Chapter 15
Brent: A Bad Connection
I stood outside in the cool air. I'd left the party after the proposal. How could I stay? It was over. Everything Ginny and I had was ruined now. Not only did she have a boyfriend she never told me about, she had a fiance. I felt so betrayed. My heart was shattered.
"You understand now why I invited you?"
I turned. Olivia was there, a shawl over her shoulders, her long black dress making her look like a grim reaper, come to reap the love out of my life. She'd won. She never cared about me making some stupid comment to scare off Ginny. This was her plan, to show me that Ginny had betrayed me.
"Yes, I do," I said.
"You see she could never be serious about you."
I held my breath. "It wasn't like that. We're just friends."
"Friends don't fuck at the Marriott."
Her words were a bucket of ice over my head. The suffocating cold captured me.
"I... I..."
"What, did you think I didn't know?" she said. "Did you think I hadn't looked at her phone records, that I hadn't traced her movements, that I hadn't traced your movements? Do you think I don't have the resources to call a few hotels, drop your name? Do you have any idea how easy you made it for me?"
"You don't know... we..."
"Shut your fucking mouth."
I shut it.
She stepped forward. I was completely unprepared as her hand flew up and slapped me across the face. I stumbled back, stunned.
"If you ever, ever touch my niece again, I will end your life."
My head jerked.
"You heard me. I will ruin you financially, physically, and emotionally. Oh, I don't need to kill you. You'll jump from a tall building for me. You fucked with my family, little boy. Do you understand me?"
"Yes," I said.
"Then say it. Tell me you will never see Ginny again. Tell me you won't answer her calls."
"I will never see Ginny again," I said. "I won't answer."
"Remember you said those words," she said. "If you forget, I'll be paying you and Grandma a visit."
I took a quick breath. "She--"
"It would be a shame if she found herself institutionalized and your little dog euthanized. Don't fuck with me, you piece of shit."
"You're evil," I said softly.
"Oh, no, Brent. This is love. I love my family, and you are not my family. Now get the fuck out of my face, and don't ever let me see you again."
I went home, dragging my feet the whole way. My world was shattered. I was terrified of what that woman Olivia could do to me. I didn't know what to do anymore. I had no right being in Ginny's world, a world where she had a man, where she was engaged, where she had people who loved her. And there I was, daring to suggest she give up that world for poor, little, worthless me. No man alive fucked so well that a woman would give up such a life.
I was an absolute fool to think I could ever win her. I was a distraction, a boy who could please her sexually, and she was inexperienced, like me. Any man out there could do what I'd done, and do it better. My arrogance let me believe I had some worth beyond the measure of my dick. What a fool.
When I came home, Max was jumping and barking. He wanted out. I didn't have the heart to take him to the fountain. I could never go there again. It was now a painful reminder of everything I'd lost. I walked him around the block, cleaning up after him. He knew now I was depressed, and when we returned home, he put his chin on my knee.
Grandma was talking to me, asking me who I was, why I was there. She was getting worse and worse. I kept repeating I was her grandson, but it lasted only a few minutes before she asked again. This was my life now, a dead-end job, tied to a grandmother who couldn't survive without me, no possible prospects of love or companionship in my future. I was truly in the shadows, but I was alone here.
Sunday morning, I woke up Grandma and made her breakfast. We ate in silence, watching her favorite shows. I didn't even look at my phone. I didn't care if Ginny called. Or so I told myself. When I checked and confirmed she didn't, I was glad. She was probably with her fiance now, laughing and enjoying a delicious breakfast, holding and kissing each other. They probably made love last night.
At work, Colin and I were busy all day. He asked me what happened after the party. He'd seen me leave after the engagement announcement. I said I was fine, that it was never going anywhere anyway, said I was happy for her. Just lies. I was used to lying. Lying was easy in the shadows.
Around 3:00 p.m., I was busy cleaning the coffee bar when I heard my phone buzz. I knew before I even looked at it, just knew. I took a heavy breath and pulled it out, hoping for a telemarketer. Private number.
"Fuck," I said.
Colin looked over my shoulder. "She has the gall to call?"
"I don't even want to talk to her."
"Want me to talk to her?"
"No. Let me just... damn it."
"I'll watch the counter. Step outside."
I did so, hurrying outside, the sounds of the city loud. I answered. "Yes?"
"Hi there, sexy voice," she said.
My face scrunched in surprise. She was playing it that way?
"Did you miss me?" she asked.
"Did I miss you?" I echoed.
"Mmm, I missed you. And guess where I am?"
"Where?"
"I just checked into the Marriott, courtesy of our love fund."
"Wow..." I said, I couldn't believe she was going to act like nothing had happened. She was never going to tell me, was she? I was her side guy, and that's where she wanted to keep me.
"So..." she said, "when do you think you'll come? I know we usually meet at 7:00, but I'm here, so you know, whenever you want to come, introduce yourself, tell me your real name, you know, make love to me, well, I'm all yours."
"You should have called me sooner," I said. "I could have saved you some money, told you not to rent the room."
"What do you mean?"
I shook my head. "I know, Ginny."
