Thick: A Stepbrother Romance (18 page)

              I set listening to my mother and Alex get acquainted a little more. It seems my mother loved Alex just as much as I did. I was sipping my coffee and looking across the street when I saw the last person that I ever wanted to see. Cherish. She was talking on her cell phone getting ready to walk across the street. Her eyes caught sight of me, narrowing.

              “Oh for fuck sakes.” A frustrated grunt came from me.

              “What?” Alex and my mother spoke in unison.

              “It’s Cherish,” I answered.

              By my mother’s groan I could tell she felt the same way about Cherish as I did. She couldn’t stand the trashy slut. I felt bad for Cherish for losing her child during pregnancy, but one thing I didn’t feel bad for was being a bitch to her when she had been one to me. I never found out what was up her ass during school. But I felt it was going to come out.

              “Well hello, Claire.” Cherish greeted in a nasally tone.

              I nodded. “Cherish.”

              “I didn’t know you were back in town. It’s been what? Ten years.”

              “Yeah, that sounds about right,” I mumbled dryly.

              She stood there as if she expected me to say something else. When I didn’t offer her anything, she turned her glare on me. I knew she was going to pop off with something.

              “It’s a shame you and Brad are going to be siblings, isn’t it?” Her face took on a devilish smile, proof she was trying to barb me into retaliating.

              “Actually no it isn’t. Should I be pissed off or something?” I checked my cuticles, feigning boredom.

              She scowled when she saw her taunts weren’t getting anywhere. “It was lovely to see you again. Please give my love to
my
husband.” She forced out through clenched teeth.

              “Don’t you mean Ex,” I stated, smugly.

              She cackled with laughter. “All in due time, Claire. All in due time.”

              She waved back at us as she went into the store. I was inwardly fuming. Did she really think Brad would take her back? It’s been years since they were married. There was no way that he would fall for her trap again. He had me now, he didn’t need her.

              “Wow, she’s gained a bit of weight, hasn’t she?” My mother’s voice oozed disgust.

              As I sat there thinking about it, she had gained some weight. When we were in school she’d been every man’s wets dream and every girl’s nightmare. She could easily steal a man from his girl. She barely had to lift a finger in school to get Brad to notice her. But now, she looked like she was working on a beer belly, although she covered herself well in a flowing sheath dress. I knew she was trying to hide from people that she was expanding in the mid-section.

              “You know now that you said something, I think she has.” I replied.

              We sat there in silence for the rest of the lunch. My nerves were knotting up in my stomach. I’d be lucky I didn’t have an ulcer when I returned back to New York Sunday. Ever since I got here it’s been one roller coaster after another. But I was nervous for a different thing. Something about the way Cherish came at me, it screamed I know something you don’t.

              It wouldn’t surprise me any if she did something drastic, and that’s what I was afraid of. She managed to marry Brad before I could get the chance. Maybe that was it. She thought she had one up on me because she’d married Brad already. Even though it as because she was pregnant, but that was beside the point. The main point was, she’s managed to snag him once. Would she be able to snag him again? I wanted to scream no until I was blue in the face. But the past sometimes had a way of repeating itself. I hoped I was just being paranoid, because I don’t know what I would do if she caught Brad again.

              I’d be devastated…broken…absolutely useless.

            
 
After shopping for a bit more, we made our way to the house. After the run in that we had with Cherish, I wanted to talk to Brad, something awful. I told my mother and Alex that I would be down in just a bit, I just had to make a call. Running up the steps, I locked my door and threw my shopping bags on the bed. This nagging feeling that I had would not go away until I talked to Brad. I knew I was over thinking things, yet again. But I had to hear him say that there was nothing going on between him and Cherish.

              Dialing his number, I sat and waited, and waited. Every ring getting that much more under my skin. When his voicemail picked up I growled in anger, jerking the phone from my ear. Quickly dialing his number again I waited for him to answer. It rang three times, then went to voice mail. That only meant one thing, he was ignoring me. If his phone was shut off, it would just go straight to voicemail. It was either that or he was doing something and could get to the call in time.

              I laid my phone down on the dresser. I gave him some time to try and return my call. If he didn’t then I would call again. I began putting my clothes away, thinking about Brad the entire time. I had no idea when a man took up so much space in my thoughts. But it seemed that Brad managed to weasel his way in, again.

              It felt like we were back in school when I was with him. He was so intense, playful, and pleasurable. He always saw to my needs above his own. I couldn’t describe the amount of restraint that he showed sometimes. But it awed me. He was the epitome of self-control. It pissed me off some times. However, he made up for it later.

              After putting my purchases away, I called him again. This time it went straight to voicemail. There was no ringing, no nothing. My brows furrowed in confusion. It was at least ringing a while ago, but now there was nothing. I knew his phone was charged up, it always was. He was very anal about that in school, and with a business now it was the same. That meant he had intentionally knew I was calling and shut his phone off.

              Why would he do that?

              I needed to talk to someone, because the ideas going through my mind were only hurting me. I couldn’t ask for Alex to step away from my mom, she would know something was up. She would start digging and find out all about Brad and me. I couldn’t have her doing that. I had to make up some guy and start talking that way.

              I grabbed my phone and came back downstairs, finding my mother and Alex in the kitchen looking at old photo albums. I hated those things with a passion, but they were my mother’s prized possessions. There were pictures from the time I was born to now. She loved embarrassing me with them when people would come to visit. Alex was no different.

              Sitting down at the table next to them, I started picking at my fingers. How was I going to start this conversation? I needed the input on what I should do if they were in the place that I was. I needed the only two women in my life that wouldn’t spout bullshit and just give it to me straight. If I had to make up a man’s name to get that, then so be it.

              “Mom. Alex. Can I talk to you all about something,” I addressed them both.

              They looked up from the albums, seeing a look of dismay on my face. Immediately pushing the photos away from them they gave me their undivided attention. Alex knew what I was going to talk about, or whom I should say. My mother was the only one completely clueless. But I didn’t let that stop me from pushing forward with it.

              “I’m in love,” I admitted, watching my mother’s eyes widened and Alex’s lit up with laughter.

              “With whom dear,” my mother asked?

              “His name is…Brett,” I lied.             

              Alex smirked. “Who is this Brett, Claire?”

              “Oh you met him, Alex. Remember when we had lunch,” I widened my eyes to get her to stop playing around.

              She behaved, thank God. “Yes, I remember now. The beef cake. Mmm, his muscles, tattoos, and piercings would get any woman’s engines firing on all cylinders.”

              “He sounds absolutely yummy,” my mother piped in.

              “Oh he is definitely something,” I stated dryly, clearing my throat before continuing. “Anyway. Well he has this ex-wife. I do not like her, can’t stand her actually. She seems to know something that I don’t, like she’s clued in on a little secret that no one else knows. Well she has made it very clear what she wants. I’m just afraid she’s going to weasel her way back into his life. Am I just overreacting, or should I be severely worried?”

              We sat in silence, both women taking in what I said. I already knew what Alex would say. She’d say to give him a good fuck and show him what he would be missing. But my mother on the other hand, that was new territory. She’s never given me advice about men before, so I knew it would take her a minute to process. However, I could see Alex was biting at the bit to have her say so.

              When she couldn’t take the silence any longer, she spouted off. “I’d fuck him and show him what he would be missing. You know that’s how I roll, Claire. A good rump will definitely take his mind off her if she were to ever step into the mix again.”

              Figures. I swear this woman had no brain to mouth filter what so ever.

              “I knew you’d say that, Alex. What about you mom; what do you think?”

              She rubbed her hands together, in a sign of excitement.
Well, that’s not good.
“This is surprising, you’ve never asked for my advice before. But I’m glad you did now. First I would dress as sexy as I could, throw him off his game. If he responds, I’d tease the ever living shit out of him. When he was all riled and wanton, I’d pull back. Tease him honey, that’s the way to get a man. That and being honest that is. But I’d flip his lid, butter his toast, flick his rod; oh you get the point.”

              “Seriously? You’re agreeing with Alex right now.” I never expected that from her. Not in a million years.

              She snickered, blushing. “How do you think I landed Henry? I tell you now it wasn’t because I looked all that great on that rainy day. It was because I used my inner whore, and worked that bitch into the ground.”

              I giggled. “No shit?”

              She laughed. “I shit you not, you’re my best turd.”

              I literally died laughing when she said that. My mother was a closet whore. Who would have known? Maybe I didn’t know my mom all that well. Especially if she used her vixen ways to land Henry. We were close, but damn had she changed. I can’t remember a time where my mother wouldn’t cuss, let alone bust out that she was major whore material. No frigging wonder her bed is broken. I thought it had been Henry’s fault, but maybe it had been my mother’s.

              “You are a real piece of work,” I laughed out.

              “I know right. Who do you think you got your level of awesome from? Certainly wasn’t your father, that’s for damn sure.”

              “On a lighter note. What should I do?”

              They sighed. “Get your man, Claire Bear. He’s yours for a reason. That means he wasn’t happy with what he had before,” my mom said, grabbing my hands in hers. “When you land him, don’t let him go.”

              Alex echoed her statement. “Ditto.”

              Feeling a bit better after our conversation, Alex and I filled my mother in on where her Bachelorette party was going to be. Of course she threw a fit, stating she didn’t want strippers. We had to tell her more than once there was no men allowed at her party. This was strictly for the women in her life, and her. After telling her that she went to her room to begin getting ready. Alex and I ran up the stairs like a couple of school girls getting ready for a date.

              Tonight was going to be awesome. We were going to drink to our hearts content, and play some Bride games. Alex called a head of time to rent out Chuck’s so that no one else could be there while we were partying. Albeit reluctantly Chuck agreed. Well, he agreed when she told him there were going to be around twenty-five women there. All buying drinks. He was on the same page after that.

              I came out of the bathroom with a wave of steam. Needing to take a shower had been at the top of my list, especially with my earlier escapade in the dressing room. I didn’t want to go to Chucks tonight and smell like sex. Although none of the women would know that it was Brad I was smelling like, I still couldn’t do it.

              It took me close to an hour to get ready. I paired a sloping halter top with a pair of skinny jeans and tall heels. Pulling my hair back into a ponytail, I made my way downstairs to where Alex and my mom were waiting. Upon seeing my mom I was speechless. My jaw literally dropping to the floor. No fucking wonder Henry was marrying that.

              “My God mom. What are you trying to do kill everyone with your secret hot body,” I snickered, making my way toward them.

              She giggled. “Well this is my last night as a single woman, I’m going to live it up.”

              We all started squealing like one of us had gotten a call from the best looking guy in school. It was amazing to act so carefree. To act like my age once in a while. Alex always says that I act like I’m forty instead of the twenty-eight that I currently was. She was a hilarious one like that.

              Alex got a call from Chuck’s saying that everyone was there. Calling a cab, because there was no way we were going to be driving tonight, we set off. Both Alex and my mom kept telling me that I needed to watch how much I drank tonight, because I was a tee-toddler. I laughed it off and told them tonight was the night to get plastered.

              We made it to chucks about fifteen minutes later. The party already well on its way to being a big celebration. Entering we were instantly bombarded by woman. Some congratulating my mom, some tell her how jealous they were of her. It was nice to see that so many people had shown up for my mother. She was definitely loved. If I didn’t show her enough, this would.

              “Shots!” One of the woman yelled.

              We made our way to the bar, each taking a shot. Downing it, I let the burn of the whiskey settle into my stomach. This was going to be one hell of a night. As we started dancing and singing to the fast beat music on the radio, a waiter was coming around and refilling our drinks every so often. I glanced over to see my mom jumping, and singing like her life depended on it. She was the funniest sight you’ve ever seen.

              As it got way into the night, we were all sweating our makeup off, our bodies filled to the brim with alcohol.  I was going to send my mother off right into the world of marriage. There was going to be nothing that old bird hadn’t done by the time tonight was over. I sidled up to her, taking my shots, gasping as it burned all the way down. I was starting to feel the effects of the alcohol, but I wasn’t going to let them know that.

              “Let’s play a game?” I screamed into the crowd!

              When they all yelled in excitement, we settled into a private room. One bottle of whiskey, and a shot glass for each of us was sitting on the table. Have you ever played that game ‘Never Have I Ever’? If not then it’s the game to play. You find out so much shit on someone, plus get drunk at the same time.

              Before we filled our glasses, Alex pulled me to the side. “Claire, you’re already fucking wasted, do you really think this game is such a good idea?”

              “Hellls yeyah,” I slurred, pushing past her into the room.

              I sat down next to my mom, pouring my drink. Alex looked kind of doubtful, but followed suit. Once the first question was asked I found this was going to be a dirty game. I’d never laughed so hard in all my life after women took shots left after right. I had still yet to take a shot. 

              “Never have I ever…..been in love,” One of the women spouted off.

              My mother and I took a shot. I looked over just in time to see Alex take a shot as well.
What the fuck?
She’s been in love before. Oh, that little story should be so good. My brows furrowed when I caught her attention. She gave me a shy smile, wiping the whiskey off her lips. We would definitely be getting into this later tonight. It was something that she’s never told me before, and we told each other everything.

              “Never have I ever…fucked in a public place,” another woman yelled.

              I looked around me, checking to see who all was taking a shot. There was no way that I was going to be going down alone. When my mother put her glass to her lips with a smile, I nearly fell in the floor. Wow, this game was getting fucked up.

              “You’ve had sex in public?” I slurred in her ear.

              “How do you think you were conceived?” She cackled with laughter.

              Well that wasn’t disgusting at all. It was my turn before too long. But just as I was about to ask my question big, strong arms wrapped around me. I looked over my shoulder, swaying in the seat as I did to see Brad standing behind me with a wide smile on his face. However, I was pissed off at him for the moment. I didn’t want to see him. My drunken mind made him out to be the enemy. After seeing Cherish today, and him not answering my phone calls tonight, he was definitely on my shit list.