“Yes, yes, yes!”
Brittany groaned and pulled her pillow tighter against her head, trying to drown out the sound of Zack having sex with Nancy in the main room of her apartment. She could hear the springs in the sofa squeaking beneath her boss’ moans. Zack remained oddly silent during their encounter.
“Yes!” Nancy cried breathlessly. “Yes!” the sound traveling far too easily through the thin walls of her apartment.
“Urgh, just cum already,” Brittany muttered to herself as she released the pillow to reach for her cell phone. Drinks in town had been a bust. Zack had spent the evening staring at all the locals before getting drunk on tequila. As soon as he was suitably sauced, he was all over Nancy. Brittany suddenly became invisible. She wondered if her brother was always like that on a night out – sullen and then raunchy, or if he was just acting that way because he was nervous to be in such an unusual social interaction. Brittany had hoped that the evening would be full of shared laughter and fondly recalled memories of better times. Instead, she had to watch her brother suck face with her boss until closing time.
Brittany deftly called Max’ number. He answered after three calls, his voice hoarse as though he’d been sleeping.
“Hey, babe,” he murmured. It was comforting to hear him so close even though he wasn’t actually there.
“Hey,” Brittany stretched out on the bed, burning with longing to touch him, to hold him, even to smell him. She physically ached for him whenever they were apart. Thankfully Zack was heading off early the next day, so she could be with Max again.
“You have fun with your brother tonight?”
“Oh, tons,” Brittany replied sarcastically. She held her phone up so that it could capture Nancy’s rapturous screams as they bounced around her small apartment.
“Jesus,” she could hear Max laughing. “Who the hell is that?”
“My boss,” Brittany stated flatly. Max laughed harder. “She’s hooking up with my brother.”
“Well, it sounds like she’s having fun, maybe you’ll get a raise.”
“Hmm,” Brittany yawned and wished that Nancy and Zack would start winding down a bit so that she could get some sleep.
“So your brother comes to see you and ends up bringing a girl back to your place?”
“He was pretty wasted,” Brittany said defensively.
“It’s still a douche move.”
Brittany was silent, unsure how to defend Zack. She was sorely disappointed not to have gotten to spend more time with him. But then, if he liked Nancy she knew she shouldn’t monopolize him. It was important that they both start to have separate lives from one another. They were still in a transitional period, maybe that was why she felt so hurt by his lack of attention to her at the bar.
“He likes her,” Brittany shrugged. “I just want him to be happy.”
“As I’m sure he does you. Which is why I think I should meet him.”
“Next time.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” Max teased.
“Please do.” Brittany yawned again.
“Sweetheart, you should get some sleep.”
“I would if I could,” Brittany sighed. “They’ve been at it for the best part of half an hour. I’m exhausted just listening to it.”
“Impressive,” Max laughed, “on your brother’s part.”
“What can I say, we are a family of over achievers.” She smiled sleepily to herself, wishing she could just press up against Max’ strong chest and close her eyes. She loved to fall asleep feeling the steady, reassuring beat of his heart so preciously close to her own. With her finger, she’d trace the line of the tattoo she’d emblazoned on his chest, the tattoo which had bought them together.
“Can you come over tomorrow?” she asked as her eyes closed. Talking with Max, she was finally able to drown out Nancy and her cries.
“Sure,” Max confirmed softly. “It might not be until a bit later, though, I have to work in the morning.”
“Okay,” Brittany murmured, nuzzling against her pillow. She could feel herself edging closer to sleep, and she was eager for the respite it would bring. As much as she loved having Zack visit it was exhausting to fret over everything she said to him. He seemed even more sensitive than usual, like something was bothering him. She hoped it had nothing to do with her. If it did, he wouldn’t say anything. Zack was the kind to bottle things up until they suddenly exploded out without warning.
“Try and get some sleep,” Max urged gently.
“I will.” Brittany sleepily ended the call. In the darkness of her room, she slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep. She failed to hear Nancy reach her dizzying climax, or the heavy footsteps of Zack stomping around as he left the apartment to return to the night, to prowl Colridge’s dark streets for whatever it was he was seeking.