Page 38 of Before We Were Us
“I came here to tell you that you're a piece of shit.” He raises his voice. He’s got balls, I’ll give him that. “Did you honestly think that you could hide it forever? Like no one would figure out you were screwing around behind your wife’s back. You’d be able to keep Brynn in the dark forever.”
“Like I said,” I lean back in my chair, not giving him an inch, “she is the only one I need to explain things to.”
We have a few seconds of nothing, no words exchanged just staring at one another. Then Brynn’s brother drops his arms and takes one step in my direction. “Do us both a favor and stay the fuck away.”
“Threatening an officer while standing in a police station probably isn’t the best option.”
“I’m not threatening.” He doesn’t hesitate. “She deserves better than some man that’s using her to fill some void.”
“I can assure you that I never used Brynn.” Him even saying that pisses me off, but I hold my cool. “What I will tell you is that what you’re thinking couldn't be farther from reality. I may be married, but it’s only because she won’t sign the divorce papers that she was served with more than a year ago.”
Something in his eyes softens, but only for a second.
“I’m not the bad guy here. I won’t lie either. I can guarantee you that I have no intentions of staying away. Whenever Brynn cools off enough to listen, I will be explaining everything.”
“A little late for that, you should have been doing that from the start.”
“I won’t argue with you on that.” I wish I had told her everything from the beginning. But I didn’t want my past and the shit that follows me daily keeping me from having something with Brynn. I intended to tell her, but with each day that passed it became harder. “It wasn’t because I was sneaking around, it was more because Chrissy is vile. The last thing I wanted to do was subject Brynn to her. I wanted to keep Brynn as far away from her as I could.”
“Brynn can handle herself,” he assures me.
“I have no doubt. I just didn’t ever want her to have to. Not against the shit mistakes of my past anyway.”
Naomi meets me at the door and when she immediately looks over my shoulder, I know I’m in for a night of questions I’m not sure how to answer.
“Did you forget someone?” my sister asks as I step past her and into my mother’s house. I don’t have to turn around to know that she’s already standing there with her hands on her hips ready to give me the third degree.
“You don’t want me to bring food.” I shrug, ignoring the obvious.
“Not food, Brynn.” She moves around me so that she can scowl at me without allowing me to escape. Suddenly my other sister Jenna has joined us as they both corner me in the living room.
“Where is she?” Jenna asks. She is all smiles like she’s already been primed and prepped for this introduction. An introduction that isn’t going to happen.
“Not tonight, ladies.” It’s all I can give them.
Jenna looks at Naomi, Na looks back at her before scanning over the space and slowly stopping at something in the doorway. Or should I say someone.
“What did you do?” My mother’s voice echoes over the living space and all I can do is hang my head.
I should have skipped this. I spin in a circle, quickly backing myself out of the corner I’d been pinned in. I look at the three women in my family, each one staring at me like I’d committed some crime.
“Jensen?” My mother gives me a look. The one that has me cowering, and instantly saying all the things I told myself I’d avoid when coming here. Suddenly I’m a teenage boy again, unable to hide from my mother.
“She found out I was married,” I confess. “We were leaving the restaurant after I’d run into Naomi and Paul. Next thing I know Chrissy is standing before us with a group of her friends, making it out like I’m having some kind of affair.”
“What do you mean she found out?” Jenna scoffs. “You’re telling me that you hadn’t already told her yourself?”
“I intended to.” What is happening? I feel like a trapped rat, scurrying to find an escape.
“Oh Jensen.” I can hear the disappointment in my mother’s voice. Hanging my head again, I flop down on the couch and watch as the three of them leave the room. Myles joins me, handing me a beer and leaning back against the cushions.
“Thanks, man.” He chuckles, shaking his head.
“What in the hell are you thanking me for?”
His smile is irritating. “Because for once they aren’t giving me shit, because they are too focused on you.”
He grabs the controller, flips on the television and relishes in my misery.