Unsocial (34 page)

Ugh. I stand up and clench my fists angrily at my sides. "I
care about you Trevor and consider you family, but let me make myself clear, there
will never be anything sexual between us again. Never. Not in a million
years."

I stomp off to my room and close the door behind me.
Relieve
some tension. Did he seriously just say that to me?
I know I'm wound up
tight, but I can't believe he would even think I would consider that.  Only one
man can relieve this tension, and Trevor’s right, I can’t have him.

Can I?

Dylan

It’s the day after Thanksgiving, and I have until Monday off with
the kids. I’m lying in bed awake at the ass-crack of dawn when I could be
sleeping off that last piece of pie I killed at midnight.  Well, I might as
well run it off.  I’ve always liked running, weather permitting, and so far
Kansas weather this year has allowed me to keep it up, though admittedly when
having to make sure four kids get off to school on time every morning hasn’t
always allowed me to be consistent.  Thankfully in the second garage, Jax and
Luke helped me set up a full gym to stay in shape.  It’s even better than the
one we had in Oklahoma.

This morning the air is brisk but not terrible for a five-mile
run.  As I make my way through the neighborhood streets, I think about the previous
day, and of course, front and center is Brooke.  I can’t believe what she has
done for my family.  My attraction to her aside, she is the most incredible
person I have ever met, and she never expects anything in return. In the back
of my mind, I have to wonder why her career is so important to her. I have to
wonder if her true passion is helping people like mine is with cars.  But I
also have to wonder if something else drives her to social work.

The fact that she cared enough to make Thanksgiving so special for
us blows my mind. That was undoubtedly above and beyond the call of a social
worker.  But again, she’s gone above and beyond on many other occasions from
the beginning.  Just months ago there was no way I would have trusted her to
the extent I do now.  As it is nearly every situation or decision that comes up
thoughts of what Brooke would think filter in, and that alone makes me crazy. 
And there is no way I can ignore the fact that my little sister, who was so
traumatized she didn't talk for over four months, finally spoke last night. I'm
still stunned and spent a lot of last night wondering if she is going to talk
to me or the other kids or if it's just Brooke she feels comfortable talking to.
Honestly. I don't care if she doesn't talk to me for a while as long as she
keeps progressing and talking to someone, and if that someone is Brooke, then
that’s fine too.

After five miles I stop in my front yard and start stretching to
cool down before going inside.  I'm sweaty and exhausted when I open the door
and head straight to my room for a shower.  Gabby walks out of her room just as
I’m passing and for a moment, I freeze wondering what to do.  I decide just to
act normal.  “Good morning, Gabby."

She gives me a small smile, and I hold my breath waiting to see if
she's going to speak to me. "Morning."

Her sweet little voice nearly brings me to my already
exercise-weakened knees. I let a small breath in relief.
Holy shit.
I
want to hug her, but stop myself when I remember that I'm all sweaty. Maybe
it's for the best. Maybe I shouldn't act like it's a huge deal, even though it
is. I pat her head instead, "I'm gonna take a quick shower then I'll be in
to make you breakfast. Whatever you want."

I make it through my shower on a high. I want to call Brooke and
tell her that Gabby spoke to me this morning because of course my first thought
is to call Brooke. I'm so fucking confused. I know I want her, it’s just all of
these other bullshit things messing with my head.  For one, I’ve never been
jealous of a man a day in my life, well not over a woman anyway, but yesterday
I could have flattened Trevor.  I can’t stand the fact that he’s there, that
they have a history that goes beyond their one-night stand, and that he wants
her.

What pisses me off the most is that it would be so easy for her to
be with him. 
The safer choice. Fuck
. Why wouldn't she? He's there.  No
threat to her precious fucking job. The thought makes me sick, but I feel
helpless, and that’s not a something I like feeling at all.

I dry off and stand naked at the sink.  My reflection is still the
same; young, good looking, and ripped. I know from years of experience that
it’s not just my bank account that attracts women to me so easily because I had
my pick of women before I had the bank.  I can’t even think of any time I had to
chase a woman or even fucking wanted to for that matter. It's amazing how my
physical reflection hasn't changed a bit, but I feel like a totally different
person lately.

That’s why yesterday when Trevor basically called me out for being
boring now I lost my cool. I’ve been my own man for years. Always down to party
and down to fuck, and I miss that man.  I’m in the exact situation now that
kept me from my family for the last three years.  I don’t do well with my
independence being in jeopardy.  I don’t regret the choice I’ve made to give it
up for my family, but I don’t know if I could do it for a woman. Having Trevor
hammer home all the truths of my life now scared me as much as it pissed me
off, and my first thought was to react how I had always done before, with my
fists.  I don’t know what would have happened if Brooke wouldn’t have stepped
in.

I get dressed and walk out to the living room where all four kids
are now. All still in pajamas, I look at Gabby. "Alright kiddo, what do
you want for breakfast?"

She thinks about it for a second a then says,
"Pancakes?" The other kids are clearly excited that Gabby is speaking
now, but it's Luke's face that I notice. He's got a huge, goofy grin on his
usually pissed off face.

"That I can do." I head into the kitchen, and Cassie
jumps up and follows me.

"Can you believe this?" She asks excitedly.

She's giddy, and I feel the same way, things haven't felt this
good for a long time, and for the first time in a while, I feel like things
will be okay.  I shake off the negative thoughts from earlier. 
This
is
my life.  I smile at her. "Yeah, I can.  We’re all going to be
alright."

I grab the cookbook Brooke bought for me, then gather everything I
need to make pancakes. Cassie begins helping me and then stuns me by saying,
"It's all because of Brooke. I don’t know what magic she did, and I don’t
know what we would do without her.”

I tense up at the thought. I don't want to think about life
without Brooke.
Damn. Shake it off, man.
Don't want to imagine life
without her? I'm in big fucking trouble. I need to try to get this girl under
me so I can work her the fuck out of my system. The only the problem is, I can't
seem to get her alone.

We have a nice breakfast. Gabby says a couple of things, but is
still pretty quiet, but I’ll take what I can get. The rest of the weekend is
laid back and relaxing.  We all revel in Gabby’s emergence from silence. Other
than a few texts messages there’s been nothing from Brooke, and that worries me
because I would hate to think that the standoff with Trevor might have driven
her into his bed because I don’t think she like that “my cocks bigger than
yours show.”

On Monday, the kids go back to school, and I head into the garage.
Jax came over on Saturday, and neither one of us brought up Thanksgiving. He
knows it pissed me off with what he thought was a cock block, but since the
evening did end on the note it did, I’m willing to let it go. We aren't going
to sit around and talk everything out, and honestly, we don't have to. That’s
why our friendship works; we both hate sharing feelings and shit, and we know
when to shut up. Honestly, all the bullshit that’s been going on since we came
to Kansas has been more than we’ve ever shared.  And of-fucking-course, Brooke
is right in the goddamn middle.

I didn't tell him about my small altercation with that fucking
douchebag Trevor either.  It just doesn't need to be brought up, because at the
end of the day I know Jackson will have my back if I need him and vice versa.

I walk past the receptionist, Carolyn, who I hired myself this
time. She’s in her late 40s, married, and three children, totally safe.  She's
an awesome, no-nonsense woman, and there is zero possibility of me fucking her.
She's the anti-Joy. I don't need anything like that again.

Speaking of Joy, she called me yesterday and left a message asking
if Jax and I would like to bring the kids down for the company Christmas Party.
It's the 23rd because we always close for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I
talked to Jax about it, and he said he's in if I am. But I'm not sure about
seeing Joy again, especially with the kids in tow. That chick is a wildcard if
her texts are anything to judge by.  I think my phone call earlier didn’t send
the right memo or she didn’t quite get the memo. It’s the chance to see the
crew again that makes my decision, so I send Joy a short text telling her we’ll
be there.

I greet Carolyn on the way to my office and set up a few
meetings.  Overall I’m still riding the high of Thanksgiving and the weekend
and having a good day. I find myself checking my cell phone constantly. I
haven't heard from Brooke since Thursday night even though I sent several texts
letting her know about Gabby’s progress.  And I just really wanted to hear from
her
because I wanted to. I had thought for sure that she would call to
check up on Gabby, but nope, nothing, not even a quick text answering mine. I’m
hanging onto the fact that it's work related, because if I entertain the possibility
that she might have hooked up with Trevor, I’ll go out of my mind. That thought
makes me cringe. There's no way. The way she looked at him when she broke up
our argument told me she was as irritated with him as I was. Well, maybe not as
much as I was, but close. The last several hours of work are a bust because of
the thoughts of that jackass touching Brooke on repeat in my mind.

Tuesday I’m not feeling much better because I still have not heard
from her. It’s been radio silence. I leave work early excited to see her. Maybe
I can get her alone for a bit tonight. Convince her to stay for dinner and hang
out. Tuck the younger kids in for bed and...
And what?

Ah, the days when I would just go to a club, pick out a girl and
after we had fucked that was it. But with Brooke, what would it be? Would one
time be enough? Or would we fuck a couple of times and then be done? Would we
just slip right back into social worker and client?
Shit, would I even want
that?
I park my car in the garage and go inside. The kids get home a little
while later, and we pick up a little around the house while waiting for her to
arrive.

I jump up when I hear the doorbell.
Settle the fuck down, dude.
I open the door, and there she is. Angels didn’t sing, I’m not that stupid
sappy, but damn if the blood didn’t start humming through my veins, all heading
south, at the sight of her. I notice she looks frazzled and worn out, but still
gorgeous.  I notice she’s still in her work clothes instead of her jeans and
t-shirt she’s been wearing for the last few months.  What nearly kills my boner
is that she has no bag with a change in it.

"Hi."
Yep, that’s all I’ve got.

She smiles as she walks in quickly, "Hi, I'm so sorry I
haven't called. It's been insane since Friday. The holidays seem to bring the
worst out of people, and I've constantly been running trying to get everything
in order. I've had tons of paperwork, but you have no idea how badly I've
wanted to find out how things with Gabby have been, I..."

I try to calm her and put my hand on her shoulder, "Brooke,
breath. It's okay. Really. Things have been great. I figured you were busy with
work."
More like prayed to every deity known and even some I made up.

Her shoulders relax slightly along with the rest of her, "Oh
good, has she been talking more?"

I nod, smiling, "Yeah. Still short sentences, but she's
opening up. It's unbelievable."

She looks happy about that, and I'm relieved that she's just been
busy at work as I had initially thought and hoped. "I'm so glad, Dylan. It
sounds like things are going good which is a relief because I might have to cut
today a little short."

I can't hide the disappointment on my face, "Why?"

She looks at me with the same disappointment, "I'm sorry, but
I have to go back to the office and take care of a couple of things before
going to meet Trevor and Alex for Trevor’s goodbye dinner."

There are the damn angels to escort that motherfucker out of here.
Cue the smile on my face. "Goodbye dinner, huh?"

She shakes her head at my pleased expression and smiles back,
"Yes. He's going back on tour."

"Ah, I would have thought he would wait until after
Christmas."

"Well, he's going to take a week off and meet us in Florida
then resume the tour in Miami. Frankly, I’ll just be glad to have our apartment
back.”

I'm glad too. Wait? A week? "You'll be gone for a week?"

She nods, "Yeah, a small vacation for Christmas with Alex and
Trevor’s parents in Florida."

Another twinge of jealousy shoots through my body. He's going to
be with Brooke for an entire week in fucking Florida. They are going to hang
out on the beach with her in some skimpy little bikini while I'm in Kansas with
frigid temperatures and whatever else Kansas weather decides to throw at us. I
do not like that scenario at fucking all. But what the hell can I say?

Cassie finally calls for us from the living room, "Are you
guys ever going to come in here?"

Brooke laughs and heads toward my impatient sister. Gabby gives
her a huge hug, "Hi, Brooke."