I cocked my head. It didn’t sound like much, but if it revealed what an asshole this guy was, it’d totally be worth it. Besides, I had been so work focused I could use a change in my day-to-day. Maybe I needed this.
Trey was right. I deserved to have a little fun.
I gave her a light shoulder punch back, ready to commit to this. “Tonight it is. I’ll see you then.”
SEVEN
BRIAN
Showered and clean, I tugged up my jeans. The tightness in my muscles told me that maybe I overdid it at the gym today. After slipping on my button down, I applied a little of Trey’s hair product to the tips of my hair and stepped out of my bedroom.
“Whoa, hot date?” Trey was slouched against the couch, beer in hand, while the TV blasted in the background. I was surprised he was chilling tonight, staying in. By this time, he’d be ready to hit the clubs. Maybe he had a lady friend joining him.
“No, just going out,” I said, fixing the buttons on my sleeves.
He lifted an eyebrow. “Going out alone looking like that? Someone’s on a mission,” he said, tipping his beer back.
“I’m just going out with a friend.” Glancing at the Miller Lite in his hand made me want one for myself.
“Do I know this friend?” Trey asked, prodding for more information.
I squinted at the clock on the wall. I still had time to chill, so I strolled to the fridge and grabbed a beer. “Yeah, remember I was telling you about that nurse I met at the hospital?”
“Nice,” he said, nodding in approval. “Finally. I like seeing you putting yourself out there.”
Sure. Putting myself out there. He had no idea what Kendy had planned tonight, and I wasn’t about to clue him in on her crazy scheme. I didn’t want him to read more into it.
I plopped next to him and zeroed in on the soccer game he was watching. “So, where’s Jenny today?” I wondered how serious this latest girl was, but I didn’t want to pry.
In the six months I’d been here, I’d seen a revolving door of women come in and out. Most were models. Trey had high standards, and I swore every girl he dated had been as tall as him, with legs that went on forever. Jenny was the most recent constant.
“She’s hanging out with her girlfriends or going out or something,” he said, his eyes absent of any emotion.
“You guys serious?”
His tone hardened, getting touchy for a reason I couldn’t place. “I don’t know, bro. I’m trying . . . but something’s off. She’s a sweet girl, but . . . I just don’t know.”
My phone vibrated on the table, and I saw my little sister’s face pop up. Trey stiffened as his eyes moved from my phone and then back to the TV.
I debated answering.
“Hey, man, it’s cool,” he said, but I could read the hurt behind his eyes.
I picked up on the third ring. “Hey, Katelynn,” I answered warmly, well aware that Trey was right next to me. It’d been years since they’d broken up, and although he never talked to me about it, I knew there were still some unsettled issues between them.
“Hey, Bry. Ah! I miss you. I haven’t talked to you in weeks.” Her sweet voice automatically had me thinking of home, instantly relaxing me, and it got me wondering about my other siblings.
“Sorry. This new deal is kicking my ass.” I rubbed the back of my neck, a habit I noticed I’d formed whenever I thought of work.
“It’s fine.” I could hear the enthusiasm in her voice. “Guess what?”
“What?” A smile crept up my face to match hers I sensed over the phone.
“I got the job!”
I could picture her blonde hair in a high ponytail as she bounced on her toes. At twenty-three, she still acted like a little girl. Then again, being the youngest of four kids, that’s all I saw her as.
“I’m so excited,” she continued. “I just went on my last interview a couple days ago. I had my phone glued to my hip. Mom kept asking me daily, and I didn’t want to let her down, so I’m so glad I got the position. Program associate at the NOD, the National Organization of the Deaf.”
I chuckled, picturing the goofy smile on her face. Katelynn had been top of her class at Champaign University, majoring in Early Childhood Education and earning her masters in American Sign Language. She knew what she wanted, and had always worked hard to get it.
NAD was the top non-profit organization assisting and educating others about the deaf. The company was headquartered in NYC, but they also had offices in many other prominent cities across the nation.
My sister was sweet as pie, and the most patient person to boot. She had the biggest heart and believed she was put on Earth to change the world. I knew she’d be perfect for them and kick that job’s ass. I loved her drive. At times, I believed we were two peas in the same pod.
“And guess what?”
“What?”
She let out another light squeal. “I’m going to be in NYC for a month for training.” She paused, and then added, “They’re putting me up in a hotel in Manhattan.” Her voice lowered, which was a large contrast to her mood just a second ago. “I told them you live in New York, but I insisted I stay in a hotel. I just don’t want it to be weird, you know . . . with him there.”
I was beginning to wonder when things between her and Trey would go back to normal, or at least be somewhat civil. Like, when would she be able to say his name out loud, instead of calling him ‘your roommate’ or ‘your friend’?
“Katelynn, don’t worry about that. Everything will work out.”
Trey seemed to be focused on the TV, but a part of me believed he was eavesdropping. I was certain he could hear Katelynn squealing over the phone.
“Just let me know, okay? Whatever you’re comfortable with.” My stare flickered in Trey’s direction. “Anyways, sounds great, sis. I’m so proud of you. Was there any doubt?”
“I don’t know. You can never be so sure, but once I know the details, I’ll tell you,” she said excitedly.
Trey’s eyes were trained on a gym shoe commercial, the remote too tightly gripped in his hands.
“Sure thing,” I replied.
“Love you, Bry. I’m so, so, so happy.”
“I’m happy for you, too. You deserve it. Tell Mom and Dad I said hi.” I hung up the phone and resisted the urge to probe Trey with questions.
His eyes flickered to mine and back to the TV. “So . . . how’s Katelynn?” His voice shook as he uttered her name as though it pained him to say it out loud. His shoulders tensed like it was taking every ounce of energy to ask me that one question.
“She’s good,” I answered. All of me wondered what had happened years ago. One minute, they had been happy and in love, and the next minute, they were broken up. “She got a job at NOD, that huge organization for the deaf.”
“That’s good. I’m happy for her.” He let out a jagged breath. “I’m happy that she’s happy. Is she . . . How is she doing with Kyle?”
Awkwardness leaked into the air. I didn’t want to talk about the douche, who wasn’t anywhere near good enough for my baby sis, to the guy who I thought was. It wasn’t my decision to make. I’d already told her how I felt.
“I don’t ask about him when we talk.”
Pain filtered through his eyes as he guzzled back his beer. “That’s good,” he said, somewhat sadly.
“She’s going to be in New York in a month,” I said, gauging his reaction.
He straightened, his eyes flying to mine. “She is?” His voice hitched up a notch, but in the next second, he reclined against the couch as though faking it was no big deal and shrugged. “I mean, that’s good,” he said. “That’s good.”
He’d said it twice, like he needed to convince himself.
This was getting awkward.
“Don’t worry; she’s staying at a hotel. She didn’t want it to be weird between you guys.”