Page 32 of Between Brothers

“Oh! Um, good idea.”

“Not offended?”

“No! I mean, why would I be?”

I gave her hand a squeeze and pulled into an open grocery store’s lot. I parked and pulled the emergency brake, turning to look at her.

“Be real with me?”

She stared at me and said, “I can’t imagine being anything else…”

“Do you think that by having sex with me, that it automatically requires you to have sex with Cell?”

“No.” She said firmly. “No, I want you… what scares me is I want Cell, too… I don’t know what to do with that. I mean, I wasn’t raised that way.”

I knew just what Cell would say to that, and I said as much. “You know, if Cell were sitting here with us, he would ask you, ‘Your parents coming to bed with us?’” I smiled as she predictably colored and cried, “No!”

“Would you lose your home?”

“No… I don’t think my dad would be very happy about it if he found out but…”

“But you’re curious?”

She turned to face out the window, as if not seeing me right then would be easier and I understood that. Her breath fogged the window when she spoke, and I watched her face, as best I could, by her reflection in the glass. The only reason I could was from the night pressing in from the outside.

“I dream about it.”

“About what?”

“You… mostly. I have for a long time. About what it would be like, to be with you but lately I find I’m dreaming just as much about Cell and about…” her voice faltered and I helped her.

“About what it would be like, the both of us together with you?”

“Yes.”

“Do you want it?”

She shifted pressing her knees together, trapping her hands between her thighs. Nervous, afraid of being judged I’d imagine. She was with the wrong crowd when it came to hanging around the club if she expected judgment. That wasn’t how we rolled.

“I… I think I do, but really, I just want you tonight if that’s alright.”

“More than alright. This is all at your pace, baby.”

She bowed her head, a wry smile on her lips. “Duracell seems to be in a big hurry.”

I smiled wryly too, “Patience was never his thing.” Going fast, stirring shit up, and instant gratification was more his speed.

“No, no it isn’t,” she agreed laughing.

The mood lightened, the tension in the small space lessening and I felt like I could breathe again.

“Want to come in with me, or just want me to run in?”

“I’ll come in,” she murmured and reached for the door handle.

I liked that. That she was willing to be brave, with me… for me… I knew she was the one.

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