Christine Zolendz - Brutally Beautiful

He was sweet and nice, overly friendly and attentive; the complete opposite of most men I’d known. And, when the night was winding down, he asked, “Since you’re relatively new to this town, how about you let me take you out and show you around? I would really love a chance to get to know you.”

“That sounds nice,” I said, wanting to want to go, but honestly cringing at the thought of listening to his nonstop blabbering. Maybe he was just nervous and he’d be better on a date?

“How about tomorrow night? Can I steal you away from the bar for a while?”

Eager, are we?

“That sounds lovely,” I smiled. Then I told him where the trailer was that Bree and I lived in. He didn’t look down on me and he didn’t make me feel like I was just a lowly waitress or some stripper he could buy a lap dance from and then throw away. I looked forward to the date, if just for the fact that he was the complete opposite of Kade Grayson.

After Dylan drove Bree and I home, he came in for a while and they eyed each other as if they were ready to pounce, making me feel like the ugly redheaded stepchild that follows you around the playground, humming to herself. The three of us were standing in the small kitchen and she batted her eyelashes towards him in that flirtatious way I could never attempt for fear of looking like I was having an epileptic attack. Suddenly, my phone seemed really interesting to me and I uploaded every stupid app I’d heard about in the last month. Scrabble, sure! Bejeweled? Why Not. Word-With-Friends? Bring it! Singles support group? Hell yeah.

Dylan and Bree started peeking at the bedroom, obviously wondering how to go about dealing with the issue that was me . Let me translate: small trailer, one bedroom with two single beds and I don’t cherish watching live porn . Or having threesomes, for that matter. I would think that they took way too much coordination, way too much thought on where to put my elbows, and one more wet spot to worry about. Oh, and I am way too competitive, because if I didn’t score the winning shot, I’d be pissed off.

“Hey,” I waved at both of them. “Hi…how are you? Remember me? Lainey? Yeah… So… Um, why don’t you move this potential slumber party you’re both having in your heads to, let’s say, Dylan’s place, so I don’t have to be scarred for life, sound good?”

“Will you be okay here alone?” Bree whispered.

“Yes, of course, go have fun,” I laughed.

Dylan’s shoulders relaxed and he nodded his head like a dork.

Bree clapped her hands as if she won the lottery and skipped into our bedroom yelling about packing a bag of things she’d need. Oh Lord , he’s in for a wild ride. “Dylan, prepare to be boarded…and don’t forget to fasten your seatbelt,” I giggled.

Raising his eyebrows, the man looked downright giddy. God, they belonged together.

“So, Lainey, I forgot to ask, how was my brother tonight?”

“Fine,” I said, because that was the only four-letter f-word I wasn’t thinking of .

“Fine is never a word that comes to mind when I think of Kade,” he said, raking his hands through his hair. Then he ran one hand over his face and sighed, “I wish I knew how to help him, but he’s chosen such a solitary life. I think he loves his misery.” I said nothing, and he looked at me and shrugged, continuing. “But, something brought him out tonight, yeah? I wonder what it was. I’ve never seen him two nights in a row.”

“Has he been evaluated? Seen by a medical professional? Is he manic?” I slapped my hand over my mouth. Hell, when am I going to learn to keep my mouth shut?

Dylan scoffed and offered me a sad smile. “No, love. Believe me, my brother is doing a public service being the recluse he is. He’s got demons to work through, but nothing medical.”

Bree came running out of the bedroom with an overstuffed messenger bag slung off one of her shoulders. The expression plastered on her face was almost euphoric, like she’d already started having sex without him. I couldn’t even think past that thought. I just smiled at her, shook my head, and looked down at my sneakers.

I desperately needed a new pair.

Bree hugged me tightly, and kissed my cheek. I knew this was big for her, so I gave her a firm squeeze in return, slapped her on the ass, and told her to have fun. She bounced to the door like a twelve year old and waved goodbye to me.

Dylan was right behind her, smiling. He reached out and softly touched my elbow, “Thanks again for taking over the bar tonight. And for putting up with Kade, I’m sure fine wasn’t the word you wanted to say.”

I shrugged, and held the door open for him.

“He’s damaged. And he’s just grown very attached to all his demons.” He jogged down the front wooden steps, and they moaned and creaked with complaints. I wrapped my arms around my chest to shield myself from the cold air that blew through the door and watched them walk to Dylan’s car.

When they drove off, I closed the door, locked it, and climbed right into my bed without even changing my clothes. I was beyond exhausted, but sleep didn’t come easily, tossing, turning, and wondering if Kade Grayson’s demons were as violent and terrifying as mine.

Sleep played a nasty game of laser tag with me all night. Each time I thought I was about to fall under, I’d be zapped awake from a noise, or a nightmare, or the strange whistling sounds of the wind and the rain drizzling against the tin roof of the trailer. I ended up playing on my phone most of the night, searching through any news stories concerning me from the city, wondering what was happening back home and how I was going to plan the rest of my life as somebody completely opposite of who I really was.

My alarm startled me at ten the next morning, causing me to fling my phone across the room and fall right out of bed, almost strangling myself with my covers. I wasn’t used to sleeping on such a narrow mattress. Still half-asleep, I showered, dressed, and started my walk to the bar for an afternoon shift, already dreading my long day and a date with Francis. But, this was my ordinary life now.

Taking off my coat and smoothing down my shirt, I made my way into the bar. It was noon, and a handful of people were seated at tables eating lunch and talking. I walked behind the bar, threw my coat and purse in the small locker just underneath, and met Dylan in the back.

“Hey, you,” Dylan called, popping his head out of one of the freezers.

I held my hand up to him. “Stop. I can’t hold a realistic conversation with anyone right now. Not until I inhale a whole pot of coffee.” I ran to the coffeemaker and fumbled with a huge Styrofoam to-go cup until Dylan came to my side to help me hold it steady. I felt the slight tremors in my hands from my exhaustion as I held up the steaming coffee to my lips and sipped, moaning delightfully. “We are definitely going to need an IV drip in here. I’m sure we could hook that up straight to the back of the coffee machine and pump it right into my veins.”

“Rough night? I thought we left you alone ,” Dylan chuckled next to me.

“Yeah, well. I slept in a tin can and it was raining. That’s like being front row at a rock concert to me. Where’s Bree, anyway? You didn’t chop her up into little pieces and bury her in the yard, did you?” I looked up to see Dylan frowning at something behind me. Deep creases settled in the middle of his brows and his eyes widened.

“Burying bodies in the backyard again, Dylan? I thought that was my job,” a deep voice rasped behind me, lightly sprinkled with an accent matching Dylan’s. Shit .

Taking a deep breath, I turned around, narrowing my eyes at Kade, standing in front of us, for the third time in three days.