The Brothers

Chapter 7

"Hi Harry?" Lisa says politely, but he ignores her. 

He keeps looking at me, his eyes moving up and down my scantily dressed body. I feel rather self-conscious as I stand there like a mannequin on sale.

"Move over, man. It's freezing out here." That's Stan. Harry glances at him before moving aside, creating some space.

Lisa steps into the the house and I make to follow her but Harry grabs my arm. I turn to look at him but he's staring at Stan, who is watching me with wide eyes.

"I'll be fine." I tell Stan, and he shrugs before he walks past me into the building.

Harry moves suddenly and before I breath, he pins me against the wall, right next to the door. He moves his face an inch to mine and I can feel the tension vibrating from his taut body.

His face is stern and I can tell that he's not too happy with me.

Again.

You have no idea how happy that makes me. I'd walk naked around here just to disappoint him.

"What are you doing, Bridget?" He demands in a shallow whisper.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Why are you wearing that? What point are you trying to prove?"

"I'm not here to prove a point, Harry. Last time I checked, I could wear whatever the hell I wanted."

"I don't disagree, but this is nothing close to what you were wearing last night."

"Lisa and most girls here are dressed in dresses way shorter than mine." I point out the obvious.

"Did Lisa force you to wear this?"

"Lisa doesn't tell me what to do, and you're not going to either. I'm still trying to find the part where this is any of your business."

"You look very uncomfortable in that."

"I'll get used to it. Rome wasn't built in a day." I glance at his hard jaw, then I smile at him. "If you ever pin me to a wall again, I'll punch you in the face."

I push him, and when he steps away, startled, I turn on my heel and walk into the house.

It's not so different from last night. There are more people if anything. I can't trace Lisa so I walk into the kitchen to get myself a drink.

I retrieve the packet of juice from the fridge and pour myself a cup. I eye the bottle of vodka on the counter longingly but I'm not sure if I want to go down that road again. I'm mad at myself for coming to this party just to prove a point. I'm mad at Lisa for introducing me to this life and I'm freaking mad at Harry for....everything.

But since I'm already here, I might as well party the night away.

I grab the bottle before I change my mind and I take a small sip from it. The alcohol burns my throat and makes my eyes water but that doesn't stop me. If I'm going to party, I'll go all the way.

Five sips later, I'm feeling a little bit buzzed.

I place my arms on the kitchen counter for support and I close my eyes as the alcohol makes me warm all over.

I tense when a set of arms envelope me. I feel a hard torso pressing into me from behind and I turn around into the circle of his arms.

It's Charlie.

He's serious faced and he moves forward, taking me with him, until I hit the edge of the counter.

Then he kisses me.

I'm not sure if I want to do this again but I don't have the heart to push him away. He's quite a distraction from my earlier moment with Harry so I sigh in surrender before I kiss him back. He really is a kisser. I cling on his shoulders when our lips lock, and I kiss him back like my life depends on it.

Without warning, he lifts me easily and sets me on the kitchen counter. This is my cue to push him away but I dont. I kinda want to know what happens next. He pulls my legs and wraps them around his waist, scooting me even closer to him.

When we finally come up for air, our breathing is rugged and my chest is heaving.

"We really should go upstairs." He whispers against my lips.

"You're moving too fast."

"We always get laid on first attempt. You're making a big deal out of this. It's just s*x. Come on."

I pale at his words. He is the use and dump kind of guy. If I let him bed me, he'll never look at me again.

I push him back before I climb from the counter. I'm feeling a bit dizzy from the alcohol and the kissing and I walk out of the room, leaving Charlie cursing under his breath.

Willy grabs my arm and pulls me onto his lap as I pass the royal table. He smells of cologne and whisky and shampoo and the mixed scent is a bit intoxicating.

Harry is seated on the same couch as the night before and of course he has a girl on his lap. The girl seems quite happy to be straddling him.

This whole set up kinda makes me sick.

I keep watching her as she kisses his neck and his jaw, but she doesn't get a reaction from him. I can't imagine how frustrating that must be for her.

Harry looks up when he feels my eyes on them, and when he glances at me, I quickly look away.

"I thought you wouldn't show up." Willy says and I turn to smile at him.

He's not mad at me about the small misunderstanding this morning. I'll have to tell him what really happened between me and Charlie.

But I just kissed him again! What is wrong with me? I want to slap myself for being so stupid but I blame the alcohol. I'd never do that when I'm sober.

"I didn't want to stay in the apartment alone. It gets pretty boring sometimes."

"Have you been drinking? Your speech is slurred."

"A little." I admit, making him narrow his eyes at me.

"You shouldn't drink so much, Bree! You should take a step at a time!"

"Okay Mom."

I quickly turn around when Harry scoffs. His eyes are on the magazine but I'm aware that he's eavesdropping.

"You should go upstairs and lie down." Willy tells me, attempting to sound stern, but I roll my eyes at him.

"I want to dance."

"What?"

"I'm going to dance at the pole."

"You're not going to do that."

"I am." I reply, looking at him straight in the eye, daring him to challenge me.

"You're not." That's Harry.

I hastily turn to look at him yet again.

His eye are still on the magazine and the girl on his lap is still trying to please him so I'm not sure if he's indeed talking to me.

"Are you talking to me?" I ask quietly, and he finally lifts his eyes to look at me.

"Yes, Bridget. I'm talking to you."

"Challenge accepted."

Who the f**k does he think he is? My dad?

He watches me keenly as I get up from Willy's lap and I turn to walk to the dance floor.

"Holy s**t! Bridget, sit down!" He yells, making me turn back abruptly.

I stare at Willy's white jeans then the backside of my turquoise dress.

They are slightly stained.

With..... Blood.

Oh my God!

My head spins.

Willy looks horrified while Harry is calmly looking at me.

The girl on Harry's lap spares me a smug smile.

"You knowing nothing about your periods? How old are you, eight? Such a pity you won't be able to get freaky with Willy tonight. Unless he's into that, of course."

I blink, then I stare at her.

Girls don't treat each other like that. This is the part where I'd offer a total stranger a tampon and...whatever else she'd need.

Well....

I pick Willy's cup from the table, and I throw the contents at Harry and the b***h on his lap.

They can both burst into flames or fall on a f*****g knife.

I'm not choosy.

I'm aware of Willy behind me as I rush up the stairs.