20: MISCOMMUNICATION

COLE

Trying to focus on emails with a pounding headache and burning eyes was practically impossible. After Delilah had gone to bed and Seth and I had gotten done breaking up a fight between two of our employees, Jewel had found me to chatter about her newest ideas on company logo changes. Something I already knew was just an excuse to drink and chat about my brother in the long run. As it always was.

Sure enough, by the time it was twelve and no sign of her fleeing my side, Seth also turned in while a few guests lingered before she could attach to him. Giving me a weary look that made me roll my eyes. A small pinky wave in acknowledgment of his movement towards the front of the house. Her annoying company causing me only to be more grateful I had kept the bar open, turning to regret as she also continued drinking.

Jewel, of course, couldn’t hold her liquor well, so I called her a cab shortly after her third, matching my pace. Much to her disappointment and many mentions of the comfortable couch in our living room. She knew better than to test me though, my firm tone only that much harsher from the alcohol the moment her hand went to my chest as the taxi arrived. I had less fear of her trying to coax me into bed and more that she might slip into Seth’s in the middle of the night.

Now that it was the next day, it was just another day in the office. A day in the office that should have been called in with the pounding headache and lack of sleep I had experienced. No matter, however delayed I already had been coming in and taking my time to grab coffee.

At least it was normal until my brother came in, slamming the office door, making me cover my ears and hiss.

Slamming doors wasn’t something we didn’t normally do in front of our employees, so I wasn’t about to curse him out knowing he had to be pretty upset.

“What in the world would warrant a reaction like that?” I asked in a strained tone followed by a deep sigh; covering my temples with the palms of my hands as I hung my throbbing head. The world had to be on fire. Or he was simply being ~that~ vindictive.

“Where the fuck were you this morning?” Seth asked, his voice strained with every pair of words as if it were the most important information.

“What?” I lifted one of my hands, giving him a perplexed look. “What kind of fucking question is that? Where the fuck were you, you stalker? I was in my fucking room. I came to work.”

“With Jewel?” He demanded, his voice slowly rising.

“Wha- no, what the fuck? Why the hell would you think I’d fuck Jewel again and take her to work with me?” I asked, getting more pissed off by this conversation by the minute. Why the hell was he jumping to all of these conclusions now of all times? Especially when he knew how much I adored fucking Delilah? Why the hell would I mess that up?

“Why? Why!?” Seth asked, his face growing redder as he lifted his arms with exasperation at each word. “What the fuck do you mean why!? I went to bed while Jewel was all over you, but think you have enough self-respect to send her home like a real man would—”

A stack of post-it notes flew past his head, causing an audible thunk against the door. I had had it with that accusation though. I already had said I hadn’t fucked her. The stapler was next.

“Fuck you, I did that.” I hadn’t meant to get so emotional and shout, or stand up for that matter, but I was rightfully pissed. I was honestly ready to go toe to toe with him for making all of these shitty assumptions. Not even letting me defend myself.

“—and then be man enough to see the real woman you’re fucking, home!” Seth finished, hardly batting an eyelash at dodging what I had thrown. Watching the hammer of what he said finally hit into place. The nail sinking into my skull like a lance as I fell into my seat with the biggest “oh shit” face I could have made.

“Fuck, I… I’m not. Normally I don’t. I mean you went to bed first I just assumed you’d…”

“I. Didn’t. Fuck her. Yet.” Seth said very clearly, practically hissing. “In fact, the only reason I’m even in your fucking office is because I don’t even have her number.” His fists were shaking and his knee went up as he punched the air downwards with anger. “God damn it, what kind of fucking men are we? The only reason I know you’re a fucking asshole too is because I hoped you weren’t as bad as me when I checked the cameras this morning. It turns out you’re, ~fucking~, ~worse~!”

I glanced at my computer screen with what I knew was a painful look over my face. Already not wanting to review the clip, knowing I would to see the pain and abandonment over her features. Even the resolve to show that we were assholes. Complete and utter assholes.

~What kind of men invited you over and made sexual advances like that only to send you home without answers? Why had I thought it was my brother’s responsibility to see her off?~

***

I was about to ask Seth if he had called her, only to curse myself out loud as I pulled forward my phone on the desk. Remembering I was the only one with her number as I dialed it immediately, turning it on speaker. It went straight to voicemail.

“Fuck.” The curse was in unison.

Knowing just how badly we had fucked up.

“What do we do?” I asked, the panic in my brain already setting in, causing my headache only to piss me off further. This was unknown territory for me. Not being in any sort of relationship like this before, or on the other end where I actually wanted to pursue a woman for quite some time. Afraid I would only piss her off more if I hadn’t enough already. I still didn’t know how she had felt about the party last night. Now I may never know. “What if she blocked me?”

Seth blanched a bit before laughing and shaking his head. “Honestly, it would serve you right, but there’s ways around that. It’s okay, I got this one, and maybe I can fix it. I just need some time. Maybe try her cell a few more times, leave a voicemail after the third call to apologize. Then if you can also…”

I turned my head slightly, not liking where his tone was going. “Can also, what?”

“Get her address for me?”

Trying not to clench my jaw, I did my best to stay passive. I had royally fucked up, but Seth really was the better choice at trying to fix my blunder if we were actually going to share her. Even if I tried one on one, the likelihood of her taking me back would be unlikely considering I was poor with things like women’s emotions. If she was actually interested in me at all, I would likely sabotage it by saying something stupid. If she wasn’t, the likelihood of him fixing it was still high since he could convince her I was a good man.

That was the rational truth.

I didn’t want to give her to my brother. I didn’t want to trust him. I wanted her back though. Even if I wanted to be the one to do those things in this moment, if I really was willing to try and share with my brother.

I had to at least give him an olive branch.

“Fine.”