Brutally Beautiful(19)

He was sweet and nice, overly friendly and attentive; the complete opposite of most men I’d known. And, when the night was winding down, he asked, “Since you’re relatively new to this town, how about you let me take you out and show you around? I would really love a chance to get to know you.”

“That sounds nice,” I said, wanting to want to go, but honestly cringing at the thought of listening to his nonstop blabbering. Maybe he was just nervous and he’d be better on a date?

“How about tomorrow night? Can I steal you away from the bar for a while?”

Eager, are we?

“That sounds lovely,” I smiled. Then I told him where the trailer was that Bree and I lived in. He didn’t look down on me and he didn’t make me feel like I was just a lowly waitress or some stripper he could buy a lap dance from and then throw away. I looked forward to the date, if just for the fact that he was the complete opposite of Kade Grayson.

After Dylan drove Bree and I home, he came in for a while and they eyed each other as if they were ready to pounce, making me feel like the ugly redheaded stepchild that follows you around the playground, humming to herself. The three of us were standing in the small kitchen and she batted her eyelashes towards him in that flirtatious way I could never attempt for fear of looking like I was having an epileptic attack. Suddenly, my phone seemed really interesting to me and I uploaded every stupid app I’d heard about in the last month. Scrabble, sure! Bejeweled? Why Not. Word-With-Friends? Bring it! Singles support group? Hell yeah.

Dylan and Bree started peeking at the bedroom, obviously wondering how to go about dealing with the issue that was me. Let me translate: small trailer, one bedroom with two single beds and I don’t cherish watching live porn. Or having threesomes, for that matter. I would think that they took way too much coordination, way too much thought on where to put my elbows, and one more wet spot to worry about. Oh, and I am way too competitive, because if I didn’t score the winning shot, I’d be pissed off.

“Hey,” I waved at both of them. “Hi…how are you? Remember me? Lainey? Yeah… So… Um, why don’t you move this potential slumber party you’re both having in your heads to, let’s say, Dylan’s place, so I don’t have to be scarred for life, sound good?”

“Will you be okay here alone?” Bree whispered.

“Yes, of course, go have fun,” I laughed.

Dylan’s shoulders relaxed and he nodded his head like a dork.

Bree clapped her hands as if she won the lottery and skipped into our bedroom yelling about packing a bag of things she’d need. Oh Lord, he’s in for a wild ride. “Dylan, prepare to be boarded…and don’t forget to fasten your seatbelt,” I giggled.

Raising his eyebrows, the man looked downright giddy. God, they belonged together.

“So, Lainey, I forgot to ask, how was my brother tonight?”

“Fine,” I said, because that was the only four-letter f-word I wasn’t thinking of.

“Fine is never a word that comes to mind when I think of Kade,” he said, raking his hands through his hair. Then he ran one hand over his face and sighed, “I wish I knew how to help him, but he’s chosen such a solitary life. I think he loves his misery.” I said nothing, and he looked at me and shrugged, continuing. “But, something brought him out tonight, yeah? I wonder what it was. I’ve never seen him two nights in a row.”

“Has he been evaluated? Seen by a medical professional? Is he manic?” I slapped my hand over my mouth. Hell, when am I going to learn to keep my mouth shut?