DEAN

 

It’s like a thousand-pound weight is lifted off my chest after I received Brenna’s text. I’ve spent the last few days reassuring Tyler that everything is okay, even while I was in a panic. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d single-handedly imploded our relationship, and possibly damaged the friendship I had with my brother.

But I wasn’t sorry.

Despite my initial apprehensions, our night together had been perfect—more than perfect—it had been everything. All the tension between Tyler and myself faded into the background, and for the first time since I started dating Brenna, I feel like she is here with me one hundred percent.

But that new found joy is short lived. She’s been distant and short with me for the last few days, but tonight, she wants to work things out. While not a declaration of undying love, it’s a start.

“We’re going to be late,” Tyler yells from the living room. I slip my phone into my pocket and join him. He’s as nervous as I am, probably more so.

“It’s going to be fine,” I say, slapping him on the back.

“We’ll see,” he says and calls the elevator.

Once we reach her floor, I knock on the door, nervous, like a hormonal high schooler on prom night. When the door opened, I take a step back and check the number again. Instead of Brenna, a tall, statuesque red-head greets us.

“You must be Dean,” she says, “and that tall drink of water behind you must be Tyler.”

“And you are?” Tyler asks just as confused as I am.

“I’m Brenna’s business partner, Olivia, but you can call me Liv.” She holds out a perfectly manicured hand.

“Excuse our manners,” I say and take her hands. “I just wasn’t expecting a dinner party tonight.”

“I’m afraid that’s my fault. I insisted on meeting Brenna’s men.” She pushes the door open wide and waves her hand into the apartment. “So are you ready for dinner, boys.”

I’m a little nervous about the predatory look she’s giving us as we walk through the door, but it has to be a good sign that Brenna wants her friend to meet us, right?

“Brenna, sweetie, the guys are here,” Liv yells to the back of the house.

Brenna, wrapped in a ruffled apron like June Cleaver, comes out to the kitchen holding a plate of rolls. “Oh, good. I’m just setting the table.”

“So how do you guys do this?” Liv asks following us to the dining room. “Do you eat together as a group, or do you take turns?”

“Liv, you promised,” Brenna says, red spots staining her cheeks.

“What?” Liv shrugs, innocently. “I just need to know how many drinks to get.”

“Is dinner ready yet?” Landon says, coming in from the back of the apartment. “I promised Ken that I’d play Xbox with him tonight.”

“We’re just sitting down. Can you get the silverware?”

I glance over to Tyler, who seems just as surprised as I am. When Brenna asked us over for dinner to talk, I assumed it was just going to be the three of us.

“Where should we sit?”

“Brenna’s here.” Liv points to the head of the table. “Why don’t you sit on either side of her? That’s how I’ve been imagining it since this afternoon.”

“Liv,” Brenna practically growls and shoves a bowl of mashed potatoes in her friend’s hands. “I thought you were getting the drinks.” She turns to us and smiles apologetically. “Sit where ever you want.”

I nod and try to hide my grin. I like Liv, and I like that Brenna shared our relationship status with her friend. It lets me know that she does want to make this work. Smiling, I take the seat to the right, and Tyler sits on the left.

“I’m curious. I like Pepsi,” she says, setting down a bottle of Pepsi and one of Coke. “And from what Brenna tells me, you two really love Coke.” She pours Coke into both of our glasses and winks. “So I get that when you’re together, you share the Coke. But do you ever try Pepsi? You know, enjoy your Coke, then take a break with a little Pepsi shooter, and then it’s back to the Coke. Because that would be really hot.”

“I want some Coke,” Landon says from the other end of the table.

“Enough already.” Brenna takes the bottle from her friend. “Everyone is having water.”

Liv sits down next to Landon and pats his shoulder. “Give it a few years, then you can drink all the Coke you want.”

“You know what? Why don’t we just eat and stop talking,” Brenna says. She grumbles under her breath and picks up a bowl. I suppress a chuckle and pass the rolls.

Liv behaved for the rest of the dinner. We spend the rest of dinner talking about mundane things. It’s nice, like a real family.

Halfway through the meal, Landon stands up, still shoveling potatoes into his face. “Ken texted. I got to go.”

As soon as he’s gone, Liv also stands up. “I just remembered. There’s this email I need to send.” —she fakes yawns— “And I’m exhausted. I think I’m just going to hit the hay. You kids behave. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t. Although, that doesn’t leave much.”

“You don’t have to leave,” Brenna says, standing up.

Liv glances at Tyler and me and then back to Brenna. “You guys need some time alone. Night boys.” And with that, she disappeared into the back of the apartment.

“We don’t have to do this now,” I say, glancing to the empty hallway.

“No, Liv is right. I asked you guys because I wanted to talk and I wanted to see how things worked with the three of us outside the bedroom.”

“So, this was some kind of test?” Tyler asks, crossing his arms.

“That’s not what I meant,” Brenna says and goes over to him. She sits across from him and takes his hands in hers. “My life is complicated, but I want this to work.” She looks over her shoulder at me and then back to Tyler. “I want you both in my life. And that means uncomfortable family dinners with smart-ass friends and being flexible because I have carpool duties or parent-teacher night.”

I come around the table to join them and take Brenna’s other hand. “And we want all that too. Don’t we?”

“Yes,” Tyler says. “Just don’t shut us out.”

“Okay, then,” she says with a smile, “We’ll do this. Landon has a school trip on Friday. He’ll be gone for a week. I want to spend that time with you. After that, I think we should talk to Landon about us.”