“I can’t really do clubbing this weekend…” I tell them.
Ally gets two inches from my face and takes on some sort of angry Momma bear persona. “Besties’ orders. There are very few requirements of you as my BFF. When I call besties’ orders, you must obey. You call them, I obey. But, we don’t abuse it.”
“Yes, sir,” I salute her. We’re back at our building. The nighttime security guard gives us a polite nod as Ally flashes her Carmichael keychain at him.
And as I’m walking down the hallway, I’m thinking about the fact that I have to go to New York City next week with zero money.
How on earth will I swing that?
I don’t even know if all my meals and everything will be covered or if I’ll be expected to submit an expense report after. I have to find out. I’ll ask Alice first thing in the morning. If necessary, I’ll borrow a bit of money from my parents. I hate that idea.
22
AIDEN
Just my luck finding my brother with the girls from work, with Carly of all people. I give him a look as I approach that I know he reads immediately, but thankfully quirky pink-haired Ally seems to want rid of us fast. I’d bet my Ducati that she knows I saw Carly naked tonight.
Carly’s awkward as fuck.
I can’t dwell on all this. I can’t look at Carly or I’ll see through her clothing. That’s it; the universe has decided I’ve now got X-Ray vision with this chick and I’ll see right through her clothing until I finally bed her.
I can’t give it any headspace at all, though, because there’s something much more important happening tonight.
Half way through drinks and appetizers, I’m about to start spilling my guts to my brother. We’re in a quiet part of the restaurant. But, he beats me to the punch.
“So, I can see you’re about to say something you think is big and important to me, but I’m probably already well aware, so I’m gonna save you the hassle.”
I look at him with surprise.
“You and Mom haven’t been kosher for a couple years and you weren’t ever on great terms before that. Adele and I talked, and we think you found out she’s cheating on Dad.”
I take a sip of my drink.
“Adele followed her, out of suspicion. Saw her coming out of a hotel room about eighteen months ago with her personal trainer. She told me right away. She tried to bring it up to you but says you shut it down every time she tries to broach it.”
I let out a big breath, realizing I’ve been pulling a Quentin on Adele. I’m not proud of myself.
“That it?” he asks. “That why you can barely stomach being in the same room?”
I nod. “Uglier than that, but basically.”
“Dad knows she fucks around.”
I raise eyebrows at him. I suspected as much, but want to hear what he has to say.
“I went to him. Yesterday, in fact. You bein’ home, the vibe at Sunday dinner. I decided I had to get it out on the table. Ask him why you hate being around her, why he hasn’t tried to figure it out. He tried to shut me down, but I didn’t let him. He told me marriage is complicated. I pushed, and he finally blurted that he’s impotent. So, she has affairs.”
This shocks me.
“Told me they have parameters and she keeps things discreet.”
I scoff. Discreet my ass…
“Says he’s had problems getting it up for about a decade.”
I blow out a breath. “So, she fucks around. He allows it because he can’t give her what she needs?”
He shrugs.