Imperfections (39 page)

"What up, bro?"

Drinking a beer, my brother Gage is sitting in the kitchen one foot propped up on my table.

"What the hell are you doing here, you ever hear of knocking, calling before you come over?" I slap his foot off the table and take a beer from the pack on the table.

"Hey, man, I called you. I can hear why you didn't answer, wild times. Shit, if it was as good as it sounded, I wouldn't answer either."

"Shut up and keep it down. She's sleeping."

"She should be, the torture you were putting on her."

I give him a murderous look. "Watch it."

"Hey, damn touchy, aren't we? You usually don't care. Who is she?"

"Never mind. Where have you been?"

He shrugs and leans back in the chair, relaxed as usual. "Chilling. Thanks for helping Logan out."

"I believe him. If I didn't, I wouldn't."

"Shannon is full of shit, she caught Logan kissing some girl at a party and she freaked out."

"In front of people?"

"Yeah, he had to drag her drunk ass out of there. She attacked the girl he was with; he didn't want her to go to jail so he took her home."

"He should have let her drunk ass go to jail then he wouldn't be in there."

"That's true."

"I hope you're staying out of trouble."

"You know me."

"I do. That's why I'm asking."

"Put your eyebrows down, man. I've been scaling back a little, less partying, more studying."

I sit back and study him for a minute. "Really?"

"I know I was partying hard last year. That's what you do when you're a freshman, live it up, drink, party. Hook up and wake up and do it again."

"With all the partying, hooking up, and underage drinking, there should be some studying in between." I'm the last person who should give him a lecture on what he's doing. When I was his age I did some wild shit. More than underage drinking and partying, I didn't get caught. And I kept my GPA up so my father wasn't on my ass all the time.

"I know my GPA took a big hit."

"Dropping from a 3.5 to 2.3 is more than a big hit."

"I see you've been talking to Dad."

"He said to give him a call."

"When you talk to him he'll be glad to know I've decided to stop wasting his money."

That is exactly what my dad would say. "I see you've talked to him."

"Two months ago. Let's move on to a lighter, happier topic. I hear Ava's here, how long is she staying?"

"Indefinitely, she's going bicoastal. Opening another store here."

"All right, I love partying with A."

I look toward the bedroom. I hear noise, Cat must be awake. She hasn't seen Gage in years, but she's not going to be happy when she finds out he was here when we were having sex. Knowing Gage, he's going to go out of his way to tease her and piss me off.

"Seriously, who's in there?"

"None of your business. It's time for you to go."

"What, is it top secret information, is she famous?"

"Nick," she calls my name and I hear the sleepy rasp in her voice coming from the room.

Gage leans forward in his chair, his hand on the table. "No need to tell me, I'm about to find out who the sexy vixen is, got you wrapped up tight."

I get up and lean over the table giving him a warning. "Take it easy. Watch your mouth." I turn around and walk to her before she comes all the way out. She's in the white robe, hair's disheveled, looking thoroughly fucked and adorably sexy. I put my hands on her small waist and block her view so she doesn't see Gage yet. "Hey, baby, you're up." I kiss her cheek.

"You're always leaving me alone in your bed."

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to wake you; you look so cute when you're curled up sleeping in my bed."

"I don't know how cute I am when I'm sleeping but I'll take your word for it. What are you doing out here without me to entertain you?"

She runs her hands up my arms.

"My brother's here." Her eyes light up with surprise.

"Gage!"

"The only one I have."

"I haven't seen him in forever." The look of surprise on her face changes like I knew it would, to irritation. In a whispered shout she asks, "Was he here when we were having sex? I thought I heard someone calling your name but you acted like—"

"Cat, I couldn't stop if I wanted to." I smile at her with my most charming smile. "Tell the truth, you couldn't either."

"He heard all of that? She slams her head against the center of my chest. "Oh my God, I'm so embarrassed."

I try not to laugh. I don't want embarrassment to turn into anger. "Trust me, he's heard worse. Go put some clothes on."

"I thought this is how you wanted me," she says, eyebrow arched.

"Not around my brother, put some clothes on."

"I don't think Gage would mind if I walked around in nothing but my robe, especially when I give him a long, lingering hug. Do you think he'll mind with me being naked under this?"

"Cat, if you don't get your little ass in there and change—"

"Calm down, calm down. You're not laughing anymore?"

"I didn't find anything you said funny."

"Neither did I." She spins away and walks back in the room." I turn around and walk back to where Gage is standing.

"Where is she? This girl must be something special, you keeping her away from me like a national treasure. Don't worry I'm not going to steal her."

"That's the last thing in the world I'm worried about."

"You doubting my skills when it comes to the opposite sex? Don't sleep on my powers of persuasion, slays them every time."

"Yeah, right."

"Gage Alexander."

My brother looks over my shoulder and his eyes look like they're going to pop out of his head. He turns his head to me with the same shocked look. A smile creeps up his face. He walks past me over to Cat and lifts her up off her feet in a hug. She smiles from ear to ear hugging him back.

"Catherine Reed, what the hell are you doing here fucking around with this asshole?

"I've been trying to convince you to be my girlfriend since I was eight."

"You can put her down now, Gage, and get your hands off her."

"Why? This is Cat."

"I know who she is." Put her down.

"Gage, you're a man. You look so different."

"If anyone looks different it's you. Wow, you were fine before but you took it to another level." He stands back holding her hand, looking her up and down.

"So have you, I would hardly recognize you if I walked past you on the street. What have you been doing?"

"Living the College life like a rock star."

She smiles and shakes her head. "You've always reminded me of a surfer boy slash rock star."

"You know that's a winning combination: love, sex, drugs, rock and roll."

"Minus the drugs of course," she says.

"It wouldn't be rock and roll without a little something."

He better not be into anything crazy. I don't condone everything he does but he's young, if he's going to make mistakes, now's the time to do it. I stand behind Cat and put my hands on her shoulders.

"Hey, it better not be more than a little alcohol and medicinal herbs you're talking about."

"I'm not into anything crazy. I told you I was cutting back. I have to live up to that Alexander name."

"You don't have to live up to anything. All you need to do is take care of yourself and be you."

"I know."

Cat looks up at me and puts a hand over one of mine. "Oh, I missed you guys. Brotherly love."

I look down at her and roll my eyes.

"Cat, are you the reason why my brother's house looks like this?"

"Like what?"

"Like Christmas gone wild." He waves his hand around my kitchen and walks to the living room.

Cat walks into the living room and stands by the Christmas tree. It looks bigger than last night, it has to be eight feet tall. She was very happy decorating this thing singing Christmas carols. She decided to make it blue, gold and silver with about a million white lights and decorations. My house has never seen half this much Christmas cheer.

"Christmas has gone more than wild in here and I love it. So does your brother, he brought Christmas to me a few weeks early. He's going to get an extra special gift from me."

I sit on the armrest of the couch. Gage stands next to her in front of the tree. "I think you were already giving it to him when I walked in here, if he needs more, it might kill him, it might kill you."

Cat and I both look at him looking at the tree, our heads spun around at the same time. I see the blush creeping up her cheeks furiously. I told this guy to watch his mouth. "Hey, hey, it's time for you to go!" I say, standing up beside him. "You've overstayed your welcome, next time call before you come."

Cat gives me a dirty look for making him leave but it's time for him to go.

"Is it time for me to leave already?"

"Yes."

"Cat, do you want me to leave?"

"No, you don't have to."

"Yes, he does." I slap my hand down on his shoulder hard. We both have a tight smile and nod to each other. Cat pinches me on the shoulder hard. "Ow! What was that for?" Ignoring me she holds on to Gage's arm.

"Gage, you don't have to leave, we didn't get to finish talking."

She's rubbing his arm like he's the injured party and she's going to be upset with me for what he said. I'd like to wipe that smirk off his face.

"We have plenty of time to do that. I'll be around a lot more if you're going to be here."

"Good."

He swoops down, lifts her off her feet in a death grip hug he knows I'm not going to like and a kiss way too close to her lips.  He puts her down with a cheesy grin meant for me.

"You should come out with me and Ava. I guarantee you a good time."

"I'll think about—"

"She's had enough of a good time with Ava already. Both of you at once, that would kill her like you said."

She puts her hands on her hips. "You don't speak for me, Nick, if I want to go out with them, I will."

I'm not going to get into this. "She's not going and if she does, I'm going to be all over her ass like a stripper's ass cheeks on a pole."

"Whatever, Nick." Turning her back on me I watch her kiss Gage and I walk him out.

"Man, you and Cat. Does Chris know?"

"No, not yet."

"It's going to be like clash of the titans when he does."

"It's not like that with Cat."

"I hope not, I like Cat. Bro, your track record with women and relationships isn't good."

"You don't have to tell me, I know. Cat's different, she's not like the others; she makes me feel things I've never felt with any other woman. She makes me want to do things, I want to protect her from any and everything that can possibly hurt her or cause her pain. I want to do everything I can to make her happy. It's always been like that but even more so now."

"Deep. I never thought I would see this. You really care about her."

"Yeah, I do. Things between us are complicated so don't tell anyone you saw her here."

"I got you."

"I know you do. I'll call you later and let you know what's up."

I watch him leave and breathe in the cold crisp air through my lungs. I wish I can make things different for Cat. I say things are going to be fine if we go through this together but the truth is, I don't know what the hell is going to happen. Things are only going to get worse before they get better, that's the only thing I'm sure of. I'm going to do the only thing I can do today, enjoy this day with her before the realities of Monday morning hit.

"Cat?"

She's not in any of the rooms and I know she didn't go downstairs. I go upstairs to the roof.  She's sitting on the chase where she asked me to make love to her, looking at the roses. I put my legs around her and kiss her on the cheek.

"It was nice seeing Gage. He looks much older from the last time I saw him. He looks more like you now."

"You think so?"

"Yeah, a dark brown-haired, blue-eyed version of you ten years ago. Tall, cute, built body, self-assured and dripping sensuality."

I smile at her. "Dripping sensuality? I hope you weren't checking out my little brother."

"You can call Gage a lot of things but little is not one of them. I'm only stating the obvious, he resembles you."

"And it's obvious you were looking at my brother with unbrotherly-like affection."

"Oh, shut up, I was not. I couldn't point out his resemblance to you without noticing those things, could I? Don't be jealous."

"Me jealous of Gage? I don't think so."

"Good, I hate an insecure man. I prefer my men tall, dark, and a little intense."

"Intense. How intense?"

"Where I don't know if he's going to make love to me or assault me in the bedroom."

Here I'm thinking she's going to say one thing and she surprises me and makes me laugh. "You make me laugh when I don't expect it. You're saying earlier you were what…scared?"

"No, I'm saying you were upset and I was a little apprehensive about you…How should I put this?"

"Say it any way you want to. You don't have to be apprehensive, I'm not going to be overly aggressive toward you in the bedroom or out of it." I sweep her hair over her shoulder and look at her profile. "I would never hurt you like that. That would be like me hurting myself and that's one thing I would never do as long as I'm breathing on this earth. Don't ever be afraid of me."

"I know you wouldn't intentionally hurt me."

"Is that why you're up here, to escape from me?"

"Definitely not. I wanted to go outside and enjoy the view of the city without actually going outside. What better place than an enclosed rooftop garden oasis."

"I'm glad you like it so much. I hardly come up here; it's nice to know the money I spend to keep it up hasn't been wasted."

"It's not. This is our place, it's special. Our very own Garden of Eden."

"Yes, it is."

"Without the apple of knowledge and the serpent of course."

"Who would the serpent be?"

"A big-breasted woman."

I put my head down on her shoulder and laugh so hard my whole body's shaking.