Torrid Affair (5 page)

D
elaney blew
my hair out for me and made me change my outfit to something sexier than my knitted sweater. I settled for a lace camisole with an off the shoulder sweater.  She studied me like a proud mama as I applied lip-gloss. She was staying in for the night as Nate had stated he still wasn’t feeling well. I refused to analyze what he was really thinking, and focused on Julian.

Like a true gentleman, Julian picked me up at my dorm. The soft knock on the door startled Delaney and she jumped up with joy. “He’s here!”

“Shh,” I demanded frantically. “You’re making this bigger than it has to be.”

“Are you kidding?” She sauntered over to me and ran her fingers through my hair. “We’ll be dating brothers! You can be my sister-in-law.”

I swatted her hand away. “It’s one date, Del.”

“Whatever. I’m already planning our joint wedding.”

Rolling my eyes at Delaney, I walked over to the door and pulled it open. Julian stood on the other side with a small bouquet of carnations in his hand. His hair was spiked up, and his eyes were bright blue to his light gray jacket and white undershirt.

“Hi.” I offered a wide smile.

“You look beautiful.” He handed me the bouquet and kissed my cheek.

I handed the flowers to Delaney. “Can you put these in water for me?”

Eagerly, Delaney rushed to my side and wrapped her hands around the stems. “You two kids have fun tonight!”

I shook my head and closed the door behind me. Julian led me along the hallway and then down the flight of stairs. Our conversation was light as we talked about school and which classes we were currently taking. I hadn’t mentioned that I went out with Nate once before, and I assumed Nate hadn't mentioned anything to him either because Julian never brought it up.

He drove us to a trendy restaurant downtown and valeted his car.

“I hope this is okay?” he asked as I climbed out of his car.

I glanced over at the restaurant. A few tables lined up against the brick wall; oversized glass light fixtures hung from the ceiling. The place was crowded. It sure as hell was the nicest place I’d been to.

“It’s perfect.” I smiled back at him and thanked God Delaney made me change into something nicer.

Julian rested his hand on the small of my back as he led me inside. The fragrance of herbs and garlic wafted through the air. Soft chattering from the tables could be heard over the soft music that played in the background.

“Welcome to Ferrero’s,” the hostess greeted us. “Do you have a reservation?”

Julian provided her with his name and we were led to a small tall table in the corner.

A small tea light candle flickered in the center. The waiter went over the specials and I quietly listened to all the options, hoping my face didn’t demonstrate my anxiety. I was a college student. My dinner most nights consisted of mac and cheese or ramen noodles. Fancy silverware and lamb chop specials weren’t something I had experienced before.  

I ordered a glass of water and nervously glanced at the menu.

“Have you been here before?” Julian asked.

I looked up at him and shook my head. “I’m out of my element.”

“Why? Do you not like Italian?” His eyes widened with worry. “We can go somewhere else.”

“No.” I reached out and grabbed his hand. “This is perfect.”  Julian smiled and looked down at his menu.

After dinner, we headed toward Main Street and grabbed some hot chocolate. He held my hand the entire time and made sure he asked me questions to keep the conversation going. I dodged a few the questions about my family and asked him about his life.

Julian seemed perfect. He was charming, he made me laugh, and was a complete gentleman. He was a great guy; a guy I could date. We could be together for a while and have some fun, but there wasn't any magnetic pull. Not like I experienced with Nate.

At the end of the night he walked me to my door, kissed me on the cheek, and asked to see me again. I should have said no. I should have said we were probably better off as friends, but because I knew how much it bothered Nate, I went against my gut and told Julian I'd love to see him again.

* * *

T
he following Wednesday
morning after my date with Julian, Nate waited on the hood of his car until I parked a few spots away. He had a cup of coffee in his hand and another on the trunk of his car. I shut my car off and gave myself a quick glance in the mirror before I hopped out.

“Good morning,” I sang as I walked over to him.

“Morning.” His voice was dry.

“You're here early.” I swayed side to side to keep warm. The temperature had dropped a few degrees in the past few days.  It wasn't below freezing but it was pretty chilly.

“I figured I'd get us some coffee.” He took the extra cup and handed it to me.

“Thanks.” I wrapped my hands around the warm cup and brought it to my lips. “Shall we?” I walked toward the building.

“You're not going to tell me about your date?’ I heard his footfalls behind me.

I spent the entire Saturday night after Julian dropped me off explaining how the date went to Delaney. She continued the conversation on Sunday about how we would spend the holidays together and go on double dates. I figured Del had chewed his ear off when she spent Sunday night with him.

“What is there to say? Your brother took me out, we had a lovely time, and then he brought me home.” I shrugged and continued to walk.

“Brielle?” Nate said my name in a stern voice.

I halted and turned back to him. “Okay, what gives?” I couldn’t mask the irritation in my voice.  ”You have a girlfriend. In fact, my best friend is your serious girlfriend. Why do you care that I went out with your brother?”

“You’re going to see him again?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

My eyebrows scrunched together and I looked at him sideways. “Nate, you and I are friends, and who I see is none of your business. Why does this bother you so much?”

“You said it would interfere with school.”

I bit my lower lip as I contemplated how to answer this. I didn’t have time for someone like Nate. He was consuming. I would be lost within him. I knew that every second I wasn’t with Nate, I’d be stuck thinking of him. I wouldn’t concentrate on school. I would focus every fiber of my body on loving him. That was the power he held.

A fire.

A spark.

All from one fucking kiss.

“If me dating Julian is a problem, maybe we shouldn’t be friends.”

“Maybe we shouldn’t.” Nate licked his lips and waited for me to respond.

“Well, then, thanks for the coffee.” I turned and marched toward class.

* * *

B
eing with Julian was easy
. Mindless, really. He understood that school was my priority and he never pushed the issue of wanting to be with me every single second. We met three times a week for lunch before I had to go to work. We spent Saturday night together either studying, sitting in my dorm room watching a movie, or grabbing a bite to eat with Del and Nate.

What I liked most about him was that he never pushed the topic of sex. We had been dating for a few weeks and we had never gone farther than making out. I wasn’t a prude or anything, and I had slept with men before, but with Julian it seemed different. To be honest, I didn't have
the spark
with him. It wasn't an instant attraction, but more like a slowly burning ember that I hoped would grow over time.

Nate and I didn’t speak to each other after our disagreement. We were cordial to one another, and while we were out with our significant others our conversations consisted of short, one-word answers. Thankfully, Neither Delaney nor Julian noticed anything off since neither knew about our friendship, but I hated that we weren’t talking.

* * *

L
ate
November

The semester was coming to a close and I had to study for finals, but I was putting it off until after Thanksgiving. Instead, I was in the dorm under the covers curled up with a new book I had borrowed from the library.

I was halfway through the latest John Green novel when Delaney came barging in.

“Pack your bags!” she demanded.

“Shh!” I waved my hand at her to keep it down. She marched over to my bed and grabbed the book from me. “Hey! Rude much?”

“Didn’t you hear me? Pack your bags! We’re going away for Thanksgiving weekend.” She began to dance as though there was music playing.

“I tell you every year.” I sat up and reached for my book, but Del was quicker and tossed it onto her bed. “Thank you for the invitation, but I’m not spending Thanksgiving at your Nana’s in Savannah.”

“Good, because neither am I.” She jumped on my bed. “We’re spending it with the Wrights, right here in Jacksonville.”

Julian hadn’t mentioned anything to me.
“Nope.” I shook my head.

“Yep. Check your phone. Nate just texted me that his mother invited us both to join them.”

I didn’t want to meet his mother. Thanksgiving was a time when family came together and the craziness came out. I avoided family time. I avoided
my
family all the time. “Del, I can’t.”

“Please, Brie.” She held both hands in a silent prayer under her chin.

“You don’t need me to go with you.”

“Yes, I do.” Her shoulders slouched. “Nate said he is only going home if Julian goes, and Julian will only go if you do.”

“Why don’t you take Nate to meet your parents instead?” I pushed off my bed and brought my cold tea to the microwave, blasting it for a minute.

“So he can see how crazy my Aunt Sara is and how Nana drinks more hooch than any other southerner? No, thanks!”

“Please, Brie.” She pouted at me. “I’m really in love with Nate and I want to make this work. I want his mother to love me so she can see me as a great daughter-in-law.”

I shook my head slowly. I’d planned on ordering Boston Market, binge watching crappy TV, and sleeping through Thanksgiving. I exhaled as I weighed my options. “Can I think about it?”

Her eyes widened and a full smile overtook her features. She knew she had me convinced. “Yes!”