I shake my head. “I haven’t told her.”
“Why not? You’ve told her absolutely everything from the day you met her, and you didn’t share your big news with her?” This is true. I’ve told her things she probably shouldn’t know, like things about Brad that should’ve never left our house.
“I don’t know. Lately, things between us have felt strained.”
Brad shakes his head and returns to the front of the car where he grabs another beer. He holds one up for me, but I show him the one still in my hand, barely touched. “Like I said, last night you and little miss Elle were looking awfully cozy. I saw the way she was touching you and batting her baby blues. Even saw your girl turn green when you were talking to other women.”
“I doubt Elle was jealous of anyone speaking to me.”
Brad scoffs. “Ben, have you gone on a date since you moved here?” He drops a tool into the toolbox causing a loud clunk, making me jump.
I shrug. “Once or twice. I’m focusing on school.”
“Same excuse you used in high school.”
“I dated in high school,” I retort. Although, not heavily. It was usually a movie date or two, maybe dinner on occasion. Most of the time, I hung out with Elle, Peyton, and our group of friends. We’d party, hang at the beach, have bonfires, some would hook-up, and we’d repeat everything the next weekend.
“Right, what was her name? Elise?”
“Ella,” I mutter. For months, everyone gave me crap for dating Ella because her name was so close to Elle’s. Sadly, our relationship didn’t last too long because I referred to Ella as Elle one too many times. Their names were just so close it was an easy mistake. I vowed never to make the same one again when it came to dating someone with the same name.
“Oh right. I remember Mom even called her Elle at dinner. That was awkward. Elle used to think it was all fun and games.”
Elle thinks life is a game most of the time. Brad and I make eye contact, but that’s it. I don’t shrug or try to think of a comeback.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
“Elle and I slept together last night.”
“Right on, bro!” Brad sticks his hand up for high five, but I shake my head. His arm slowly drops, as does the expression on his face.
“Maybe she was drunk, maybe not. She told me she wasn’t.”
“Is she saying you raped her?”
I quickly shake my head. “No, nothing like that. She doesn’t remember.”
“You’re joking?”
I bring my bottle of beer up to my lips again, and this time I guzzle the contents down. Brad quickly hands me another with the top already popped. I drink about half before I feel like I have the confidence to face my brother with the most fucked up story of my life. “I wish I were. Last night was…” I pause, realizing Brad doesn’t need to hear the fluffy details about my encounter. “This morning, she freaked out when she woke up naked and asked me what happened. There was something about the way she looked at me and her voice. This feeling in my gut told me she was afraid we had crossed the line, so I lied and told her we kissed, but didn’t do the deed.”
“But you did?”
“Many times.”
“And she doesn’t remember?”
I take a long pull and finish this bottle as well. Brad goes to get me my third, but I wave him off. “Has this ever happened to you?”
Brad laughs but quickly stops. “Sorry, man. Nah, can’t say it has. I get the job done.”
“I got the job done, Brad. I have the scratch marks to prove it.” I turn and lift my shirt up. My brother utters some profanities before whipping me with a towel. I cry out and dodge his next maneuver. “Be serious for five seconds. I don’t know how you get so many chicks.”
Brad holds his arms out to the side. “It’s the bad boy image. Put some gel in your hair, act like you don’t give a shit and they come flocking to you with their daddy issues.”
“Somehow I don’t think gel is going to make Elle come running.”
“So forget her,” Brad says. He leans up against the car, his coveralls stained with paint and grease. “Honestly, it’s time to move on, Ben. This is your wake-up call. You slept with the chick you’ve been in love with for years, and she dogged you first thing. If that doesn’t scream friend zone, I don’t know what does. It’s time to pull up your big boy pants and get the hell out of dodge. Where’d you say your internship is?”