Caught Between Brothers

Chapter 3 - Walk and a Movie

Jace POV

"I will join your walks everyday, except Wednesday."

"What's with Wednesday?" Rosie c****d her eyebrow at me.

(How should I answer her? f**k. This is more complicated than I thought.)

I had this thing going on every Wednesday that no one knew about and I wanted to keep it that way. I had been keeping this secret for my own good. It had been my stress reliever and giving the secret away would make my stress double. I knew I should not be thinking about what others would say but it was better not having anyone know what I was doing.

"It's just a men's group thing. Some boring stuff," I said acting calm, beads of sweat threatening to come out on my forehead.

Rosie was giving me the stink eye until half a minute went by, she smiled and held out her hand.

"Deal!"

I shook her hand and felt a bit weird holding it, like I wanted to hold her longer. Her skin was so soft, smooth and warm. This was only her hand! How would it feel if it was her body underneath me?

Damn! What was I thinking?

Her smile was amazing as well. The same one that I remembered from years ago. It was breathtaking. One that I would like to see all day. Her scent was making me want to get closer and was heating me up. A walk would do me some good.

It was no secret Rosie was my childhood crush. I might be young but I never cared about what others thought about it - just a silly crush. It was only Rosie I cared about; the person I wanted to be with everyday. Even when she was hanging out with Dexter, I would always try to catch her attention. Dexter would be annoyed at me, but could not do anything because I was the cute kid Rosie adored.

Both our parents knew about my fascination with Rosie. Who wouldn't be drawn to her anyway? Dexter had also fallen into her trap but wouldn't even admit it. Rosie was perfect. Her looks and personality were above anyone I knew. She was lovely, sweet, cheerful and adventurous.

However, one day my sunshine was gone and no one bothered to tell me what exactly happened. No one wanted to talk about the incident that happened years ago, which sadly I did not witness as I was at the other side of the yard. I asked but got no answer. Who would talk to a twelve-year-old anyway about adult problems?

I was kept in the dark but was given some light one day. Even when Rosie was gone, I continued to hang out at their house. Her parents treated me and Dexter as their own. Danny, Rosie's dad, didn't have to tell me much, only that she got depressed and wanted to be in a different environment. Dexter was surely a factor. He changed when Rosie was gone.

It would probably not be long before I would unearth the secrets. More than that, perhaps there was more to explore with Rosie.

"So where do you want to have this little walk?" I asked as Rosie pulled away her hand, to my disappointment.

"I was thinking of going to the other side of town," she said sheepishly.

I understood the assignment. She was clearly avoiding this place and would go somewhere else to walk the dog. Or was there something else to it?

"Okay, let's have that walk before the movie. That way we will be hungry by the time we get back." I looked at my watch, estimating the time we would be finishing the night. The trip and the walk could take us an hour up to 90 minutes. That would mean I would be spending more time with Rosie than what I originally thought.

.

.

.

We got to the park Rosie had chosen. She knew the area as one of her previous offices was nearby. It was a usual children's park with a set of swings, slides and seesaws and a few benches. No one was around, so we decided to have Baron walk, or rather run, freely.

We walked around the park about three times before deciding to sit down and play catch with Baron. We had been silent but from time to time Baron would come up in our conversation. It had only been a few minutes but Rosie asked if we could go already.

"Why? Any problem?" I asked with worry. It was still early to go back to their house.

She looked apologetic at me before admitting she was getting cold. She was wearing a short-sleeved pink top with a bit of cleavage peeking. It was almost summer in Chicago but the nights could be cold.

"Here." I began to take off my hoodie then offered it to her. "Wear this." I still had my shirt anyway.

"Oh no! You will get cold!" Rosie exclaimed wide-eyed.

"I can manage. Baron will not forgive us if we go back right away." I smiled as I winked at her.

Rosie replied with laughter before taking the hoodie from my hands. She threw it over her head and placed her hands inside. I noticed how she took a sniff of the clothing.

"What did you do that for? I wash my clothes. I won't offer it to you if it stinks. And I showered before I went to your house." I pretended to be hurt then laughed as well when Rosie giggled for being caught red-handed.

"It smelled so good, I couldn't help it. What cologne are you using?" she asked.

"Cologne? What cologne? I don't use one. It's my natural scent." Of course, I was only teasing her. I loved how she looked so adorable wearing my hoodie.

"It's probably the fabric conditioner then." Rosie shrugged her shoulders after she threw the frisbee for Baron to catch.

I shook in laughter. At least Rosie had loosened up. She was a bit uptight earlier.

Looking at her sideways, I could see the free-spirited girl she used to be, not the Rosie her dad was telling me about - the one who moped and kept to herself most of the time.

We talked about scents a bit more before shifting topics. Rosie didn't like talking about her past. I found that out as she gave me a brief summary of what she did during the last few years. It was an echo of what she told me earlier.

"I didn't like working in an office set-up. I hated sales, I hated admin work as well, anything that requires talking to people," she said sadly as she looked far, beyond the trees that lined the park.

"At least you have found your passion in writing." I helped her stand up from the ground, taking the chance to hold her hand again. We were about to go back. "Your hands are cold."

"Yes and yes. Yes to writing and yes to cold hands. But I think your hands are getting cold too."

"I have a remedy for that. Come on, let's go."

My car was parked not far from the playground. When we got inside, I immediately turned on the engine and the heater. Not waiting for permission, I grabbed her hands and rubbed them together.

"Better now?" I asked after I felt our hands get warmer. I looked at her, waiting for her reply.

"Yes, better. Thank you," she answered lightly, almost a whisper. She looked up at me and our eyes stared at each other for a short while. Her eyes were so pretty I could gaze at them all day. With the soft light coming from the streetlights, her eyes looked more hypnotizing. If Baron had not barked from the back, I would have kissed her enticing lips.

Awkward silence filled the air as Rosie pulled her hands away. Not wanting to ruin the night or for Rosie to close up on me, I told daddy jokes on the way back. It was hard work! I was naughty, yes, when I was younger. But I was never a clown.

Somehow, it worked and I had Rosie laughing a few times.

"So what do we watch? We could find something on Netflix or online," Rosie asked when we got to their house.

"Sci-fi? Horror? Are you into those superhero movies? I haven't seen the latest from Marvel." There I was hoping Rosie wanted to see something recent. I haven't watched anything for the past year. But whatever she liked to watch would do.

We went straight to the kitchen to wash up and prepare our snacks. After a few minutes, I realized Rosie had not answered me yet. Her ignoring me made me worry.

"Hey, have you decided on anything?" I asked when we got out of the kitchen. She looked like she was contemplating on what to answer until we got to their living room.

"Hmm… I am not actually into sci-fi and horror. And I don't follow superheroes." Rosie sat down as she set the plate of nachos on the table. I followed her as I set the burgers. The small cooler containing our drinks was right behind the couch. "I have watched the first Spiderman movie with Tobey in it, but the rest, I have not seen them yet." Rosie quickly covered her face. "Please don't judge me! I don't watch movies often!"

Perhaps that was why she did not answer me earlier.

"We can choose something from Netflix if you like. Check some titles now. I'll just get the dip and paper napkins." I surely was well-acquainted with this house that I knew where Candice kept the paper napkins. Danny had been inviting me to watch football and basketball games in their house for the longest time.

When I got back in the living room, Rosie announced that she had already chosen a movie.

"Will 365 Days be okay with you?"

Good thing she took the dip from me before I dropped it. Surprised, I was not able to respond right away.

"Are you sure you want to watch it? Do you know what it is about? Have you seen the trailer? Or read the reviews?"

"Nope. I have seen people talk about it on my online community, something about it being about the mafia. Maybe it could give me ideas for a mafia story to write. I haven't tried writing one. Have you seen this already?" She took a burger then brought her legs up on the couch.

"No, I haven't. But sure, we can watch it." I hadn't watched the movie, but I had seen trailers and reviews.

Of all movies, she had to choose an erotic one. This would surely be fun, right?

We settled on the couch and started munching on our snacks. A few minutes into the movie, Rosie moved closer to my side as I had the nachos on my lap. She was so engrossed in the movie that I had no problem observing her. Then it was time the teasing between the leads began. For a time she had stopped getting nachos and now and then, I would see Rosie bite her bottom lip. When the first s*x scene began, she took hold of my thigh and tried to squeeze it. I didn't say anything as I awaited her next reaction. After a few seconds, she had realized it was not her thigh she was squeezing but mine.

"Oh, f**k. I'm so sorry, JC!" She paused the movie and went apologizing profusely, while I laughed her off.

"Yeah, yeah. Someone is getting carried away, huh?"

"No! No way!" She was trying to deny it with her cheeks blushing. "You better stop teasing me or I'll have Baron eat you alive!"

Baron, who was resting, raised his head from the ground, then went back to his resting position.

"Seems like Baron doesn't want to eat me." I placed the plate of nachos on the table and then raised my two hands. "Fine. No more teasing." I declared seriously, but my shoulders were shaking from trying to keep from laughing.

Rosie pouted her lips before throwing a pillow at me.

"Hey, Rosie! When was the last time you got any? Maybe it's time to do a follow-up." I threw my hands up in front of my face as another pillow flew before me.

There was a reply but I could not understand anything from it.

"What did you say?" I asked as I put down my hands. She also had her face covered but with a pillow.

"hmmaergen," came the muffled reply.

"I'm sorry. English is all I could understand. I don't speak any other languages."

She uncovered her face and then narrowed her eyes at me.

"I haven't done it yet. My whole life. I'm a virgin!"

"Oh." I didn't know what to say next. I haven't had a virgin. f**k. My sunshine. A virgin. At thirty two. "No judgment here. That's okay. Come and let's finish the movie. I promise to behave if you behave yourself." I winked at her before putting the nachos back on my lap.

Rosie grumbled but sat again by my side. We continued to watch, and at some point I got a bit uncomfortable. I could control myself but with the hot babe beside me, I knew I would be in trouble.

We finished the movie and were silent for a minute before we started discussing it. We were finishing off what was left from our snacks.

"It was…" Rosie paused as she contemplated on what to say, "great for research for the book I'm writing."

I smiled knowing she was getting uncomfortable.

"It was too shallow for me. I could have watched porn instead." I laughed as Rosie rolled her eyes. She stood up to clean our mess. "I'll get them washed at home," I said, pertaining to the containers used.

We cleaned up the living room and the kitchen, before I bid my goodbye. It was fun but it could have been better.

I still could not believe Rosie was back though. It felt different having her near and spending time with her.

Rosie insisted on helping me carry the bags and cooler back to my car, so I obliged. But then I brought her back inside the house to make sure of her safety.

"Good night, Jace. Thank you for the dinner and movie. And the walk. I enjoyed the night." She looked at me with those doll eyes, shyly at first but then bravely she held my gaze.

"Good night, too, Rosie," I pronounced so softly. My eyes traveled from her eyes then to her lips. For how many times during the night, I don't know.

I should have gone out when I had the chance. I didn't know what I was doing. Before I knew it, I lowered my head and kissed her. Again. On her cheek. For the second time that day.

"Good night, my Rosie."