“Yeah…long story. What did I miss here?” Suzie changed the subject.
“I know that look,” Laura laughed. “Fortunately, it has been a quiet day. So, give me some gossip. Heather broke up with her boyfriend, did you hear?”
“No, that is too bad he seemed like a nice guy,” Suzie replied, multi-tasking her to do list while catching up with Laura.
“Nice! Not even. He was sleeping with her sister on the side,” Laura whispered, aghast. “Yeah she was pretty pissed when she found out.”
“No doubt. I wonder why he did it,” Suzie said absentmindedly.
“What do you mean you wonder why, come on, he is a guy. Guys think with their dick. It is her sister who should know better,” said Laura. Then, her tone changing, she asked, “What is Jared’s brother like? Is he as hot as Jared?”
“What brother?” Suzie replied defensively.
“I don’t know, Jared told me his brother was coming to town and wanted to go out. Apparently he is single…” Laura’s voice trailed off as she scrolled through her phone. “Jeff, that’s his name. You met him right?”
“Yeah, I met all his brothers.”
“So, what is he like?”
“Um, I don’t know. Jared has four brothers so, I am not sure.” Suzie hoped she sounded convincing.
“Come on. Try. Picture him and give me a description. Compared to Jared?”
“Okay if you will leave me alone so I can get some work done after. Jeff, now let me think. He is the same height as Jared but with darker eyes and hair. He is built too, like big muscles all over. His hair is long and wavy and he is scruffy and manly and rough…” Suzie said.
“Pretty impressive for not remembering him,” Laura laughed. “He sounds sexy.”
“K now let me get to work.” Suzie turned her back in a huff. Guiltily, she messaged Jared to see how his day was and find out when he would be at work. He was on his way now and was bringing her lunch. She was engrossed and did not look up until she could sense Jared enter her cubicle and with food. She was finishing up and saving the work when he reached around and passed her a white bag of food, it smelled delicious.
“Thanks babe,” Suzie said then grabbed his arm. A sizzle of electricity jolted through her arm and she dropped the food on her desk. Feeling the thick arm she turned around to see Jeff standing there instead of Jared. He leaned against her desk, his groin at eye level. She looked up at his eyes but felt like she was thrusting her chest out. “Oh, it is you,” was all she could speak to him.
“Yeah,” Jeff said, amused. “Jared had some meetings this afternoon, he told me to hang with you while I wait for him. So here I am.”
At that moment Laura walked in, she looked at Jeff and smiled. “You must be Jared’s brother. Wow you weren’t kidding Suzie, he is gorgeous.”
Jeff regarded Suzie and lowered his gaze. Suzie could not breathe and she could not stop looking into his eyes. Fortunately, Laura hadn’t noticed and was still talking.
“…and that is how things are around here. Are you thinking of moving here?”
“No, just have work for a few weeks. Gives me a chance to hang out with Jared, eat his food and make some money.” The two laughed.
Noticing her chance to escape, Suzie encouraged Jeff to stay with Laura while she ran a few errands. While she was gone, Jeff and Laura had decided everyone was going out for supper after work.
Suzie sat through supper in relative silence. Jared held her hand on one side while Jeff sat across from her, beside Laura. The brothers were chatting about their plans, the town and Jeff’s job. Laura was gushing and flirting with Jeff who would return the encounter but always with a backward glance to Suzie. She felt like she was crawling out of her skin. She had to get him alone so she could tell him to say nothing to Jared. She had to get Jared alone so she could feel safe again like last night. Oh, why did Jeff have to come early? Why did he have to come at all?
Everyone at the table was staring at her. “Sorry, I was daydreaming,” Suzie said with a laugh.
“We are going to stay for a few drinks,” Laura said and winked. “You look like you need one.”
Suzie nodded and pretended to be part of the conversation again, after a few rounds and conversations, it was becoming easier to relax and fake it. Jared, polite as always, kept her drinks full and his arm around her. Jeff was telling stories in his animated way and Laura was soaking it up. Jared was laughing at his brother’s antics. Suzie excused herself to go to the bathroom. As usual there was a line up at the ladies’ room. Waiting in line, she debated leaving and just going home but decided in her fuzzy condition who knows where she would end up.
After a few minutes, still waiting, Suzie felt a hand on her shoulder. Before she could register the tingle of excitement building within, he moved his hand to her lower back and guided her away from the line up and towards the men’s room.
“What are you doing?” she hissed at him.
“Chill, it is probably empty.” Jeff winked at her. And it was. Suzie was relieved to not have to wait in line, and when she exited the stall she went to thank him, until she realized he was standing at the urinal. She froze in place. His eyes caught hers in the mirror and she blushed. With his back to her, he finished off and both moved to wash their hands at the same time. “You’re a bit jumpy today? Or did you just drink too much.”
“I don’t know,” was all she could reply. “When do you start work?”