Unacquainted Read online

  I take one more bite of spaghetti to appease him as he stands quickly to take it from me. Once he puts the plate down, I pull him into bed with me. “Do you promise?”

  “Yes, I do. Believe me, I would stay here all the time with you, but I don’t think that will solve this situation.” He then places a small kiss on my lips.

  “What do you mean?” I ask. I mean, I have an idea of what he will say. I just love hearing it from him.

  “Obviously, I have fallen for you. I know it is more than just a physical attraction. You know what I want. I want to raise our child together, as a couple. However, at this point the one thing that is standing between us is a guy half a world away. I can’t move on with you, without you resolving those feelings.” He leans in and this time kisses me deeply, forcefully and with the love I know he feels for me.

  “I love tasting you,” I say as I pull away gently. We have kissed a little here and there but this is the most sensual kiss to date. “I’m going to miss you at night, too, lying next to me.”

  “I can only be a boy scout so long.” Reaching out to caress my arm, he raises one eyebrow toward me. That one gesture exudes his sexiness.

  “What do I do when I love two men?” I ask seriously.

  “Don’t say something you can’t take back.” He props himself up on one elbow, raking his hands through his hair. His eyes narrow toward me when he gently touches my chin. “Seriously, Toots. My heart can’t take this.”

  “Are you telling me that you don’t love me?”

  “No, not at all. But I don’t have other commitments.”

  “But I think I have fallen in love with you.”

  “Rose, this is hard enough without hearing you say those words,” he says, backing away from me in bed, giving himself space now.

  He needs to know how I feel, that I’m pulled like a tug of war rope. “Well, hard or not, I’m falling in love with you. So, I will ask again. What do you do when you love two people?”

  “I don’t know, that is only a question you can answer.” He stands up, physically putting space between us outside of the bed.

  I change the subject instantly, “When are we going back to your parents? I love your family and want to get to know them better.”

  “Well, you can’t travel so let’s wait a couple of months.”

  “I know what you’re doing,” I say once I hear the sharp coolness to his voice.

  “It is not fair to them, Rose, they already love you.”

  “Then let them get to know me, for the baby, and let me get to know them, for the baby,” I beg. I love his family and they give me an insight into him and the type of father he will be.

  “No, I can’t do that, not now. I’m fine being hurt and I went into this knowing that may be the case, but not them. All right?” He’s for the first time almost too stern in his words. Taking my tray, he leans over and gives me a kiss, “Listen, Toots, I’m going to clean up the kitchen and get the house put together for you. I’ll be back in a while.”

  17

  Brody

  My feelings are more than evident and now I understand the warning Justine gave me earlier in the week. I need to get some space for my own good and it has been necessary to have time away from Rose. I can’t lose her. Yet, this is why I need space. I look in on Rose before bed and she’s enthralled in the most recent Flash television show. The deeper I dig into her, the deeper I fall. A girl who loves DC comics? That just makes Rose even more perfect for me. As I peel away all of her layers, I find more I love about her. I’m an avid comic fan. More of her attributes are revealed to me daily and I’m now convinced there will never be a more perfect girl for me.

  Walking into the guest room, I decide to call it an early night. We have to be at the doctor by 8 am. This way, if I’m asleep, I can avoid sleeping next to her, which is becoming more impossible to say no to.

  While I’m getting ready for the doctor’s appointment, Rose knocks and the door opens on its own. She doesn’t shy away, even though I’m just in a pair of boxers, but we made a baby together. She has seen me in a lot less, I guess. “Brody, have I upset you?”

  “No, Toots,” I assure her. Wanting to wrap her in my arms, I realize that in my current clothes-free state, that is not a good choice. “I’m sorry, I was a bit harsh with you yesterday. I’m just trying to guard my mom’s heart, along with Bryn’s. That's all. We will go down, for you to get to know them better, once a decision is made.”

  I see the confusion on Rose’s face. I decide to follow her into her own room. I never want to be the reason for her hurting but I have to be honest with her. “Rose?”

  She starts to get undressed, as I assume she’s not aware I followed her into her bedroom. Although I’ve seen her many times this week with few clothes, seeing her naked completely takes my breath away and reminds me of the night we were together. “I’m sorry.”

  “Why? By the time this is over, you will see a lot more of me. But get your fill, I won’t look this good for long.” Man, I love this girl. She’s trying to offset a hard situation and I get to see her naked. I can’t help but laugh, at first, and then I get serious.

  “You will look better.” She turns and grabs her bra and panties. “Rose, my space has nothing to do with you, it's me. I do love you, Toots, I love you more than I thought I could feel at this point. I don’t want to get hurt and take it out on our baby. After all, I’m human. I'm worried about if we mess this up between us, how it will affect our baby.” I get close to her, putting a hand on her naked and flat stomach. “Do you know how hard it is to not rip your bra and panties off that you just put on and take you right now?”

  When she begins to cry, I feel like the world’s biggest prick for being the one that started the water works. “I don’t want to hurt you, that's why I think I love you. No, I know I love you. It is a deep and hot type of love I didn’t think I was capable of.” She looks up with large tears that haven’t fallen on her beautiful face and I’m a goner. I will love this woman until the end of time. I will love her even if it's not my last name she takes.

  However, as much as this is hard on me, it's ten times harder on Rose and her body. She can’t have this stress attached to her pregnancy. I take in a deep breath, not happy with what I have to say, but it comes out of my mouth anyway. “I think we need some space.”

  Her reaction is what guts me. “I don’t like that idea.”

  “I don’t either, Toots.”

  She looks at me with a seriousness I haven't seen in a while. “Okay then, but we will get together four times a week, and you will stay over here one weekend night.” She’s the cutest little negotiator I have ever seen and is not backing down.

  “We aren’t negotiating.”

  “Dammit, Brody, I want you. I really want you. Don’t make me beg. I want to be near you.”

  “Rose…” I warn.

  “Shut the fuck up and kiss me please.” I’m instantly hard from her aggressiveness and glad I at least now have pants on. Yet, she’s still in her bra and panties, and very hot in this mad state of hers.

  “Rose?”

  “Sorry for swearing,” she said.

  “No, don’t, that was sort of a turn on.” I lean into her, kissing her, letting my hands explore her body. “This is going too far. But good Lord, you’re so hot.”

  “I’m sorry for doing this to you.”

  “Rose, I love you. I really want you more than you know.”

  As she’s pressed tightly against me, she looks down and smiles, “No, I think I know.” Looking back up, she meets my gaze and we both laugh. “So, does that mean I can see you more than twice a week?”

  “Three times and no sleepovers?” I counter.

  “Four times and no sleepovers then,” she presses me.

  “Okay, it’s a deal, Toots,” I say, shaking her hand.

  18

  Rose

  I get the all clear to return to work but Brody and I continue to become close. He strictly enforces
the four day a week rule but will break it from time to time to meet for lunch somewhere if we have maxed out our Brody and Rose contact time.

  Emma’s shower is tomorrow and I had invited Brody to come. When he doesn’t give me an answer, I finally ask him, “Hey, I don’t want to pressure you, but did you decide whether or not to come to Emma’s shower tomorrow?”

  “I'm not ready. I mean, what I know of your family is wonderful but I can’t bear to be part of it and then have it taken from me. It's the same reason I'm not ready to make you a large part of my family yet.”

  I’m disappointed; however, I understand his reasons. “Okay, I can’t say I won’t miss you but I do understand.”

  “Have you heard from Jones?”

  “No, not yet. I'm giving him time.” Jones is the white elephant standing between Brody and me. And as much as I care for Brody, on nights after saying goodbye to him, I lay in bed wondering how Jones is and what he’s up to.

  I have been checking my email every couple of hours religiously to see if Jones ever replied. After the first two weeks, I gave up hope. I'm surprised that I get a response finally on the way out the door to Emma’s baby shower.

  Rose,

  I sat on this for a couple of weeks. I'm not sure what you want from me. I know you well enough to know that of course you want what is best for your baby. Man, do you know how hard it is to write your baby and not ours? Anyway, I understand you want this man to be part of the baby’s life. That is what will be best for him or her. I know it was an accident, however, this hurts regardless of it being unintentional. I love you, that hasn’t changed. I want a life with you. That will never change either. But I don’t want all our firsts to be done with someone else’s baby. I'm not sure when I will be home. I just need more time, and I realize time is not on my side. I’m sorry; I don’t know what else I can say.

  Jones

  He still wants a life with me? But he can’t come home. If all this shit he just wrote me isn't an oxymoron, I'm not sure what is. I’m gutted. I'm nowhere closer to making a decision and what's worse; Brody is being so nice about this. I pass my mom’s house and drive to the park where I would go to think when I was younger.

  After sitting there for an hour and after a million text messages from my mom worried about me, I decide I’m nowhere close to making a decision.

  It has been six weeks since Brody came back into my life. The weather is turning from the bitter winter cold to a slightly warmer spring air and we are bundled up on my back deck enjoying a cup of coffee when Brody brings up a hard subject, but one I have given a lot of thought to. “Rose, I really need to know how much longer we are going to continue like this. I mean, don’t get me wrong, the more I learn about you, the more I fall for you. I don’t mind waiting, but again, we won’t get anywhere without you confronting the one person who is possibly standing between us.”

  I had told him about the email but it didn’t solve a damn thing. “I can’t push him. I really can’t.”

  “You mean, you won’t,” Brody says in his matter-of-fact kind of way.

  “I guess it’s a matter of perspective, Brody.”

  “You and me, this is something I can’t give up and I will fight for you. But you avoiding a hard situation is not the way to move on, unless you already know the second he’s back, you’re going back to him and you’re trying to have your cake and eat it, too.”

  The harsh words hit me square in the face. “How dare you talk to me like that.”

  “Rose, it wasn’t meant to be mean, nor did I say it in a way that was nasty.”

  I don’t say a word to him, I just stare out into the darkness of my small backyard. Is he right and I don’t realize it? Finally, I admit, “I’m avoiding it but it's not because I want you both, I really don’t know how to choose.”

  “Is that solving your problem? Rose, I can’t let you go and I know I might have to one day. This is not fair to any of us, especially you and the baby.”

  “If I don’t hear from him in two weeks, I will contact him and find out his intentions. Is that something you can live with?”

  “I appreciate it, Rose. I really do.”

  I reach out for his hand. “I know this is not fair to you.”

  “But Rose, this whole situation isn’t fair to you either, I hope you realize that, too.”

  19

  Brody

  It has been a week since I brought up the Jones situation with Rose. I want her more than anything in this world, but for now, I’m giving her a break from the whole situation.

  Now with her past the first trimester, we can all take a sigh of relief. Her belly is starting to take on the form of a pregnant woman and if I thought she was sexy before, nothing compares to what she looks like now, with my baby inside of her.

  Since the weather has changed, I’m accustomed to eating outside. I'm enjoying the mild temperature of late April, when my phone rings. Without much thought for the number I don’t recognize, I answer it. “Hello?”

  “Yes, is this Brody?”

  “It is. How can I help you?”

  “Well, my name is Rafe Hernandez, Rose’s father, and I was wondering if we could meet. I would like to know the father of my grandchild.” He’s very direct and after the way Rose has explained him, this is what I’m expecting from Rose’s dad.

  I have asked Rose several times about meeting her dad and she's always skirted the issue. She would say, “It's tax season and he’s busy with his firm.” Or “He's just not in a place yet to acknowledge this baby.” It broke my heart as guilt manifested its way on Rose’s face.

  Clearing my throat, I answer, “Yes, sir. Of course, we can meet. I’m available tonight after work, around 7 pm?”

  “You have met my wife, Hildy, already, correct?”

  “Yes, sir, many times.”

  “Can we meet at Starbucks on Division, near Rose’s house? Is 6:30 pm too early?”

  Though I just told him 7 pm, I’m not going to argue with a man I would like to have in my corner one day. “That's fine, sir, I will see you then.”

  “And Brody, Rose doesn’t know I've called you. Okay?”

  “I understand, can I tell her after the fact?”

  “Sure. See you later.”

  Ten minutes later, before I’m about to return to work, I receive another call from a number I don’t recognize. Thinking it is Rose’s dad again, I answer, “Hello?”

  This voice is different, younger. “I’m looking for Brody Buchannan.”

  “You have found him; how can I help you?” I assume it is Human Resources as we are playing phone tag working on my benefits.

  “We don’t know one another but we have someone mutual who we apparently both love. My name is Jones Wagoner, I take it you’re familiar with me.”

  It dawns on me that his tone is not rude or even ill-mannered. He’s very matter-of-fact in his wording.

  “Yes, hello, Jones, I have heard a lot about you.” I've thought too much about this guy for too long. I won’t be rude or pissy with him. The situation is hard enough as it is.

  “I'm back in town, I realized I was very quick in my response with Rose when she told me the news.”

  “I don’t know if the roles were reversed if I would have reacted any better, quite honestly, Jones.”

  “Well, thanks for that, but it doesn’t excuse the fact I let Rose down. I was hoping you would meet me tonight, so I could speak to you man to man. I don’t have any plans of getting into a pissing contest with you. What has happened has happened and I want to hear from you what your intentions are.”

  “Well, Mr. Hernandez just beat you to the punch. I’m meeting him at the Starbucks on Division near Rose’s at 6:30 pm. You want to try 7 pm there?”

  “I haven't been to her house yet, but I know the one you’re talking about. Okay, that's fine. I'll see you then. And thanks, Brody.”

  Shit, both the dad and the old boyfriend back to back. Within one minute, I receive a text from Rose asking to com
e over tonight. I'm not sure if Rose knows Jones is back in town but she needs to see him. I want her to confront her feelings for him. I finally respond I will try to make it by.

  How did Jones get my number? The answer is revealed when within a second I receive a text from Kai.

  Kai: “Hey man, sorry to have done that to you, but Jones asked me for your number and didn’t want to get my sister involved.” I respect Kai for keeping stress from Rose.

  Work drags on and on for the rest of the day. I want to get this over with and just see Rose, yet I’m willing to step aside tonight, if Jones wants to see her. The thought sends pangs of jealousy through my body. I never thought this could hurt so badly, yet it does. Rose loves us both. How will she choose?

  As soon as he walks in, I recognize Rose’s dad. She certainly does favor her father. He has stronger Latino features but it's obvious who Rafe Hernandez is. “Mr. Hernandez?”

  “Brody,” I stand. “It's nice to meet you, officially, I guess. I remember you dancing with my daughter at the wedding.”

  I blush; knowing the dance didn’t take very long before we left for the night and now, her father knows the reason why. I sit down and Rafe gets us both a coffee. “Wasn’t sure how you liked it.” He smiles at me and I smile back, adding some cream as I start to drink it.

  “I just want to be upfront with you, Mr. Hernandez. Jones contacted me today. We are meeting here tonight also, later.” I look at Mr. Hernandez’s reaction, “You're not surprised.”

  “It actually doesn’t surprise me. He's not coming to you to fight with you, nor to start something. He just loves Rose and probably wants to know what you want from her. I have to say, I would like to know the same thing.”

  I can feel a smile form on my face at the mention of Rose and our possible future. It's something I've thought about long and hard. “I have fallen in love with her. I know this might be hard to believe because we've only known each other less than three months, and I don’t expect you to believe me, but I do love her. At the same time, I know she has a history with Jones. I respect that. More than I thought I would.”