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© 2017 Shay Spencer. All rights reserved.

Something Real

[ Chapter 10 ] Well, This Isn't Awkward

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Considering the many discretionary actions Wren had committed in the past, I shouldn't have been so surprised that she's gone after Jay.

"It's really not that bad Scar," she reiterated for me.

Wren almost always had a way of making little out of her actions the morning after a fling. She'd insist again and again that it was nothing, that we should forget about it and move on. But things were different this time.

"How did this even happen?" I asked, absentmindedly running my fingers through my hair. "You were pretty out of it when Hayden and I left."

Wren shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know. I was looking for some water, and I just stumbled into Jay's room. I'll spare you the rest."

"Well thanks for that," I scoffed. Crossing my arms over my chest, I sat down on a box near the door. "I asked one thing of you."

"Oh please!" Wren laughed incredulously. "You asked me not to sleep with Hayden! You never said anything about Jay."

"I definitely did," I countered. "I told you, specifically, not to have sex with either of my brothers."

Wren smiled slyly my way, "sure. You also, specifically, said that they weren't your brothers yet."

"Forget the technicalities, Wren," I groaned. "You always do this. I can't trust you with anything."

"Come on, Scar," Wren huffed. "You're so dramatic. Have you ever considered that I actually like Jay?"

"Well," I paused. "Considering just how drunk you were last night, and the fact that you just so happened to stumble into his room, with it then leading to sex-"

"Quit rambling and get to your freaking point."

"Fine," I agreed. "I don't think it could have meant anything. Especially with you."

"Hold back your feelings much?" Wren's eyebrows popped up suggestively. "Who says it couldn't lead to something more meaningful?"

"I do," I said. "I say it can't lead to something meaningful."

"And why the hell not?" Wren asked.

"Because you're entire history with guys suggests otherwise," I sighed. "You don't have a committal bone in your body, Wren. You can't do that to Jay."

"Then I guess I'll just have to prove you wrong," Wren smiled once more.

I could see that look in her eye, the one that gave me a small sense of how she felt. She already had it in her head that she had won this little battle. She had a way of getting overly confident far too soon into situations like this.

She had no clue just how wrong she was.

"Don't use Jay just to prove a point," I warned.

"I don't have to use him. I want to get to know him better, and you're going to be there with to witness the whole thing." Wren smirked.

I shook my head quickly, "no. I'm not playing a third wheel on your date with my step brother."

Wren rolled her eyes.

"Then bring a date!" She laughed. "We'll double. You can even bring that guy from last night."

"I will not be having my first date with Zane with you two sitting just across from us," I said. "It's going to be awkward enough without having to deal with you and Jay."

Wren took a small step towards me before taking hold of my hand, "you're going."

The tone of her voice indicated that I shouldn't put up a fight, which with Wren, was rare. She lived for drama, especially when going after guys. So instead of resisting this little date, I simply nodded, walking out of the room there after.

Wait till Hayden heard about this.

-

"I'm glad you called," Zane smiled as he reached out for my coat. "I wasn't sure when I'd hear from you."

I could feel a frown taking form on my face with his words. "What do you mean?" I asked, handing my coat to him. He gave me a small smile in return.

"He means," Wren butted in. "He thought you would wait a few days before calling. Eager much?"

Needless to say, Zane had been surprised that I had called him earlier today. He was even more surprised that I'd invited him on a double date. I had of course left out the part about my step brother and best friend being our accompanying couple, but I could tell he was catching onto the underlying tension between the three of us.

It would be hard not to.

"Thank's Wren," I smiled snidely. "It's not like I was asking Zane."

"You're welcome," she chirped. "Let's grab a table. I'm starving."

The restaurant Zane had picked was a small Mexican food place just a street down from Asteroids, the very place we had met the previous night. He thought it best that we meet somewhere like this, namely because he worked just a few miles away. He was needed back at the resort later tonight.

The restaurant was decorated in the most atypical fashion, looking more like a large coffee shop than a Mexican food place. The walls were a light grey, and the floors were tiled. The tables were small, looking to fit only around four people, and there were many different works of art lining the walls. It was quaint, and weirdly perfect for a first date.

Even with Wren and Jay tagging along.

"I'm actually very happy you called, you know," Zane whispered against my ear. His words sent a shiver down my spine.

"I'm happy I called too," I whispered back.

"After you, malady," Jay mused as he pulled out Wren's chair for her.

She blushed as she took a seat. "Why thank you, Jay."

Despite the awkwardness, I allowed for Zane to pull out my chair for me. He managed to send me a quick wink, one that reassured me once more to the fact that he was okay with this date, even if I wasn't.

"Should we all share a dish?" Wren asked, the girl combing through the menu already.

"Depends," I said. "Are you going to order something excessively spicy?"

"I hate spicy food." Jay's face wrinkled in disgust.

"You're learning something new about each other already," I smiled. Wren had a slight obsession with spicy food, one that, in the past, had gotten in the way of her other relationships.

She loved to pick the restaurants on dates.

Wren gave me a short glare before turning her attention to Jay. "I happen to like a man with a reserved pallet. Kit gives me the chance to broaden your horizon."

I frowned, unable to depict exactly what angle she was working for the moment.

"I'd be happy to share with you, Scarlett," Zane cut in, leaning in a bit to capture my attention. "If you're up for a cheesy, romantic date, that is."

I finally glanced down at the menu. I had been so focused on Wren and Jay's little encounter that food had barely crossed my mind.

Zane slid his hand across the table, taking my hand in his own. The action was oddly comforting.

"See," Wren said, motioning in the direction of Zane and I. "I told you this wouldn't be awkward."

I let my eyes close with her comment. It was a jab, no less, that was obvious. But it didn't mean it didn't sting any less.

She was trying to ruin my date with Zane, and she was going about it in the most cunning way possible. She almost never used my words against me.

"I never said that, Wren," I spoke slowly. I needed her to understand just how much I needed this date. Even Hayden, whom I barely knew, understood that I'd never had a chance with a guy like this; and the odds were slim to none that I'd get a chance like this again.

Though Wren was determined to finish what she'd started.

"Sure you did," Wren laughed. "This morning. You were so nervous to call him that I even suggested we double up. You said it'd make things less awkward."

"No," I shook my head. "I said it would make things more awkward."

"See," Wren point obnoxiously my way. "You said it would be awkward."

"No less awkward than double dating with my best friend and step brother," I scoffed. "You're only doing this to prove to me that your not some slut, anyhow. What do you have to say to that?"

"God, Scarlett!" Wren hissed, the girl narrowing her eyes in on me. "Stoop any lower, and I might start thinking you're trying to sabotage this date."

"You're doing that all on your own," I laughed, standing up from my seat. "Have fun with my brother. I know how much fun you two had last night." I finished, turning on my heel and stalking off towards the door.

I pulled my coat over my arm, not looking back before pushing open the door and walking out into the fresh air. The uncrowned restaurant was suffocating when compared to the busy streets of Beverly Hills. Wren always had a way of doing just that, though. She was strangely like my mother in that sense.

No wonder they don't get along.

"Hey," Zane called after me. I stopped, turning around to face him.

"Sorry," I shook my head. "I just had to get out of there."

"I don't blame you," Zane chuckled. "If my best friend had slept with my step brother and insisted on a double date the day after, I know I'd feel uncomfortable."

"I'm still sorry I invited you tonight," I said. "I didn't want our first date to be like this."

"Consider it this way then," Zane started as he reached for my hand. "Our second date can't go any worse than this."

I could feel the edges of my mouth curving upward with his words. "There's going to be a second date?"

Zane nodded, "only if you'll accompany me down to the resort? My boss texted, they need me. But I can offer you free drinks at the bar and a free dinner in the restaurant later tonight. Five star ratings, everything's impeccable."

I let my mind fall back to Hayden's advice from earlier on today. Not only had he helped me pick out the perfect outfit, but he had made sure to drop subtle hints as to where the night should end.

Using Hayden's words of wisdom, I knew exactly what to do.

"I'd love to."

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Little short, but it works.

How did everyone like it? Scarlett and Wren are really going at it. Who thinks Wren's intentions are pure? Does she like Jay for real?

And how about Zane? How does everyone like his approach to the date? 😜

The next update will be on February 4th!

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Also! Check out The Buddies Rule - Chapter 19 was just posted!

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Ps: Updates for this next week include:
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