Turns out none of the girls had time to go for a drinks tonight. So I stayed at home by myself until Braden showed up at my flat. 

I eyed him when he stepped in and he instantly lost his happy expression. He wasn't smiling but I've learned it by now that I know when he's happy just by looking at his face. "What? What's that look for?" he asked me, sitting on the couch beside me. 

"You're an asshole," I told him. 

"Thanks," Braden replied dryly. "I get that called a lot lately."

I snorted. "I wonder why." 

Braden eyed me at that. "You're really such a sunshine to be around, Brooke," he said sarcastically.

I shrugged. "Many people said that we're both very similar, so ..."

Braden let out a sigh. "Won't you offer me anything to drink?"

"You know where you can find it." 

Braden sat on the edge of the couch, staring at me. "What the hell is up with you today, Brooks?"

"What the fuck do you think you're doing with Rory? You gave her the same proposition you give to every other woman! What the hell!" 

Braden clasped his hands together on his legs and got into his usual businessman posture. "What else did you think? I'm not looking for a relationship right now."

"Oh, boo-ho, brother! One woman hurt you in the past so it suddenly gives you the right to hurt everyone else because you're afraid to love someone else again? You men honestly make me sick. If women did that, we would be called whores and bitches. But because it's you, it makes it completely okay!" 

Braden blinked at me a few times, staring at me in shock. "Are we really talking just about me here?" 

I put my legs down on the floor where I previously had them on the couch and stared at Braden. "Let me ask you something - a simple question. If a man came to me, a man that I liked, and gave me the same proposition you give to women ... Would you be okay with that?"

"Why? Did anyone came to you with that proposition?" Braden focused on that rather than answering my question straight away.

"Rhetorically speaking," I said, exasperated. 

Braden frowned. "Nobody better even try. For fuck's sake, you're my little sister!"

I had to roll my eyes at him. "Okay, so you wouldn't want your sister to have the same relationship you have with other women. I think those women have brothers, too, you know. Be careful, brother. You're going to have children one day, too, and you might have a daughter. Would you like your daughter to be with a man like you?" I asked him. "Careful what you do. Karma can be a real bitch."

Braden stared at me for long minutes, not saying anything.

I stood up. "I'm going to get us both a cold beer," I told him.

And that's how we ended up watching a film on the couch in the living room, our conversation long forgotten. None of us commented anything on it and I think it made Braden think. It dawned on me that Braden was staying up, waiting for Rory to come home when the clock went past midnight. 

I stay up with him. I know that I wouldn't be able to sleep anyway. 

"If you had any troubles ... you'd tell me, right?" Braden suddenly asks, causing my head to swiftly turn to look at him. 

"I guess," I murmur. It's been a long time since I ran to Braden when my life got hard. I always tried to be independent, even though I knew that Braden could solve any minor problems in my life with just a snap of his fingers. And I didn't want that my whole life.

Braden nods in thought. "But you're alright, yeah?" 

I chuckle at his weirdly concerned tone. "I'm good, Braden."

Braden nods, probably not knowing what to say to me back. We both continue watching the film until Rory comes home from work. 

Rory comes to the living room, carrying a big bouquet of roses in her hands and when she spots Braden, she almost trips on the couch.

"Oh, Rory, hey. Try not to hurt yourself," I greet her, trying not to laugh.

She narrows my eyes at me. "I'll try," she seethes, willing me to shut up. 

"Hey, Rory," Braden breathes. "I see you've gotten the present I sent you."

"Hi," Rory squeaks back. "Yes, thank you. They're beautiful. And I loved the card," she smiles warmly at him. Who knew my brother could be romantic in his free time?

I start laughing out loud but none of them gives me any of their attention, both of them already lost in each other. Rory puts the roses in the vase in the kitchen and when she comes back, she clears her throat. "Why are you two still awake?"

I look at Braden and lift my head higher, challenging him to tell her the truth.

Braden just shrugs, ignoring my gaze on him. "I came to visit my sister."

Rory looks at the clock. "It's half-past 2 in the morning?" she says it like a question.

I snicker. "Yeah, what he forgot to mention was that he was totally waiting up for you."

Braden turns to look at me and sends me a glare. I wink at Rory instead, ignoring Braden's glare completely. 

"Brooke," Braden warns before turning to look at Rory again. "I think I'm going to go now." He stands up.

"What?" Rory blurts out incredulously, her eyes widening.

Braden cocks his head to the side. "Home, Rory. I'm going home," he says every word slowly and emphasises it. I narrow my eyes at his idiocy.

"But ... why?" Rory sounds whiny. 

"Because I live there?" My hand starts inching towards the empty bottle of beer on the table so I could throw it at Braden's head.

Rory sighs, exasperated. "Quit playing games with me, Braden."

"Is there a problem?" Braden says with a challenge. I'm having my fingers wrapped around the neck of the bottle already.

"Yes, there's some fucking problem I apparently don't know about," Rory says to him, growing angry. 

My expression turns amused and I'm thinking about offering Rory the bottle. Or we could both grab one and throw them at my brother ... Decisions, decisions.

"Watch your mouth, Rory. I mean it."

Rory puts her hands on her hips. "Make me."

Oh, no. Braden is in front of Rory in two long strides, gripping her wrists in his hands and locking them together on her back. 

"Okay, okay, I guess this is my cue to go to my room before you two start doing any pornographic shit in front of me," I say loudly.

"Porno -" I hear Rory starting to say before Braden puts his lips on her mouth and backs them in Rory's room. I yelp out and quickly run to my room, loudly shutting the door, although I'm sure none of them heard it. 

   ◊    

I wake up early in the morning. I've had a shitty night rest anyway. I go to the nearest Starbucks for the biggest cup of coffee I can get, not even caring that I'm only wearing my yoga pants with a coat. Watch out, we've got a fashion freak over here! I also put my hair up in a ponytail and left my face bare of makeup.

Anyone who'll see me will probably think that I just came back from killing my husband after catching him having an affair with his secretary. I've got a wild imagination. But that's what a few hours of bad sleep get you. It's not fun, folks. Don't try it at home.

I wander around the city then, going into the stores, grabbing something to eat and buy a few pairs of new shoes. Because what else can make a woman feel better than good, nice shoes? 

When I come back to the flat, I'm exhausted and I'm happy to find it empty. I don't know if Braden is working today - he works most of the Saturdays and sometimes even Sundays or if he and Rory went somewhere. Frankly, I don't even care in this moment.

I take a nap. The phone ringing wakes me up from it and when I look at the clock, I see I've slept for two hours. I could still sleep, though. I don't look at the screen when I pick up the phone. "Why the fuck are you locked in? I was seconds away from breaking into your flat, but I guess I'm not that good of a burglar after all." 

I sigh to myself. "Jesus Christ, Sam, it's too early for this," I groan. 

Sam pauses. "It's 1 pm. What's up with you? Are you still in bed?" She pauses again before whispering, "Are you alone?" 

"Yes, I'm alone." I get out of the bed and open the door for Sam.

Her eyes widen when she takes me in. "Oh, shit, don't shoot me!" she jokes when she sees my expression.

"I probably would if I had the gun," I tell her, my voice still groggy. My body is still all limp from the nap and I'm still not quite ready for company. "You can take something to drink if you want."

"I'm good. But you might need something strong to drink. Are you alright? Did anything happen?" 

I rest my head back on the couch, looking up at the ceiling. "I think I made a mistake, Sam. I slept with a man who's in love with someone else."

"Aaron? Are we talking about Aaron?" Sam asks softly. I nod. "Well, technically looking, he also slept with a girl who's in love with another man ..." 

She's right. I know she is. But that's not the same, we can't compare. "Aaron is in love with Rory."

I see Sam sits up straighter and looks at me. "Your flatmate?" she asks incredulously. I simply nod. "Oh, shit. That's bad, B. That's really bad." 

I groan. "Tell me about it ..." 

"You have a shit of a luck with men." 

I eye her. "Look who's talking," I muse. 

Sam shrugs casually. "We weren't really born under the lucky star, apparently. But who needs men?" 

I shrug. "I don't. I've survived without one all these years, I can sure do a few years more," I say nonchalantly. 

Sam grins approvingly. "I just stopped by here for a quick chat before going to work."

"It's Saturday. Since when are you working Saturdays?" I ask her.

"Since the library decided to do an inventory on Saturday." She rolls her eyes, clearly not fond of going to work on Saturday.

"Aww," I say, putting my hand on top of hers. "I'm sorry, honey." 

Sam frowns as she looks at me. "Okay, but I still have some time for you to tell me about Aaron. What's up with you two? Apart from that, he's in love with your flatmate ..."

I look down at my hands. "I don't know, Sam. I wish I could say there's nothing between us, but I'd be lying. There's still some spark, you know? At least I feel it. I'm still attracted to him, no matter how wrong it is ..." 

Sam sighs. "It's not really that wrong since Rory is smitten with your brother. Honestly, who could blame her?" Sam fans her face. "If she wasn't such a nice woman, I'd totally call her a bitch out of jealousy." 

I have to laugh at that. "Yeah. She's a really great woman. I can't really compete with that," I mutter, staring down at my legs now. 

"Why would you even compete with her, Brooke, honey? You're amazing. If a man can't see that, he's not a man for you. Don't let it bring you down, babe."

And that's the whole truth. No man should ever give a woman a reason to doubt her self-worth. But that's easier said than done since men are bastards and we end up hurt because of them. Or maybe it's just because we let them treat us like dirt sometimes. 

"You're right, Sam, you know you are. I think I should really stop worrying about men that don't deserve a second thought. Or the ones that are already emotionally taken ..." I'm not referring only to Aaron with this one and Sam knows it. She gives me a look of understanding. 

"So, he actually told you about Rory ... That's pretty brave on his part if you ask me."

I huff. "Yeah, you could say so. He also told me he kissed her. Two days after we slept together."

Sam stares at me with her mouth open. "That's ... wow, I kind of hate him."

I laugh. "He's good in bed, though. So that hatred isn't as big as it would otherwise be." I wink at Sam. 

Sam shakes her head and stands up. "You, missy, are getting yourself in trouble. And I think you actually enjoy it."

I shrug innocently. "What can I say? I love bastards and bastards love me." 

"We have to have a girls' night out soon. We missed it yesterday but the week that comes we should definitely go."

I agree with her before Sam has to leave for work. I make myself something to eat and just as I'm about to wash the dishes, there's a knock at my door again. I throw my head back and groan out in frustration. One day that I'm home alone and people won't leave me alone ...

I dry my hands and go open the door. When I see who's standing there, it has me to shut the door right in his face. "What the fuck are you doing here, Aaron?"

"Can we talk?" he asks with a sheepish smile. 

I don't know what else to say so ... hi. :) 

Don't forget that this story is completed on radish and don't forget to check out my new story, called Forbidden Pleasures, which is available only on radish, too. x