, but Brody needed help and Cassie needed a new job, so why not?

I took our plates to the sink and brought back the bottle of wine.  I poured myself another glass and looked at him.  He held his glass out and I filled it as well.  I took the bottle back to the counter and stood behind him, massaging his shoulders.  He groaned as I dug my knuckles into a tightly knotted muscle.  "If you're trying to seduce me, you have zero chance," he warned me.

"I'm not," I promised.  "But if I really wanted to, I bet I'd have a much better chance than zero."  He laughed and reached up for my hands, pulling on them until my arms were draped over his shoulders and my face was next to his.

"You're right," he said.  "You're hard to resist."  He turned his head and kissed me. 

We moved to the couch and he laid with his head in my lap.  I massaged his scalp and neck with one hand as I flipped through the TV channels.  "You're going to put me to sleep," he complained, shifting slightly.

"I'm not clear on how that's a bad thing.  Looks like you could use some," I retorted.

"That's true," he mumbled, his eyes now closed.  A few minutes later, his phone trilled shrilly from his pants pocket.  "Fucking hell," he muttered, sitting up and pulling it out.  He glanced at the screen, then silenced it.  "Sorry," he said, yawning.

"Why don't we just go to bed?" I asked.  He stood up and stretched, nodding.

Brody brushed his teeth and practically fell into bed.  I thought he was already asleep when I climbed carefully under the blankets but he rolled onto his side behind me and draped an arm over me.  I shifted to a more comfortable position and he pushed his face against my neck.

"Thanks for dinner," he murmured sleepily.

"You're welcome.  Now be quiet and go to sleep," I whispered back.  I felt him nod, and soon his arm around my waist went slack. 

(Now) Savannah: The Apology

"Seriously?" I asked Kendra, rolling my eyes at her and huffing out a frustrated breath.  I was beyond irritated that she had just asked me if I'd be able to leave Olivia and Brody alone at the wedding.  "What do you think I am, an immature child?"

"Sometimes, yes," Kendra replied evenly.  "It's my wedding, Savannah.  The last thing I need is a scene.  And if you're the cause of it, how will that look?  You're a bridesmaid."

"No one there cares about me anyway," I muttered.  I sounded like a snotty, spoiled brat, but I didn't even care.

Kendra rolled her eyes.  "You should try apologizing then."

I'd had just about enough of this.  "Apologizing for what?  I didn't know that everything would happen."

She just looked at me pointedly.  It was clear she didn't believe that at all.  I glared back at her.  Kendra was supposed to be one of my best friends, but now I didn't even get invited over when she had people at her house, because Brody and Olivia got their stupid little feelings hurt.

"Look," Kendra said, her voice a bit gentler now, "They're happy now.  If you could just apologize and stay out of their relationship, maybe people would be okay with you coming back and hanging out sometimes." 

"Whatever, I'll think about it," I responded, before changing the subject.  And I did think about it.  I thought about how sorry I wasn't.  It's not my fault their budding relationship couldn't survive a short trip to Miami.  And anyway, it didn't seem like Olivia had even been too broken up about it.  She certainly didn't waste any time moving on, from what I heard.

But, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I was pretty miserable since the happy couple had gotten back together and that fucking stupid bitch Allie had ratted me out.  (She was going to pay for that, by the way.)  I no longer had Allie, and I couldn't hang out with Kendra most of the time.  No one else really liked me in that stupid little group, but they tolerated me at least, and it was worth it to see Brody.

So a week later, I walked into the bar where they were all doing their stupid happy hour and scanned the tables.  I spotted Kendra and walked over.  I needed to tell her that I wasn't able to get the Friday of the rehearsal dinner off.  she already knew I probably couldn't, so I could have just called her, but I needed an excuse to run into Olivia and Brody.  I cringed inwardly at the thought of them thinking that I wanted to apologize to them, but that was what manipulation was all about....letting other people think they have the upper hand.

I sat down and filled Kendra in, and we chatted for a few minutes.  I said hi to Alex and Lauren and Christian, but neither Olivia nor Brody were there.  I waited for close to 15 minutes but then I couldn't stick around any longer without looking suspicious.  I walked out, irritated that I had wasted my time.

***

I hate weddings.  But this wedding was giving me an excuse to stare at Brody in a tux, so it was probably the best wedding I've ever been to.  I frowned when I saw Olivia, Lauren, Kinsley, and some guy walk over towards him.   I felt a huge stab of jealousy when I watched Brody's eyes travel appreciatively up and down Olivia's body, and a second stab when he kissed her, briefly but tenderly.

My teeth ground on their own as I watched them.  Everything about their body language screamed that they were in love, from the way she leaned in to beam up at him to his hand resting lightly on her hip, where it had been since the second she was within his reach.  It was a vaguely possessive gesture, as if he was worried that everyone else would appreciate her dress as much as he seemed to (it was actually a really great dress, but she ruined it with her cheap-looking shoes). 

"Savannah!"  I turned, snapping out of my jealous daze.  Kendra's sister, Nikki, was looking at me impatiently.  "We need to go.  What are you even looking at?"

"Nothing important," I muttered, following after her.

The wedding was nice enough, but it was hard to pay attention standing in the stupidly uncomfortable shoes that Kendra made us wear.  I guess some people can't afford to pay a lot for shoes, but I think it's worth it so you don't feel like you're standing on broken glass after 15 minutes.  But of course, no one asked me.

I was seated at a table with a bunch of acquaintances from college, and dinner was painfully boring and uncomfortable.   I humored one of the guys who was blatantly hitting on me, because it helped me pass the time.  The whole time, I kept one eye on the table that contained Brody and Olivia.  I was irritated with myself for caring so much, but I thought maybe I could catch them at a good time and throw out my apology.

My chance came when I saw them walk out onto the patio together, a couple hours after dinner.  I hastily excused myself from...Chris?  Craig?  I can't even remember.  Anyway, I stepped quickly out onto the patio behind them, rehearsing my apology in my head.

Liv was hostile right off the bat, which surprised me.  I honestly didn't think she had it in her.  It threw off my plan, which left me a little irritated.  But I was even more surprised by Brody's response.  Even though his voice was calm, I could tell he was pissed and didn't want anything to do with my apology.

I got annoyed really quickly at their united self-righteous insistence that I was out to ruin people's lives, one unsuspecting victim at a time.  Could they be any more dramatic?  It was almost as bad as listening to Mother rant about how the poor people are responsible for all the bad things in the world. I lost my cool pretty quickly, and I knew this wasn't going to work.  So when Brody told me to leave, I was happy to.

I nearly ran over one of Kendra's cousins or something, and then I walked right into Chris/Craig/whoever as I came back in.  He nearly spilled his drink but quickly recovered to walk with me towards the bar.  I patronized him for about one and a half more drinks, and then I left abruptly for the dance floor.  I danced with some of the other wedding party members, and then everything after that is a little bit blurry.

I woke up in my hotel room, still in my bridesmaid dress.  My head was sore from sleeping on the bobby pins that were shoved into my scalp.  As I sat up, I realized I even still had one stupid, uncomfortable shoe on.  I shook it off and quickly laid back down.  The last time I had been this hungover was at Brody's cabin over the 4th of July weekend.

I looked at the clock, and saw that it was only a little after 8.  I needed to be down at brunch at 10.  I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to piece together the night.  I remembered talking to Brody and Olivia, then dancing.  I remembered dancing with Kendra's brother, Nick...  The rest of the night came rushing back to me as soon as I remembered dancing with, and trying to kiss, Nick.  I groaned to myself.  Maybe I'd skip brunch.

I went back to sleep, but woke up to my phone trilling shrilly a bit later.  I dug it out of my clutch and answered.  "I don't care how awful you feel, don't even think about skipping brunch," came Kendra's sister's voice.

"I doubt anyone actually wants me there," I croaked.

"That's probably true," she agreed, "But you'll be there anyway."  Then she hung up.  Bossy bitch.  I hauled myself out of bed and into the shower.  After fighting the urge to throw up, and then to pass out, I managed to get clean.  I pulled on some clothes and choked down some aspirin and half a bottle of water.

I stuck to myself and kept my head down during brunch.  I didn't eat much and as soon as it was socially acceptable, I went up to my room to pack my stuff up so I could get the hell out of here.  I was just about to leave when someone knocked on my door.

I pulled it open and saw Kendra standing there.  Thinking fast, I smiled and said, "Happy first full day of being a married lady!"

She glared and me and shouldered her way into the room, shoving the door shut behind her.  Shit.  "What in the fuck is your problem?" she snapped.  I forced myself to keep my face neutral.  Kendra hardly ever swore.

"Umm...." I offered weakly.

"Yeah.  I'd be speechless too if I were you.  You said you could behave.  And then you went and caused conflict with Olivia and Brody, tried to kiss my brother, and threw up all over the floor.  So fucking classy, Savannah."

"You're the one that told me I should apologize to Olivia and Brody!" I protested.

Kendra just stared at me for several seconds.  "Are you serious?  I didn't mean at my wedding.  And it didn't seem like a very effective apology."  She paused, waiting for me to defend myself.  But if there's one thing I learned growing up with Mother, it's when to keep my mouth shut.  This was a good time for that.  Eventually Kendra sighed.  "Everyone else is right.  I just kept giving you the benefit of the doubt but I'm done.  This friendship is done, Savannah.  The first thing you should have done when you opened that door was apologize, but all you can do is try to blame it on me."  And with that, she turned and walked out.

I sat down on the bed, fighting the urge to spit a nasty name after her.  I considered her final words.  Apologizing hadn't even occurred to me.  I thought about that for a couple minutes.  For some people, apologizing was an automatic thing.  But in my world, it just didn't happen.  Growing up in my home, apologizing seemed more like a sign of weakness than something you were supposed to do.  I thought a little longer, and realized that the only person I could think of ever apologizing to me was Brody.  And I had been so caught off guard when he had done it, so long ago, that I had reacted with hostility.

I sighed and grabbed my bag.  I wasn't fully convinced that Kendra was done with me.  She just needed a break.  In the meantime, maybe I can let Allie apologize for ratting me out.  Keep your enemies closer, right? 

Long Overdue

It was nice to wake up because the sun was shining my eyes, and not because Brody's phone was ringing.  I shifted and adjusted the blanket, and Brody's arm snaked around my waist, pulling me close.  "Morning, beautiful," he murmured sleepily into my hair.  "Let's stay here."

"Forever?" I asked.  "Okay, sold."

"Well, yeah, that too, but I meant today.  Let's stay one more night."

I rolled over to face him.  "But what about work tomorrow?" I asked him, confused.  "I thought you weren't going to take tomorrow off."

"I'm not," he said with a shrug.  "I can go in in the afternoon after we get back.  We can explore town today, maybe drive into the park a little.  We can leave after breakfast tomorrow so you still have time to job search and I can go into work for a little while at least.  I'll turn my phone on long enough to send an email letting them know when I'll be in, but after brunch today I'll be all yours."  I realized this was his way of making up for all the time he'd spent interrupting our dates for work the past couple weeks, and I appreciated it.

I smiled.  "Okay!  Let's do it."  He rolled over and grabbed the room phone.  He called down to the front desk and requested to keep our room for one more night.  A couple minutes later, he hung up.

"It's ours until tomorrow," he reported.  "What time is brunch?"  Christian's parents were hosting a day-after brunch this morning at 10.  I told him that, and glanced at the clock.  It was almost 9.   "Why don't you go ahead and shower.  I'll send my emails while you're in the shower."

We walked out of the elevator a couple minutes before 10.  Lauren waved us over.  She looked at me curiously.  "I heard you and Savannah got into it last night," she whispered.

"Good news travels fast," I said, rolling my eyes.  I filled her in on the details.  She shook her head.

"What a clueless bitch," she said.  "I hate her."

"Join the club, it's not terribly exclusive."

Lauren grinned wickedly at me.  "So, after you guys left, she got shitshow drunk, tried to make out with Kendra's brother, and then threw up all over the floor outside the bathroom.  It was ridiculous.  I think Kendra was mostly unaware, but Christian had to have Kendra's brother and sister practically carry Savannah out."

I stared at her, then laughed.  "I shouldn't laugh, because that's awful for Christian and Kendra, but she really is a disaster, huh?"  Lauren nodded. 

A very rough looking Savannah stayed away from us during brunch, and it was actually quite pleasant.  After brunch, Lauren, Alex, Damien, and Kinsley were heading out.  We said goodbye and spent the rest of the morning exploring the downtown area.  We had a light, late lunch at a cafe, then drove into Rocky Mountain National Park.  We pulled up to an overlook and got out.  Brody put his arm around my waist as we looked out over a beautiful valley.

"Are you going home for Thanksgiving?" he asked suddenly.

I shook my head.  "No, I wasn't planning on going home until Christmas," I replied.

"What are you going to do?" he asked.

"I hadn't really thought about it.  I guess just enjoy a four day weekend, maybe eat a turkey sandwich." I shrugged.

"Come with me then," he said.  "I'm going to my mom's house.  She doesn't really do a traditional dinner like you're probably used to, but there will be plenty of food."

"Oh," I said, surprised.  "I don't want to impose."  I wasn't sure what to say.  I didn't love the idea of celebrating Thanksgiving alone at my house, but it was less than two weeks away and I had no other plans.  And I was really curious to meet Brody's family.  I know he had one sister and one brother, plus the sister that had been killed in the accident, and that his parents were divorced and his dad was an asshole, but other than that, he really didn't talk about them much.  Then again, I tended to completely bomb my first impression when meeting the parents, and the thought of meeting Brody's entire family for the first time on a holiday was a little terrifying.

"Don't be ridiculous.  My mom will be over the moon to have a new person to feed.  And she always makes enough to feed the entire city, so it's not like she'll even have to make extra food.  I don't want you to be alone on Thanksgiving."  He tightened his arms around me as a breeze blew through and I shivered.

"Okay," I agreed.  "I'd like that."

He smiled.  "I love you Liv, and my family will too."

"I love you too, and I sure hope so!" I replied.

We spent the rest of the day driving through the park, looking for wildlife.  My life was pretty much made when we spotted a moose laying in the snow.  It was long dark by the time we made it back into town.  We found a place to get dinner and were soon heading back to the hotel.  I changed into sweatpants and curled up against Brody, who was sitting on the bed, leaning against the headboard.

"Thank you," I said softly.

"For what?" he asked, wrapping an arm around me and stroking my shoulder.

"For today.  It was perfect.  It was so nice to spend the day with you without interruptions, and it means a lot to me."

"It was nice," he agreed.  "We should probably do it more often."  I looked up at him and made a face.  He laughed.  "I know, I know," he said.  "I'll make it happen."  I yawned and rested my head back against his chest.  He ran his fingers through my hair and I closed my eyes.  My hand slid under the hem of his shirt and rested against the hard muscles there.  I yawned again.  "It's only 10," he teased.

"I know, but you've kept me up late the last two nights," I replied.

"I've kept you up late?  Well, if that's the problem, don't let me stop you from getting your beauty rest tonight," he said with a laugh.  I dragged myself off the bed and brushed my teeth and washed my face.  When I came out of the bathroom, Brody was searching through his bag.   I made myself comfortable while he brushed his teeth, and was almost asleep by the time he came out.  He slid into bed next to me and his fingers found my back.  They slid back and forth over my spine a few times before stilling, resting lightly on my lower back.

When I woke up, his hand was still on me, but now it was draped across my forearm.  I smiled.  Rarely did I ever wake up with him without him touching me somehow.  I wondered if he did it unconsciously in his sleep.  His fingers twitched as I pulled my arm away to roll onto my side.  He looked so young while he was sleeping.  Not that he was old, by any means.  But even his 30 to my 26 was a bigger age difference than I had ever dated.

I slid quietly out of bed, grabbed clothes, and went into the bathroom.  When I came out showered, dressed, and made up, Brody wasn't there.  For a second, I thought he had tried to sneak out for a work call, but then I saw his phone laying in his bag.  When he came back in with coffee for both of us from downstairs, I felt guilty for even thinking  he was off breaking his promise.  So far, he'd been nothing but amazing in every other way, so if a few phone calls during dinner was the price to pay for that, it shouldn't piss me off so much.  When did I become so needy?

Brody asked me to find somewhere to eat breakfast while he showered, so after I packed up my stuff, I flopped in the chair and searched Yelp on my phone.  I found a few good options, wondering how people found places to eat before smartphones and Yelp and Urban Spoon.  But when Brody came out of the bathroom wearing only a towel around his hips, I quickly forgot about breakfast. 

"How much time do we have before checkout?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Brody grinned and looked behind him at the clock.  "Two hours, but if we take that long, we'll need to change breakfast to lunch."

"The faster you lose that towel, the better chance of us being out of here in time for breakfast," I responded.

"You have way more clothing on than me," he pointed out as he stepped over to me.  With one hand he pulled me to my feet, and with the other he pushed his towel to the floor. 

An hour later we were walking out to the car, checked out and ready to leave.  We ate a delicious, leisurely breakfast at a little restaurant in town before starting the drive back to the city.  The drive went quickly, and before I knew, we had pulled up in front of my townhouse.  Brody parked and grabbed my bag out of the back.  He set it down inside after I had unlocked my door.

He pulled me into a tight hug.  I hugged him back, resting my head against his chest.  "When do I get to see you again?" he asked.

"Dinner on Wednesday?" I suggested.

"I guess I can wait that long," he responded with a smile.  "Can I spend the night after?  It'll be easier than going all the way home that night and all the way back into town in the morning for work."  I nodded.  "Alright, I guess I should get to work before the place burns down.  I had a really great weekend.  I love you."  He kissed me and when he pulled back I told him I loved him and he left.

I spent the rest of the day doing laundry and writing cover letters.  I applied for 5 jobs and felt pretty productive by the time I threw a frozen pizza in the oven for dinner.   As I was getting ready for bed, my phone vibrated.  The text was from Brody and said, "Miss you already.  Sleep well, beautiful."  

Wedding Bells and False Apologies

I woke early the next morning to the sound of Brody's phone ringing.  I groaned and squinted at the clock.  6:19.  Ugh.  Next to me, Brody rolled out of bed, yanked on a pair of shorts, and answered the phone.  He moved quietly out into the hallway. 

I drifted back into sleep, but woke when I felt Brody slip back into bed next to me.  I looked at the clock again.  Nearly 7.  Quite the phone call.  He laid next to me and put his arm around my waist.  "Sorry," he whispered into my hair.  I didn't say anything, but I leaned back into him.

I had just fallen back asleep when his phone rang again.  "Shit," he muttered, getting up and walking out the door with it.  Now I was irritated.  It was 7:30 in the morning, on a Saturday when he was supposed to be off, and he'd already taken two calls.  He had promised me no phone calls this weekend.  I was awake at this point and I laid there waiting for him to come back, stewing.  The longer he took, the more irritated I got.

When he came back in almost 30 minutes later, I was fuming.  I got up and rifled through my overnight bag, then pulled on shorts and a t-shirt.  "Liv, I'm really sorry," Brody said.  I just stalked into the bathroom.  I washed my face and brushed my teeth, hoping I'd feel calmer when I was done.  I didn't.

I came back out, avoiding his gaze.  I walked over to the desk and grabbed my phone from where it was charging and started scrolling absently through.  "You know, for a therapist, you're pretty awful at telling people how you're feeling," he said shortly.  I whipped around to look at him.  It was absolutely true, but it still stung to have it brandished like a weapon at me.  He saw my face and his angry glare softened.  "I'm sorry," he said, a little more gently.  "But if you're pissed at me, just tell me you're pissed at me."

"I'm not pissed at you," I snapped back.  He raised his eyebrows and gave me a skeptical look.  "I'm not," I insisted.  "I'm really fucking irritated, but I'm not pissed. If I were pissed, I wouldn't be standing here talking to you."

"Okay," he said, then nodded for me to go on.

"You promised me that there would be no work this weekend.  And you've already been on the phone for over an hour!  It's barely 8 in the morning.  This sucks."  I punctuated the words with a heavy sigh.  I was still standing by the desk, and I realized I was gripping the top of the desk chair so hard my hand hurt.  I let go and gently flexed my fingers.

"You're right," he replied.  "I'm sorry.  I did promise you no work, and I haven't kept that promise.  I'm still trying to get a handle on running this company by myself, and you're suffering for it."  He was right.  I couldn't remember a lunch or dinner that hadn't been interrupted by his phone in the last two weeks.  It rang unfathomably late at night and early in the morning.  And he answered every call.  Most of me knew that that was the price for dating someone who owned his own business, but the rest of me was really tired of it already.  I had tried to be patient with it, because I knew Brody was working his ass off and was seriously shorthanded, but apparently I had let it build up too long. 

I continued to glare at him, but I felt my anger fading.  "After I got off that last call, I called Pete.  He's going to take care of anything else that comes up this weekend," Brody assured me.  Now it was my turn to give him a skeptical look.  "Look," he said, holding up his phone.  He depressed the power button and held it until the phone turned off.  Then he held it out to me.  "All yours."   I looked at the phone for a minute but then shook my head.

"I believe you," I said, my shoulders dropping as my tensed muscles relaxed.

He smiled and tossed the phone into his bag.  "Good," he replied, walking over to me.  He wrapped his arms around me and I let him pull me against his chest.

"Sorry I was a jerk," I said, my voice muffled.

"I'm sorry too," he replied.  "And I promise I will work on balancing things better."  He pushed his hand through my hair, massaging my scalp at the base of my skull.  I sighed against his chest as his hand moved lower, kneading the tense muscles in my neck.   "Why don't we blow off breakfast?" he suggested.  We had made plans the night before to eat with some of the others in the lodge's restaurant.  "We can order room service and eat here."

"I like that idea," I said.  We looked at the room service menu and Brody called in our order.

After he hung up, he looked at me and said, "They said about 40 minutes."

"Hmmm," I responded, grinning.  "We can do a lot of making up in 40 minutes!"

"You are unbelievable," he said, looking surprised.  "I don't know if I've ever met a woman I can't keep up with.  You might be the one."

"Don't worry," I said, pushing him back on the bed. "I'll do all the work this time."

We finished "making up" just a few minutes before breakfast arrived, so Brody had to scramble to pull on a pair of shorts and answer the door.  I'm sure the female employee delivering our food didn't mind his lack of a shirt though; I wouldn't have. 

We ate our breakfast and were lazy in bed until Brody had to get ready for pictures.  Since he was just an usher, they weren't making him be there for all the picture time, but did want him there for some.  I continued to lay in bed reading while he showered and shaved and got dressed.  I got up and plucked a loose thread from the back of his jacket as he adjusted his bow tie.  "I really hate these things," he complained.

"But you look so hot," I protested.  He looked at his watch and turned and kissed me quickly.

"Gotta go," he said.  "I'll see you for the ceremony."

After he left, I showered and got ready slowly.  As much as it sucked arguing with him, I was glad we had talked.  I wish I could have just told him my feelings about his job and the phone calls sooner, but he was right--I sucked at that stuff.  I was just pinning the last piece of hair in place when my phone vibrated with a text from Kinsley letting me know that she, Damien, and Lauren were there.  I felt a sudden surge of anxiety about seeing Damien.  I hadn't seen him since James and I stopped seeing each other, and I was certain it would be weird.

I texted back that I would be right down.  I took one last look at myself in the mirror, and satisfied, I grabbed my wristlet, shoved my phone and the room key in, and headed for the elevator.  I spotted them right away when the elevator opened and walked over. 

"Look at you, hot stuff!" Kinsley exclaimed, hugging me.

"You actually clean up quite nicely too," I said back with a grin.  I greeted Lauren and turned to Damien.  "Hi," I said shyly.  To my relief, he smiled broadly back.

"Hey, how have you been?" he asked.  I told him I had been good and asked him the same.  We made small talk as we walked over to the room where the ceremony was to be held.  As we approached, Kinsley touched my arm.  I looked in the direction she motioned and saw Savannah.  I frowned, but before I could say anything, Lauren interrupted.

"Wow, Brody and Alex do the tux thing quite well, huh?"  Alex was the other usher.  I looked over near the door of the room and grinned.  We walked over towards them.

Brody saw me and raised his eyebrows.  He kissed me on the cheek and then said, "Wow, you look amazing."  His eyes traveled appreciatively over my dress, down my legs, and back up until he met my eyes.  His green eyes sparkled as he leaned towards me and kissed me again, lightly on the lips.  He then turned to Damien.  "How's it going?" he asked, extending his hand.  Damien shook it and returned the greeting.

Brody led our small group to seats inside a huge, gorgeous room.  He promised that he and Alex would join us before the ceremony and walked back to the door.  The room had high, vaulted ceilings and a large stone fireplace sat directly in front of us, between two giant picture windows overlooking the same view we had from our room.

The wedding ceremony was beautiful, and timed perfectly so the sun set over the mountains as they were saying their vows.  After, we all moved to the next room, a perfectly decorated ballroom, for the reception.  Kendra had been kind enough to not seat Savannah with us, and I spotted her at a table on the other side of the ballroom, sitting with people that I assumed were her and Kendra's friends from college.  I wondered if she was as awful around them as she was around us.  Or if any of them actually liked her. 

After eating, dancing, and drinking a little too much, I found myself a feeling a bit lightheaded.  I walked back to the table, where Brody, Damien, Alex, Lauren, and Kendra's brother were all sitting at the moment.   "I'm going out on the patio for a little fresh air," I said to Brody.  "Do you want to come?"  He nodded and stood up.  He grabbed his jacket and walked towards the door with me.  Alex and Lauren didn't even look up from whatever conversation they were having.

It was freezing outside, and I was grateful when Brody draped his jacket over my shoulders and wrapped his arms around me.  I leaned back into him and stared out at the mountains.  He kissed the top of my head.  Neither of us heard the door to the patio open, but we both turned when we heard heels clicking towards us.

"Hi," Savannah said, tentatively.

"What do you want?" I spat.  I had no desire to have a conversation with her.

"To apologize," she said.

I snorted.  "I don't want to hear it," I replied, turning away.  Brody squeezed my shoulder as Savannah walked closer.  He still hadn't said anything.

"Seriously, I'm really sorry.  I didn't mean...well, I didn't mean for everything to happen," she said lamely.

"Really, Savannah?" Brody asked.  His voice was quiet, but I recognized the controlled anger in his words.  "You didn't mean for someone to get fired?  You didn't mean for me to waste two months of my life cleaning up the mess in Miami?  You didn't mean to potentially end me and Olivia's relationship?"

She didn't say anything for several seconds.  I was still facing away from her, not interested in anything she had to say.  I pulled Brody's jacket tighter around me as the wind picked up again.  "Well, shit happens," she said coldly.  Seriously?  I thought she came to apologize.

I whirled back around.  "Shit like that doesn't just happen, Savannah," I said, spitting her name out like a curse.  "Shit like that happens when you start fucking around with people's lives."

Now she was angry too.  "Fucking around with people's lives?  Oh please.  You must have an awfully high opinion of me to think I'm capable of controlling the lives of at least 3 people.  Grow up.  Sometimes people make moves that make things happen. Sometimes those things are bad.  That's the way the world works."

I took a step towards her.  Brody put a hand on my arm and whispered something to me, but I was completely focused on Savannah.  "You have a seriously fucked up view of the world if you think that that's the way it actually works."  My hands clenched into fists at my sides as I seethed.  Brody put both hands on my shoulders and squeezed them gently.

"Get out of here," he said to Savannah.  His voice was still quiet, but I could tell the anger was starting to bubble up more.  "We're not interested in your half-assed apologies and even if we were, this isn't the place."  She rolled her eyes, and I clenched my teeth, determined not to feed into her anymore.

"Whatever, you guys enjoy each other while it lasts," she said.  She tossed her hair and strode back into the reception room.  

"I fucking hate her," I hissed.  Brody rubbed my arms and sighed.

"I know," he said.  "She's unbelievable."

"I need to walk," I declared.  He took my hand and we walked along the path around the lodge.  I walked fast, the clicking of my heels ringing out on the concrete.

"Slow down, if you break an ankle and we have to spend the night in the ER, you won't be able to show me those other ways we can use my bow tie," he said with a smirk.

"Oh?  I thought I've worn you out this weekend," I said back, starting to relax.

He shrugged.  "I've had some time to recover.  And that dress is amazing, even covered with my jacket.  I'm not sure I heard any of the wedding ceremony because I was too busy staring at your legs."

"Well then, why are we wasting time out here?" I pulled him towards the door to the hotel.   We stopped back at the reception so I could grab my purse and to say goodnight, and then we booked it up to our room.

"So," he said with a mischievous grin, dangling his untied bow tie in front of me.  "Tell me how to make this useful."