Chapter Fourteen

"Thanks for picking me up," Ryan says after minutes of sitting in silence. This is probably his attempt to start a conversation and this gives me a headache.

"Don't flatter yourself. I just needed to get out of the house."

The house, that's where I left Audrey sleeping in my bed, all I wanted is to lay there and watch her sleep but my fear of her waking up was greater. I fear I would have to explain why I was acting so weird last night, why I disappeared, and why I was drunk.

This fear is one amongst other feelings I have when Audrey is around and it's so foreign. It makes my stomach flutter and my heart race.

To be honest, my anger last night had nothing to do with her. I was mad at myself for being so stupid, letting myself get into that fantasy, to begin with.

"You know someone who's so adamant about staying in Chicago, you seem to be coming to New York a lot." I adjust my glasses, taking my eyes from the window to my brother's.

"Came to see your life fall apart up close," He mocks.

"Ha ha you would love that, wouldn't you?" I roll my eyes. This action makes my head hurt. I am still hungover from last night.

"Thought you will be more receptive of your darling twin who took a jet first thing in the morning to check on you."

"Aww, I feel so special."

"Lay it on me, what's been going on with you sis?" He locks his phone, giving me his full attention.

"Nothing,"

Don't know who's talking to me now, Mum's henchman or my twin.

"So you didn't arrive at Ashley's divorce party with a woman who was later revealed to be straight and engaged. And you didn't get shit-faced drunk upon revelation?" He raises an eyebrow.

Fucking loose mouth Kyle,

"Why are you here Ry?" I start, looking at the man wearing sweatpants and probably the first shirt he could find to come here. "You know what? I will tell you why you are here. You are bored. You are always bored when I am not around. But you won't move to New York because that will just prove how co-dependent you are and Mum will be right when she calls you my fucking shadow."  I finish, breathing out like I was holding my breath the whole time.

I had hoped that, saying these things will ease my anger but now I feel bad. And Ryan is quiet. He is never quiet.

I turn and look out the window where I see a welcome signboard for the bar ahead.

"John, stop the car ahead. I need a fucking drink." I say rubbing my forehead in frustration.

"It is 10 am in the morning, you can't be serious."

It's kind of ironic that I am receiving a lecture from Ryan. Guess this is what my life has turned into now.

"You wanted to see my life fall apart up close. Well, grab a front-row seat." I say.

Once the car stops, I immediately open the door and get out of the car, slamming the door behind me. I try to cover my face under the scorching sun as I make my way into the bar.

~~~

My eyes go to the entrance of the bar where Ryan walks in. I expected him to wait for at least 10 minutes before following me in, guess he isn't as mad as I thought.

Scratch that, maybe he is.

He is walking towards the counter to the petite bartender with a smug smile on his face. Of course, he is thinking of getting his dick wet while his sister is brokenhearted.

Wait a minute, am I brokenhearted?

Well, I am nursing a glass of bourbon at 10 in the morning, in the rusty bar which I wouldn't be caught dead in on a normal day.

So maybe this is what a broken heart feels like.

He is already at the counter, probably laying his best moves on her. I bet he is one Asian joke away from getting slapped in the face.

I hear my phone ping which makes me divert my attention from Ryan to my phone. My heart jump when I see Audrey's name pop up on my phone screen. I immediately click on it to see her message.

Audrey: Hey, woke up and Maria said you had work. Hope you took something for the headache. Thank you for the dress, going to dry-clean and return it. Hmmm, I know it's stupid to ask but are we okay? I hope we are. Have a nice day. See you on Monday morning.

Are we okay?

Even I don't know the answer to that question. All I know is I am not okay.

"Here, take."

My eyes move from my phone to my brother who's holding a bottle of water out for me to take.

I stretch my hand to take it but he drops his hand. "You are so fucking annoying. You moved out to fucking New York and left me with our socio-path of a mother and now I don't even know what's going on with you. You always tell me everything. And I don't want your life to fall apart because it won't be long before mine does too." He stretches his hand again after he finishes his speech.

I try to bite my cheeks to prevent myself from smiling. "Whoa, are you on your period?" I mock, dragging the bottle from him.

He glares at me. I can't take him seriously with the stupid beard on his face.

But still, at least I know I am talking to my brother. "Her name is Audrey and she is my assistant."

A stupid smug smile appears on his face. I can't imagine the amount of jokes playing in his head.

"Don't," I warn.

"I just find it funny how I am not allowed to date my secretary but you can." He shakes his head.

"Brianna was an 18 years old intern and a walking lawsuit."

Ryan takes a sit across from me with interest written in his expression. "Okay, continue."

And I did.

~~~

"Now I am confused. I don't know if she is bisexual or straight." I pause from ranting, taking another gulp of water. "Maybe it was all in my head, all the times when I thought she was flirting when she was just being my employee or worse a friend."

Ryan gags dramatically. "You definitely don't want to be in the friend zone."

"I know. I put people in the friend zone not vice-versa."

"It might not all be in your head. From your history, no girl will want to be friends with you if she didn't want to fuck you, no offense."

"None taken, I actually do hope that is the case."

"I know, I am late,"

My eyes move to the tall blonde rushing towards the chick at the bar. He sets cups of coffee on the counter before he jumps over to join her. "Brought coffee to make up for it,"

The woman that has been all frowns since I arrived is now smiling.

"So what are you going to do?"

I turn to Ryan.

"I don't know. But tomorrow will be awkward that's for sure." I sigh, playing with my fingers.

"Why don't you fire her?"

"Are you dumb, didn't you hear what I have been saying?"

"Not fire fire, I mean like transfer her to another department or something. It will help you distance yourself from her."

"I don't want to distance myself from her," I say in frustration.

He doesn't understand.

"But she is engaged and straight possibly."

"I am not delusional Ry. I know there is something there and I am not going to find out by pushing her away. Besides she said that they eloped years ago but they haven't gotten married. They might never get married. "

"You think she will come to discover her sexuality while she is with you and then leave her fiancé. Even you have to admit, that's crazy."

"She's worth waiting around to find out."

Ryan shakes his head in disapproval of my plans.

"I just don't want you to get hurt. I didn't even think it was possible, but based on what I am seeing-"

I interrupt. "I'll be fine."

Ryan sighs and we both sit in silence for a while, until it is interrupted by sounds of laughter coming from the pair at the counter.

"Now let's talk about me." He drums his hands on the table. "What do you think about the hot bartender? I think she will look good around my arms for an art exhibition I have to attend tonight."

"Art exhibition?" I raise an eyebrow at him.

"Miss Theworldrevolvesaroundme, I didn't only come to New York for you."

I roll my eyes. "Good luck with that, she is quite hostile."

"Who wouldn't be when they have you as their first customer of the day?"

Yeah, I might have voiced out my worries about the cleanliness of the glasses before I ordered but then who wouldn't, this place is a dump.

"I am pretty sure she's fucking blonde hair with the t-shirt." I gesture to the pair over the counter. "See she is all smiles."

Ryan looks at them and then back at me. "I bet she will go out with me."

I sit up, interested. "I will take you on that bet."

"Care to make it interesting?"

I smirk. "If I win, I get Truffle."

Truffle is our dog gifted to us by our dad on our 18th birthday along with the news that he and mum are getting a divorce.

"Not fair, you are the one that wants to move." He protests.

"I am the one without a family in New York and brokenhearted," I argue.

"I am the one with Mum." He defends.

I pause for a second. "Fine, you win. We are not betting on truffle."

Being with Mum is much worse.

"I will think of something when I win."

Ryan stands up. "Oh, you won't." He says with confidence.

I follow Ryan to the bar counter. He walks to the end of the counter where the woman is standing and I walk to the other end to give them space to talk.

I drop my glass and purse on the counter and take a seat on the barstool. The blonde guy approaches me and takes the opportunity to start a conversation.

Kill me now.

"You know your friend is just wasting his time." He says in amusement.

I look up at him "And why do you say that?"

"She doesn't go out with customers."

"Oh, the bartender has ethics." I mock.

He ignores my rude statement. "You must be new here."

"So you are telling me you know everyone that comes in the bar."

"Everyday drinker? Yes." He smiles.

He has a punch-able face. You know all those attractive guys you meet and you instantly don't like? Well, that's him.

"Hmm, okay." I simply say hoping he would leave me alone.

"You know most people find it easy to talk to bartenders about their problems."

Oh, he likes the gossip.

"You know what, you are right. I need to talk to some and maybe a stranger would help. I don't even know where to start." I clear my throat. " I have been so sad and troubled ever since I lost my family in a house fire just a few weeks ago. I have no one and no house. I can't sleep because all I can hear is their cries and all I can see is their skin burning. They are calling me to join them. I don't deserve to live, it's my fault anyways" I try not to laugh as I watch him eat my sob story up like an idiot.

The horror in his eyes is laughable. Finally putting words together he finally says. "I am pretty sure it's not your fault."

I can see the empathy in his eyes. I almost feel bad.

"You see," I lean in. "No one knows this but I am the one who set the house on fire," I whisper. I slowly lean back to see the fear in his eyes.

I can't contain my laughter any longer. I burst out in laughter.

"Very funny," He says dryly.

"I bet they don't pay you enough to add therapy to your job description," I say sternly before taking out money from my purse and dropping it on the counter.

I begin to walk out and Ryan joins me. We walk out together.

"So, is she going to be your date?" I ask as we approach the car.

"No, you win."

"What did she say?"

I am curious to know if they are actually fucking like I said.

"She has a boyfriend."

"And is it the blonde?"

"Yeah, she kept on looking over to his side trying to hear what you guys are talking about."

"I win." I smile in victory.

"We will see about that though, dropped my number with her. Anyways, what's your reward?"

"This new week will be awkward as hell. I need you to be around."

"Mum will flip if I don't get back tomorrow morning."

"All the more reason it's a perfect reward."