A Little Complicated (5 page)

He
pulled me to standing and kissed my cheek, my jaw. Fuck, it was glorious.

Until I remembered whose cock
I’d just sucked. Had I really just hooked up with my friend, my sister’s ex-boyfriend? Had I really just taken advantage of him being drunk and sad? Was I really that person now?

I backed away, wiping
my cum on my shirt. I just needed to get away. I was such an asshole. “I’m so sorry!” I said, brokenly. “So sorry, Brady.”

Brady looked confused then guilt filled his own eyes. He didn’t say anything, just watched as I fled. And the next day he was gone. I dropped by his apartment, hoping to apologize when he was sober, but I’d obviously just missed them. The Super said he’d just dropped off the key ten minutes earlier.

So my only memory of Brady for so long was that guilt, that recrimination in his eyes. And the fact that he’d obviously led either me or my sister on. I wasn’t sure for a long time whether I was angrier with him or myself. But that was enough anger to fuck up a few relationships, and enough good in his touch and in his kiss to make no one ever measure up.

CHAPTER SEVEN
Ryan – Present Day

I was eternally grateful for my sister’s interference and she didn’t even realize that’s what she’d done. Ever since I’d realized who Lila was (don’t I feel silly for not putting that face in context) and I’d seen Brady on the other side of that damn door, I’d been way more determined to tell my sister what had happened between me and Brady. I wondered if he’d told her he was bi, yet. Since his kid knew, I guess it was no secret. And wasn’t that just a fucking kicker. If I’d had any balls, I could have had him before my sister.

When I came out of the shower the two of them were gone, Ellie’s mess
still spilling over my living room. This time I was annoyed by that fact but it wasn’t her fault. I needed to get my shit together because c’mon, I’m twenty-six and this is definitely not the first guy I’ve had a crush on that the timing or the situation just wasn’t right. Shit happens, right?

But the way he pulled me, called me to him, was the hardest thing about all of it. I’d never been as happy as I had when it was just me and him and Lila having a movie night. I always figured it was just me being a dreamy eighteen year old. I’d had boyfriends since then and seen enough to know
that he was probably just glad to have some young hanger-on who was foolish enough to do anything he was asked because Brady was so attractive. That niceness could have definitely been a front. I’d seen stranger things from guys. I definitely wasn’t as naïve as I’d once been. Sometimes being this jaded sucked.

His face when I’d opened that fucking door, though. He’d been almost shy, apologetic. Then the way he’d looked me over. He was definitely interested. But once again, Ellie had gotten there first and she seemed determined this time in a way I’d not seen her before.

“Fuck it!” I yelled into my empty apartment. I threw on some clothes and grabbed my car keys. What I needed was a fucking drink.

When I got to the Lucky Star and posted up at the bar, I downed three vodka and Red Bulls before my friend
, co-worker and bartender for the night, Tarsha, approached me. “You don’t look so hot, babe.”

I looked at her bleary eyed, alcohol making me amendable to this discussion. Tarsha and I had done many a drunk night together since she’d come on staff two years earlier
. She was one of the few I’d bemoaned life’s cruelties to and she knew about Brady—the whole story.

“Brady’s back.”

“Naw!” she said in her loud, excited voice. “You better get that boy.”

I looked to her sadly. “Ellie saw him before me and moved in.”

“Aw, damn. So he’s still in the closet or what?”

“Well, I met his kid and she told me h
e’s bi but it doesn’t matter ‘cause Ellie got him first, again.”

“Okay, maybe I shouldn’t give you this next drink ‘cause you’re all babbling and not making any sense.” I wasn’t sure exactly what part I’d stuttered on but thanks to the booze I just got annoyed. “Don’t look at me like that. Take this
last
drink and I’mma come back for this story after I get these other drinks made.” She passed me my drink, which I downed quickly. Too quickly.

So I spilled my guts (not physically, thank goodness) as soon as Tarsha came back over. She made all the necessary noises in all the right places then asked the simplest question: “Have you told either of them how you feel about it?”

I looked at her like she was ridiculous. She stood back. “Damn, boy. You gotta stop giving me those looks. I’m trying to help. And it’s the only solution.”

“How do you figure?”

“Well, if you tell them then maybe, if nothing else, they’ll be respectful enough of your feelings to not see each other. It’d only be fair.”

“My sister is fair about a lot of things, but no one has ever talked her out of a man she has her hat set at.”

Tarsha laughed. “I heard that. Remember when she was going after that gym teacher at her school? He still won’t come in here for a drink, even when they have their big teacher parties.”

Ugh. Who could forget that shining example of why co-workers should never bump uglies. “Don’t remind me.” I grumbled.

“Oh, shit.” Tarsha said. “Incoming.” She’d barely gotten the last word out when I heard my sister’s excited squeal.
Shit.

“Oh my gah!” My sister wrapped me in a hug from behind.

“I’ll just grab you another drink,” Tarsha said with a sympathetic grimace.

“Ry, I’m so glad you’re here!” I turned, knowing I wouldn’t be. I was right. She was with fucking Brady. I sighed and put on my fakest smile, though part of it was genuine when I saw how uncomfortable Brady was.

“What’s up?” I asked, faking cordiality.

“Well, I told Brady here we just had to go to lunch and this was close enough to the house that I could go change.”

“So y’all didn’t come together?” I asked. I don’t know why that mattered.

“Well, we’re having a drink together silly.”

“As friends. Old friends. And no, she wanted to change so we met up here.” Brady said. I wasn’t sure why
that
mattered either.

“Of course,” Ellie gave a salute. “Just friends.” She turned to me and winked. Oh yeah, she was gonna go for it and poor Brady may as well not try to resist.

“Mind if we sit with you?” Brady asked. Ellie and I had matching looks of
Damn!
Though for terribly different reasons, I’m sure.

“Naw, now. Y’all just sit right down here. You want that fancy margarita with brandy, right Ellie?” Tarsha asked, giving me a knowing look. I shot daggers with my eyes.

“Yeah, Tarsha. And he’s on my ticket,” Ellie said pointing at Brady who shook his head.

“That’s not necessary. Just a draft, please. Yuengling if you got it.” He threw his jacket over the barstool beside me and sat next to me. Ellie sat on his other side and shot him an annoyed look before delving into the margarita Tarsha passed her. When I looked to him he was smiling into his beer. It took me back to a time we’d all three been at this very bar, way before I could consume alcohol
. He’d looked at me with such adoration then it hurt my chest. Which he did now, too. Fuck.

“I have to pee.” I said, getting up and heading for the bathroom. I locked myself in a stall. What the fuck was I doing? He’s at lunch with my sister and just like before I was pining for him. Only now it made me feel like a bigger asshole because I wasn’t a silly eighteen year old with a crush, I was a grown man
who was making goo-goo eyes at the guy my sister was trying to rekindle things with.

My phone buzzed. I pulled it up and looked at the text from Tarsha.
Stop being a bitch. He’s into you. Bad.

How do you figure?
I text back.

He watched the whole time you walked off.

Fucking idiot. My sister was going to catch on.

Yes, your sister noticed.

Fuck.

I actually did have to pee so I did my business, washed up and went back out. When I got to the bar Ellie was gone. “Where’s my sister?”

“Apparently she had to pee, too,” Tarsha said, nodding her head, not-so-subtly at Brady which I knew to mean she was telling me to talk to him.

Brady shrugged. His eyes never leaving mine. I wanted to melt at the sincere adoration I saw there. “It’s good to see you, again, Ryan.” His deep voice licked me from head to toe.

“Yeah,” I mumbled as I sat back down.

“You know, I meant it. Your sister and I are just friends.”

I shot him a bitchy glance. “I’m not sure why that matters.”

A cocktail straw came sailing and whacked me in the face. “Hey!” I bitched, rubbing my face. Tarsha nudged her head toward Brady who was chuckling. I said nothing, just sipped my drink.

“Boys are stupid,” Tarsha complained as she walked off. “Stupid.”

Brady laughed again then put his hand on my shoulder. Fuck it felt good. I looked at him. “Seriously,” he said, “It’s great to see you and thanks so much for helping Lila.”

“She fessed up, did she?”

“Yep. Never was good at lying to me. I think you rubbed off.”

I snorted. “Hardly. I didn’t even know her long enough to remember her face. I’ve seen her for weeks and didn’t put it together.”

He pulled his arm back and looked sadly at his beer.
That blow landed right where I’d wanted. I had wanted him to hurt, right? Yes. Yes, he needed to back off.

“Well, thanks for helping all the same. I’m pretty sure part of you knew it was her, though. You always was one for spoiling her.”

I smiled, remembering the cookies and cokes I used to sneak a six-year-old Delilah. “Yeah,” I said fondly. I had missed her as much as I’d missed her daddy. I think I was most ashamed of the fact I hadn’t recognized her when I first saw her. I guess I was just so comfortable having forgotten them. My heart couldn’t handle the hope that they were back.

“
We should have a movie night or something, like old times.”

I scowled. “It’s nothing like old times, and you know it.”
With my scowl and snapping tone he retreated back to his beer. “Where is my sister?” I looked toward the bathroom. Damn her for always taking forever. She was probably texting someone and reapplying make-up.

“I told her.”

I turned to him, sputtering. “You what?”

His eyes went wide. “Oh, no. No way, not that. But I told her we could just be friends because I remembered how she worked. And I told her I’m bi.”

“Oh,” I said, taking another sip of my drink. I probably didn’t need any more because the way he looked at me was making my cock wake up and do a happy dance.

“Not saying we—you and me—
have to be any more than friends, it’d just be real nice to hang out again.” Then almost too quietly he said “I missed you.” I snapped my head to stare at him. My sister arrived before I could respond.

“What’d I miss boys?” she asked, happily sucking on her straw. Predictable as ever, she had a fresh coat of war paint. I smiled at her. I actually adored her
few predictab
le habits. Lord knew there were few but she did have them.

“Nothing, Ells. I actually should head out.”

Brady’s face fell and Ellie didn’t bother hiding her relief. Brady’s hand stopped me as I stood from my bar stool. “How will you get home? You’re way too drunk to drive, Ry.”

I glared at him for a second. “I’m just going
to the theater next door to meet up with a friend for a movie.”

“Oh. A
guy
friend?” Ellie asked, batting her lashes. She was always exasperated with my disdain for dating in general.

“Yes, a
guy
friend.” And that landed exactly where I’d wanted it. Score 2 for Borja. Brady frowned and stared at the display of liquor behind the bar. I threw down some cash to cover my bill and made my way out into the parking lot. The theater was just next door so I walked over and leaned against the building waiting for my friend Max to show up.

So I hadn’t lied when I said I was meeting a guy. He just happened to be my very straight friend I’d also met in college. When he showed I was happy when he only asked once if I was okay and accepted my answer when I said I was just drunk.

A movie with my friend was exactly what I needed to get my mind off of Brady. And it worked, it really did. Until I sobered up. Then it just hurt.

CHAPTER
EIGHT
Brady

“So we should definitely hang out again sometime,” Ellie said, doing something with her eyelashes I’m sure she thought would win me over.

“Yeah, for sure,” I said as I unlocked my truck. “Maybe we all go to dinner one night?”

“Oh that’d be great. You, me and Delilah. It’ll be great to see her again.”

“Yeah, we could invite Ryan. Lila would love for us all to get together.”

I saw a flash of annoyance on her face. I knew she was pissed but I’d made it clear that we were just friends.