Edited by HJF
"We need to talk," Gina said as she pushed past him inside, Katy following a step behind. The small blonde gave him a quick smile as she passed him.
Sensing what this was about Brandon said in frustration, "Gina, I told you the other day to let this go, I'm with Alexis now." Then he looked at Katy, "Not that I'm not glad to see you again Katy." As he said it he got his first glance at Katy and she looked more amazing than ever. If possible she was more beautiful, despite the causal clothes she wore, and there was something about her now that he could not put his finger on. As he looked at her he suddenly remember why he was once so madly in love with this woman.
"Likewise Brandon, you seem well," she said.
"Thank you, I am. "Then, unable to help himself, he added, "You look really great Katy." Out of the corner of his eye he thought he saw Gina's sternness break for just a second as the former lovers spoke, but it was gone as soon as it came. Katy had no sooner thanked Brandon for his compliment than Gina broke in.
"Yeah, yeah, everyone is great. Let's get this sorted out shall we? I got a ton of people coming tomorrow and Jack is holding down the fort so let's get this resolved before my house suffers major damage?" Both Brandon and Katy nodded and Gina continued, "Right, now the reason Katy and I are here Mr. Know-itβAll actually has nothing to do with that bitch you're dating. Although the fact she's not here seriously uncomplicates things." Before he could ask Gina got to the point, "Tomorrow," she said, looking directly at him, "as you know is your niece's birthday, and she would be heartbroken if her favorite uncle didn't show. However, she is also equally attached to Aunt Katy. You two really should just get married already and save me the frustration of explaining to my kids that Katy is not their real aunt, but I digress. The point is my daughter wants both of you at her party tomorrow, so this thing about avoiding each other and hiding ends now. I don't care who is dating who, or what your differences are we're going to figure this out and soon and you're going to act like adults tomorrow, okay?"
"Whoa, whoa, Aunt Katy? They haven't seen Katy in months. How could she have left that good of an impression the one time she was here."
He looked back and forth at the pair until Katy said, "Actually I've been here several months. I looked up Gina when I got here. She was so nice to me and we had so much fun that week I told her that I just wanted to meet for lunch and we kind of picked up our friendship again."
Brandon was angry. He looked at Gina, "So, wait, you and Jack have known my ex has been living in the area for several months and you failed to mention that?"
"Why should we have? By the time she got here you were already with the cheer bitch! Besides, things with Jack and I still weren't solid yet. I was still feeling anti-Metcalf back then."
"It's not fun being on the other end of a three person lie is it Brandon?" Katy said quietly and Brandon realized he had done virtually the same thing to her only far far worse.
"Okay, okay enough with the anger, we're here to air things out and discuss them so a little girl can have a good birthday."
After that the three talked rather civilly and Katy and Brandon agreed to act civil to each other the next day and promised no fighting. As soon as the agreement had been struck Gina hurried out to get home. To his surprise Katy stayed, saying she wanted to 'catch up'
She listened intently as he told her about his work over the past few months and he briefly talked about his time with Alexis.
"That's great Brandon. I'm glad you're doing well, and Alexis seems nice."
"Sure," Brandon scoffed, "You're just saying that not to sound jealous, you probably hate her."
"No, actually I don't, and if she makes you happy then I'm happy for you." Then she looked at him and asked, "She does make you happy, right?"
"Of course," Brandon answered a little too quickly.
"Then that's all that matters."
He nodded then asked what she'd been up to. It turned out she had taken his words to heart and a week after he left she called up some friends from college and was able to get a job with an interior design firm that one worked for. It paid enough that Katy was out of her parent's place and on her own by Christmastime. She worked out east until mid-January when an opportunity to work in Chicago came up and Katy applied for and got the position. She had decided she needed to get away and after that week in Chicago had decided that if the opportunity arose she would try things here at least for awhile.
"So you're your own woman now Katy; congratulations. I'm really proud of you for doing that," Brandon said.